ARE there any other National Trust tenants out there in the same predicament as we are?

[bluepower]

I have been sitting here for a long time debating whether to write this thread or not but now feel that someone must sit up and ask a few questions of our lanlords, the largest landowners in the UK.
We have been at our farm for the last 23 years as tenants of the NT and were probably the first FBT tenant under the new legislation. Without going into too much detail we were told by our agent 18 months ago that our farm was going to be showcase for their "strategy for nature " and that we would would be facing massive change if we wanted to stay here. In simplistic terms they want to " let the meadows merge into the woodlands and allow a far greater degree of public access"
This will not allow us to run a business on this farm any longer, which at the moment is run as a commercial farm with an emphasis on higher level stewardship with a number of diversified enterprises.
Without going into any more personal details I am just wondering if there are any more forum members out there experiencing similar problems with the NT and what their thoughts are?
We have had a number of meetings with agents, NFU and the NT but are getting absolutley nowhere and can see no future in staying here unable to run an viable businees which we have tried to build over the last 23 years.
This is all pretty heavy stuff, even in these crazy times the NT seem hell bent on destroying a family mixed farm business, what the hell is their thinking, if indeed they have any? Any thoughts would be appreciated!
Somewhat pee'd off NT tenant.

 

[Purli R]

Sorry to hear that,Local NT estate keen on green stuff,most of tenants just go with it as they will get a pat on the back & another solar panel on their roof but they are left to get on farming but are encouraged to keep native breeds etc. Had dealings with their agent-little sh!t.If you have an alternative,now could be a good time,unless they take you on to manage it for them,let them see how easy it is! good luck.

 

[Flat 10]

Join the TFA. You have rights. Charlie flindt is a high profile NT tenant who might be open to a chat. I personally detest the NT, and would believe anything about them, they think they are above god....

 

[bluepower]

Sorry to hear that,Local NT estate keen on green stuff,most of tenants just go with it as they will get a pat on the back & another solar panel on their roof but they are left to get on farming but are encouraged to keep native breeds etc. Had dealings with their agent-little sh!t.If you have an alternative,now could be a good time,unless they take you on to manage it for them,let them see how easy it is!

I think we will probably walk away as We cannot sit here and watch all oour hard work revert t o total deriction of the countryside as we know it. Enough said.

 

[Oscar]

PM sent @blue power
In same boat !

 

[Muddyroads]

Farming is definitely not at the heart of the NT, the problem seems to be in trying to work out what is. At a local level there are some good people who are sympathetic, but there also seem to be some individuals with influence to whom we might as well have 666 tattooed across out foreheads. There is plenty of scope for a good investigative journalist to get their teeth into if they wanted to, but it’s unlikely to happen.
Unfortunately I think we are too vulnerable to criticise them much on a public forum without jeopardising ourselves even more.
What will be interesting to see is how much the current situation affects them. They must be losing serious money at the moment which may well lead to redundancies, restructuring, and perhaps an opportunity for us to get on with our businesses with a little less interference, but then again, I may just be being optimistic.

 

[Raider112]

Beatrix Potter must be turning in her grave, this isn't what she had in mind when she left all those farms to them.

 

[Muddyroads]

This is one of the areas that I’d love to see investigated.

 

[bluepower]

Farming is definitely not at the heart of the NT, the problem seems to be in trying to work out what is. At a local level there are some good people who are sympathetic, but there also seem to be some individuals with influence to whom we might as well have 666 tattooed across out foreheads. There is plenty of scope for a good investigative journalist to get their teeth into if they wanted to, but it’s unlikely to happen.
Unfortunately I think we are too vulnerable to criticise them much on a public forum without jeopardising ourselves even more.
What will be interesting to see is how much the current situation affects them. They must be losing serious money at the moment which may well lead to redundancies, restructuring, and perhaps an opportunity for us to get on with our businesses with a little less interference, but then again, I may just be being optimistic.

I think that we must NOT be afraid to criticise them as I personally have nothing to fear from them. If we do not stand up to them then we may as well all shut up shop and bend over and take the punishment.
I, personally have not worked my butt off for the last 23 years to lie down and take this from some faceless bureucrat who will not even come down here and face us to explain their decision and has never even visited our farms and taken the time to find out how we sympathetically look after their holdings.
If you do not have the will to stand up to these faceless people then they have got you exactly where they want you and you will in time become nothing more than a goffer for their sad plans.Good luck with that!

 

[Muddyroads]

I have my reasons for being cautious. The circumstances for each of us is different and hopefully we can both respect that.

 

[bluepower]

I have my reasons for being cautious. The circumstances for each of us is different and hopefully we can both respect that.

PM 'ed you , don't be afraid, this is why I started this post, strength and unity, all stick together . If we don't fight it we may as well all give up!!

 

[glasshouse]

PM 'ed you , don't be afraid, this is why I started this post, strength and unity, all stick together . If we don't fight it we may as well all give up!!

