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<blockquote data-quote="Princess Pooper" data-source="post: 6737059" data-attributes="member: 971"><p>Good luck and no, you are not being unrealistic, others have achieved what you want to do. There is actually a surprisingly large amount of parcels of land to rent but it is rarely advertised. </p><p></p><p>Only 1/2 mile away from me (near Melton Mowbray) a wealthy businessman bought his dream home in the country with about 25 acres but other than 2 rescue donkeys he has no stock. So his neighbour rents the land for her rare breed sheep, they take some hay from it and pay rent in freezer sheep and honey and obviously the donkeys get as much hay as they want. </p><p></p><p>The neighbour is not a farmer, she owns the cottage opposite, with its own 1/3 of an acre plus this rented land and both she and her partner work full time and not even at home. Over the last 10 years she has built up to about 30 Soays. They have a restored Fergie 135, a small sheep trailer to tow behind their pickup and a hay trailer, mower, tedder and a hay shed. A contractor bales and loads the hay for them. </p><p></p><p>As others have commented, there are a lot of arable farmers now putting grass and sheep back in their rotation. The downside of this is you often have to electric fence it and arrange water and you might have to move them frequently.</p><p></p><p>Get to livestock markets - Melton an obvious one as you mentioned Leicester area - and put a postcard on the notice boards in the market office and have a chat to the auctioneers. There is a small charge for an advert in their newsletter (used to be free). Now is a good time to be looking for lambing (which obviously means more general sheep work as well) experience. As others have suggested, get your experience updated first but in the meanwhile put feelers out about land rent opportunities. </p><p></p><p>Start small and work up. You don't need much land to run a dozen sheep and you could start with store lambs. Most mixed or farm vet practices also run 'smallholder' and 'lambing' 1/2 day or full day courses. Ours certainly does, with several practices in Leicestershire, they might also be able to point you in the direction of some local farmers wanting a hand. Although for clients, they I am sure would allow you to join them for a small fee. Also see what Brooksby Melton College has on offer. </p><p></p><p>You will also need to get up to speed on the red tape side - movement regulations, tagging etc, remember to ask about this when doing any work experience, Trading Standards can also advise you. There is also info online and a copy of the sheep and goats welfare code. You would need to let Trading standards and APHA know if you did start keeping sheep.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Princess Pooper, post: 6737059, member: 971"] Good luck and no, you are not being unrealistic, others have achieved what you want to do. There is actually a surprisingly large amount of parcels of land to rent but it is rarely advertised. Only 1/2 mile away from me (near Melton Mowbray) a wealthy businessman bought his dream home in the country with about 25 acres but other than 2 rescue donkeys he has no stock. So his neighbour rents the land for her rare breed sheep, they take some hay from it and pay rent in freezer sheep and honey and obviously the donkeys get as much hay as they want. The neighbour is not a farmer, she owns the cottage opposite, with its own 1/3 of an acre plus this rented land and both she and her partner work full time and not even at home. Over the last 10 years she has built up to about 30 Soays. They have a restored Fergie 135, a small sheep trailer to tow behind their pickup and a hay trailer, mower, tedder and a hay shed. A contractor bales and loads the hay for them. As others have commented, there are a lot of arable farmers now putting grass and sheep back in their rotation. The downside of this is you often have to electric fence it and arrange water and you might have to move them frequently. Get to livestock markets - Melton an obvious one as you mentioned Leicester area - and put a postcard on the notice boards in the market office and have a chat to the auctioneers. There is a small charge for an advert in their newsletter (used to be free). Now is a good time to be looking for lambing (which obviously means more general sheep work as well) experience. As others have suggested, get your experience updated first but in the meanwhile put feelers out about land rent opportunities. Start small and work up. You don't need much land to run a dozen sheep and you could start with store lambs. Most mixed or farm vet practices also run 'smallholder' and 'lambing' 1/2 day or full day courses. Ours certainly does, with several practices in Leicestershire, they might also be able to point you in the direction of some local farmers wanting a hand. Although for clients, they I am sure would allow you to join them for a small fee. Also see what Brooksby Melton College has on offer. You will also need to get up to speed on the red tape side - movement regulations, tagging etc, remember to ask about this when doing any work experience, Trading Standards can also advise you. There is also info online and a copy of the sheep and goats welfare code. You would need to let Trading standards and APHA know if you did start keeping sheep. [/QUOTE]
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