The traditional hill farms of Britain are in terminal declineBSE, foot and mouth disease, supermarkets demanding ever better prices have all been nails in the coffin of the upland farm. But it is the recent changes in EU agricultural subsidies, favouring larger acreages, which have finally made many of these traditionally small farms unviable.
However, when these properties go on the market, people wanting to buy into the lifestyle snap them up. They have become very popular with buyers who have made their money elsewhere and now want to make a small country living in picturesque surroundings. Usually on offer is a large farmhouse which could be used for B & B, traditional outbuildings ripe for conversion to holiday lets and more modern agricultural buildings which are ideal for pony trekking or similar equestrian ventures.
The new non-farming buyer usually doesn’t want acres of hillside to maintain, therefore estate agents will often offer the property in three parts – the farmhouse and garden, the outbuildings, and the land.
The money and new opportunities these buyers bring in is always welcome but when all the cattle and sheep have gone and there is no one with the need or skills to maintain their pastures, the hedges, ditches and dry stone walls will our moors and uplands keep their inherent beauty and charm?
4th September 2005
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