Sarah Hogg, Partner at StephensonsRural, reflects on a recent spring estate visit, from stewardship and habitat restoration to the wider work involved in managing land, buildings and tenancies.

One of the lovely parts of my job at StephensonsRural is getting out on a spring day.

Lizzy Elgie and I were recently out on an estate visit, looking at a new Higher Tier Stewardship scheme on the in-hand land, considering among other options, planting some new oak trees in grassland to complement the beautiful existing oak trees.

The grant funding would cover both the annual management payment for looking after this important wood pasture and capital items to pay for the new trees and guards. This would be for a 10-year scheme, which also involves the restoration of species-rich grassland.

On the same day, we looked at a farm building repair project that is being part-funded through the North Yorkshire Moors National Park’s excellent Farming in a Protected Landscape Scheme (FiPL).

Other aspects of the bespoke service we provide on this estate include:

• New tenancy agreements for the letting of land
• Collection of rents
• Rural tenancy advice
• Management of stewardship schemes
• Identifying new revenue streams, including a potential DEFRA Test and Trials project on carbon footprints

If you would like to discuss estate management, please get in touch with me: Sarah Hogg. 

For advice on stewardship schemes or FiPL, please contact Lizzy Elgie or Chris Muir.