The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Charity legacy farm for sale
AMarykirk arable farm has been launched to the market for offers over £2.7 million as part of a legacy donation to rural charity RSABI.
The 290-acre Forebank of Canterland Farm forms part of a legacy estate, worth an estimated £3m, left to RSABI by Marykirk farmer Sheila Erskine.
The farm, which is being marketed by Davidson & Robertson, comprises 236 acres of primarily Grade 2 and 3.1 land, 18.9 acres of ploughable pasture, and 28 acres of rough grazing and field margins.
The sale includes a Grade-A listed fivebedroom farmhouse and a range of traditional farm buildings.
“We are excited to launch Forebank of Canterland on to the open market and expect significant interest,” said George Hipwell, director and head of rural and agency at Davidson & Robertson.
“It is a high-quality unit which has been well farmed and presents a significant opportunity for either a local farming business or someone new to the area.”
News of Ms Erskine’s legacy donation to RSABI was revealed last month.
The charity, which provides support to people working in Scottish agriculture, plans to invest the majority of the legacy funds to provide annual income for many years to come, and to use some of it to develop ways of raising awareness of RSABI’s services to more people, and in particular younger people.
The charity’s chairman, David Leggat, said some of the funds will also be allocated to the charity’s crisis fund, to enable it to quickly ramp up support when required. He said: “This amazing gift not only gives the charity financial security for a number of years, it will also enable us to support more people. We’re always looking at ways to improve our services and these funds will help us do even more on this.”
Meanwhile, Mr Hipwell said inquiries to Davidson & Robertson from buyers looking for land had doubled compared to 2020 – a year dominated by a lack of supply to the market and strong demand from buyers. He said: “High quality farms or those offering diversification opportunities are the most desirable currently.
“We are also seeing prices achieving a significant premium above the asking price year to date and signs are very encouraging for the rest of the year.”