Forestry Commission in Angus starter unit offer

PART OF Gourdie Farm on the western outskirts of Dundee is to form one of the next Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) starter units.

It will be the ninth such project in Scotland and like the others is aimed at giving a new entrant a first step into running their own farming business.

Gourdie Farm, which is mostly top quality Macaulay class two land, was transferred to FCS in 2009 having previously been part of what was then the Scottish Crop Research Institute.

In earlier years it was a dairy farm and part of the Northern Hospital Board estate.

The acquisition was part of an FCS “repositioning programme” which involved selling areas with low potential to allow investment in new land that delivers greater benefits.

The new starter farm will utilise 48 acres of the 150-acre farm with firm plans for a second unit of the same size and possibly a third.

Approximately half of the new farm will remain open agricultural land with the balance being a mix of woodlands, part of which has potential to help with additional income from orchards, fruit crops, willow or firewood.

Shelter belts planted around this unit will also be utilised to provide routes for public access and corridors for wildlife.

In the meantime and pending development of the starter farms the remainder of Gourdie will be let out on short-term arrangements for arable cropping as it has been since 2009.

Making the announcement RuralAffairs Secretary Richard Lochhead said: “This will be a great opportunity for someone looking to get their feet on the first rung of the farming ladder.

“This new starter farm at Gourdie is a positive development and another excellent demonstration on how forestry and farming is benefiting from each other.”

Robin Waddell, agriculture officer with FCS, said: “Due to the potential horticulture and woodland mix FCS is looking for someone with a broad set of skills.

“Help will be on hand through ongoing mentoring to assist the successful new farmer develop their business.

“The new entrant will be offered a 15-year Limited Duration Tenancy (LDT).

“Normally starter farms are offered on 10-year LDTs but we recognise that, compared with the more usual livestock and arable units, for this one a longer term is more appropriate especially if there is to be investment in polytunnels or other infrastructure.

“We also hope the tenant will have some income from the woodland.

“Half of it will be traditional high woodland and the other half low woodland which could include fruit trees.

“It is a slightly complicated package but we will work with the new tenant to design the woodland.

“The new entrant will effectively be the manager of the woodland as well as the tenant.”

There is no farmhouse available at Gourdie but the successful applicant will have use of part of the existing 11-metre by 33-metre shed and the adjacent hard standing.

A restored borehole and ring irrigation system will also be available.

The plan is that once the second starter farm is created the shed will be split in two.

There are seven starter farms in operation across Scotland including units in Fife, Ayrshire, Stirlingshire, Aberdeenshire and Dumfriesshire.

An eighth starter farm, to be located at Achnamoine in Caithness, is planned to be in place by spring next year. The Gourdie starter farm will be the ninth.

FCS aims to appoint a tenant this autumn and then work closely with them to finalise the design of the woodland elements before the tenancy begins in late 2015.

Press adverts seeking applications for the Gourdie tenancy are expected to appear at the end of this week.

Gourdie Farm, looking out over the Tay.