~5 acres wanted for sale or rent in central Durham (around DH1 area) please

Hello all,

I'm looking for a small piece of land in or very near to DH1 (although I'll consider other postcodes nearby) to begin my market garden and land based business.

I have contacted someone that I think might be the land owner but they may have ignored my letter for whatever reason they have.

I'd be very grateful if someone could offer some land to sub-let from a local farm, or a lease or purchase.

Thank you in advance,
Suzi

 

[Highland Mule]

Yes, things have changed for me and I never did have an option on the land; it was just another piece I was looking into but it never came about.

One of the things that has changed for me now is that I'll have an opportunity to push harder for what I want, and the means to devote more time to it. All I need is that piece of land to get it started

And yes, that particular piece of land is my 'shoot for the stars' piece but I'd be happy to land on a smaller piece, further away if necessary to get started.

We all have to start somewhere.

What’s your budget, and how tied are you to your current location?

 

[SnooziSuzi]

What’s your budget, and how tied are you to your current location?

Not 100٪ tied - we're renting and the assured shorthold is renewed in April, but budget will depend. I have means to raise the cash if the land is right for me but not sticking a pin in it just now.

 

[livestock 1]

Not 100٪ tied - we're renting and the assured shorthold is renewed in April, but budget will depend. I have means to raise the cash if the land is right for me but not sticking a pin in it just now.

Mark is always looking for help up the road, why don’t you go and ask him if he needs a hand he will pay you and you will get a feel for the job and learn from it too

 

[SnooziSuzi]

I will, but you still haven't told me where to find him

 

[livestock 1]

I will, but you still haven't told me where to find him

On the 167 pity me

 

[SnooziSuzi]

Thank you, I'll see what I can find out and I'll report back

 

[lloyd]

Is it along the road down past the prison?

Sounds like you know the area well.

 

[lloyd]

What will stop people from stealing your produce ?
I know someone who had carrots going missing and he
is in the middle of nowhere.

 

[SnooziSuzi]

A big dog

No, seriously, of course I'd be at just as much risk of theft as any large scale commercial farmer, and losses are to be expected, but we'd have to have gates for when we're closed and maybe some sort of cctv, with the appropriate gdpr notices and considerations of course.

I might invest in a sentry post and employ an armed guard

 

[lloyd]

A big dog

No, seriously, of course I'd be at just as much risk of theft as any large scale commercial farmer, and losses are to be expected, but we'd have to have gates for when we're closed and maybe some sort of cctv, with the appropriate gdpr notices and considerations of course.

I might invest in a sentry post and employ an armed guard

Oh sorry I miss understood I thought you were doing it as an open
access charity growing sustainable food for the disadvantaged.

 

[Highland Mule]

but we'd have to have gates for when we're closed and maybe some sort of cctv, with the appropriate gdpr notices and considerations of course.

That’s a shame. “Too few people have proper access to land, and not just for growing on - for just walking on in England.”

 

[SnooziSuzi]

That’s a shame. “Too few people have proper access to land, and not just for growing on - for just walking on in England.”

I'll just walk through your living room or barns then should I?

You're taking what I said deliberately out of context. Of course if it isn't a commercial or private piece of land people can't expect to exercise their dogs right through my beans, any more than they can through your arable or livestock fields but 92% of land (source: a Radio 4 programme last week) is EDIT: UNavailable for the public to access for various reasons, including landowners (maybe rightly, who can say?) wanting to stop people from accessing exactly what makes this a green and pleasant land. A vast amount of land in this country isn't being actively farmed and farmers are just as guilty of being Nimbys as homeowners.

I'm not entirely certain how your response here can be seen as constructively helping someone wanting to get onto the farming ladder, and yes, people would have the freedom to come onto my land during my opening hours. Why would I want to hide anything in my operations?

 

[Highland Mule]

Of course if it isn't a commercial or private piece of land people can't expect to exercise their dogs right through my beans, any more than they can through your arable or livestock fields

Leave the dog at home and there’s nothing I can do to stop you.

A vast amount of land in this country isn't being actively farmed

Don’t believe that to be true. There’s very little in Scotland that isn’t and it’s mostly in public ownership.

I'm not entirely certain how your response here can be seen as constructively helping someone wanting to get onto the farming ladder

It was a non-sequitur, just like the one of yours I parodied. It’s an interesting contrast though, isn’t it? You lamented that most privately owned land isn’t available to public access then stated you’d be restricting access to any that you managed to own/ rent.

 

[lloyd]

So what if a 5 acre piece of land came available in the ideal area but
was criss crossed with footpaths?Would the walkers stay on the path
and stick to the opening hours or would they wander off track and let
their dogs foul the lettuces .Decisions ,decisions.

 

[SnooziSuzi]

So what if a 5 acre piece of land came available in the ideal area but
was criss crossed with footpaths?Would the walkers stay on the path
and stick to the opening hours or would they wander off track and let
their dogs foul the lettuces .Decisions ,decisions.

If it was ideal then there is nothing I can or will do to stop people, but I can insist that they keep their dogs on leads and clean up after their little darlings just like I do with mine.

There are a lot if what if this what if that's that people can cite, but it doesn't change my original polite question of whether anyone knew of any land or people I could approach.

A few people have been immensely helpful and I'll follow up on those suggestions, thank you for those, but if all anyone can do is throw hypothetical armageddon scenarios just to prove how superior they are then I'll take my leave.

I have planned this and considered so many different scenarios for years and now I'm in a position to make it happen so please don't write me off as just another wannabe hobby farmer, and even if that was the case what difference does it make to you? If I fail and have to sell up you might just end up with a cheap parcel of land to add to your empires.

 

[SnooziSuzi]

And @lloyd sorry, that tirade wasn't aimed at you but it looks as though it was because I quoted to respond.

 

[lloyd]

And @lloyd sorry, that tirade wasn't aimed at you but it looks as though it was because I quoted to respond.

Good luck with your search ,i hope the dog walkers are the understanding type.

 

[curlietailz]

A big dog

No, seriously, of course I'd be at just as much risk of theft as any large scale commercial farmer, and losses are to be expected, but we'd have to have gates for when we're closed and maybe some sort of cctv, with the appropriate gdpr notices and considerations of course.

I might invest in a sentry post and employ an armed guard

You might need to
That close to Durham
And food shortages looming
Lol

 

[curlietailz]

Don’t take offence
We do love to hear how new entrants are getting on
There is a wealth of information and help on here