Farmers stick together??
Forget it
I hope u are in the tfa

 

[exmoor dave]

I have been sitting here for a long time debating whether to write this thread or not but now feel that someone must sit up and ask a few questions of our lanlords, the largest landowners in the UK.
We have been at our farm for the last 23 years as tenants of the NT and were probably the first FBT tenant under the new legislation. Without going into too much detail we were told by our agent 18 months ago that our farm was going to be showcase for their "strategy for nature " and that we would would be facing massive changre if we wanted to stay here. In simplistic terms they want to " let the meadows merge into the woodlands and allow a far greater degree of public access"
This will not allow us to run a business on this farm any longer, which at the moment is run as a commercial farm with an emphasis on higher level stewardship with a number of diversified enterprises.
Without going into any more personal details I am just wondering if there are any more forum members out there experiencing similar problems with the NT and what their thoughts are?
We have had a number of meetings with agents, NFU and the NT but are getting absolutley nowhere and can see no future in staying here unable to run an viable businees which we have tried to build over the last 23 years.
This is all pretty heavy stuff, even in these crazy times the NT seem hell bent on destroying a family mixed farm business, what the hell is their thinking, if indeed they have any? Any thoughts would be appreciated!
Somewhat pee'd off NT tenant.

Word for word, pretty much exactly the same on this estate, plus beavers, also add in the NT stance on badgers & the cull = rather alot of worried tenants as to the future on NT farms that have often been in families for generations.

 

[glasshouse]

Word for word, pretty much exactly the same on this estate, plus beavers, also add in the NT stance on badgers & the cull = rather alot of worried tenants as to the future on NT farms that have often been in families for generations.

Food production is a bit higher up the agenda now

 

[Daniel Larn]

I have been sitting here for a long time debating whether to write this thread or not but now feel that someone must sit up and ask a few questions of our lanlords, the largest landowners in the UK.
We have been at our farm for the last 23 years as tenants of the NT and were probably the first FBT tenant under the new legislation. Without going into too much detail we were told by our agent 18 months ago that our farm was going to be showcase for their "strategy for nature " and that we would would be facing massive change if we wanted to stay here. In simplistic terms they want to " let the meadows merge into the woodlands and allow a far greater degree of public access"
This will not allow us to run a business on this farm any longer, which at the moment is run as a commercial farm with an emphasis on higher level stewardship with a number of diversified enterprises.
Without going into any more personal details I am just wondering if there are any more forum members out there experiencing similar problems with the NT and what their thoughts are?
We have had a number of meetings with agents, NFU and the NT but are getting absolutley nowhere and can see no future in staying here unable to run an viable businees which we have tried to build over the last 23 years.
This is all pretty heavy stuff, even in these crazy times the NT seem hell bent on destroying a family mixed farm business, what the hell is their thinking, if indeed they have any? Any thoughts would be appreciated!
Somewhat pee'd off NT tenant.

I have a feeling that I applied for the job that is now responsible for this program, I had a feeling that they would take it in this kind of direction and without proper support, it was always going to lead to difficulties. Have they offered ANYTHING in return for these changes? - more favourable rents, a contract to supply them etc?

What are the key points that you feel are going to cause you to lose out, and why do you feel that way? - I'm not saying you're wrong of course, just trying to better understand the situation.

 

[glasshouse]

I have been sitting here for a long time debating whether to write this thread or not but now feel that someone must sit up and ask a few questions of our lanlords, the largest landowners in the UK.
We have been at our farm for the last 23 years as tenants of the NT and were probably the first FBT tenant under the new legislation. Without going into too much detail we were told by our agent 18 months ago that our farm was going to be showcase for their "strategy for nature " and that we would would be facing massive change if we wanted to stay here. In simplistic terms they want to " let the meadows merge into the woodlands and allow a far greater degree of public access"
This will not allow us to run a business on this farm any longer, which at the moment is run as a commercial farm with an emphasis on higher level stewardship with a number of diversified enterprises.
Without going into any more personal details I am just wondering if there are any more forum members out there experiencing similar problems with the NT and what their thoughts are?
We have had a number of meetings with agents, NFU and the NT but are getting absolutley nowhere and can see no future in staying here unable to run an viable businees which we have tried to build over the last 23 years.
This is all pretty heavy stuff, even in these crazy times the NT seem hell bent on destroying a family mixed farm business, what the hell is their thinking, if indeed they have any? Any thoughts would be appreciated!
Somewhat pee'd off NT tenant.

Time to get a journalist involved.
Joe public will be onside
Public bodies like NT should not be eligible for bps money

 

[Yale]

@Charlie Flindt

 

[Northeastfarmer]

I cannot add anything to this thread @bluepower but to wish you the best of luck
I felt my blood beginning to boil reading it

 

[Ffermer Bach]

Food production is a bit higher up the agenda now

I said on facebook, When Trump was trying to be elected, he was saying "lets make America great again" and everyone laughed at him, as if he was an uneducated dullard. What he was trying to say I think was "it may cost more in the short term, for a country to produce things in house, but in the long term that is a very good policy", that sentiment applies to not just ventilators, PPE or drugs but also food. We destroy our agriculture at our peril, all for short term gain. Very important to support UK Agriculture.

 

[bluepower]

I have a feeling that I applied for the job that is now responsible for this program, I had a feeling that they would take it in this kind of direction and without proper support, it was always going to lead to difficulties. Have they offered ANYTHING in return for these changes? - more favourable rents, a contract to supply them etc?

What are the key points that you feel are going to cause you to lose out, and why do you feel that way? - I'm not saying you're wrong of course, just trying to better understand the situation.

In simple terms we will not be able to farm the land and produce any food from it. Rent doesn't come into it as we would be expected to stay here to implement their crazy policy and put up withe the general oublic wandering through our yard and past the house at all times of day and night. It is bad enough at the moment so I dread to think what it will be like in a few years time!