What to do? Or not bother?!

[Arabaloosa]

Hi all! Newbie here,.hoping to garner some wisdom from you all...
Long story short, have inherited several parcels of land. Nothing really set up for anything, all long neglected, access for big stuff a little tricky to some places (down bridleways, right of access over some private lanes etc). What shall I do with it?! I have some experience handling sheep and cattle, but nothing major (did relief milk for a few years, but no rearing beef experience for example). I like the idea of rearing stock and selling on, but is it as complicated as I'm overthinking it might be? Wondering about stores over winter then selling on? Also, the selling part... How do I go about it?! Never done or seen that side of it. Not really getting much help from people around here I felt I could ask, old Welsh farmers and have scoffed at a young woman doing such a thing who hasn't come from an old farming family... I feel like giving up and selling it all before starting!

 

[Mc115reed]

Hi all! Newbie here,.hoping to garner some wisdom from you all...
Long story short, have inherited several parcels of land. Nothing really set up for anything, all long neglected, access for big stuff a little tricky to some places (down bridleways, right of access over some private lanes etc). What shall I do with it?! I have some experience handling sheep and cattle, but nothing major (did relief milk for a few years, but no rearing beef experience for example). I like the idea of rearing stock and selling on, but is it as complicated as I'm overthinking it might be? Wondering about stores over winter then selling on? Also, the selling part... How do I go about it?! Never done or seen that side of it. Not really getting much help from people around here I felt I could ask, old Welsh farmers and have scoffed at a young woman doing such a thing who hasn't come from an old farming family... I feel like giving up and selling it all before starting!

First… do you want to make money or not?
several parcels of land being 150 acres or 5 acres in several parcels?
do you have access too capital too invest or would you be borrowing?

 

[David.]

Do the parcels connect, or could they?

 

[Nearly]

If it doesn't have to pay a wage then do what the hell you want.
Enjoy it, half the folk on here will be jealous.

Some idea of scale as above?

Payments will be available for 'not farming' and just clear a group of 5 pitches and charge for touring caravans to stay?

 

[Arabaloosa]

Sorry, should have included that! It's 30 acres, 20 connected, 10 acres not connected and cannot be, and potentially another 20 also not connected and unable to be if the tenant on it no longer wants to use it (this is the easiest to access, hence it being rented I guess). It doesn't have to pay a wage, I still work and so does the other half. It'd be more me doing it than him. It's more of a supplementary to income I guess? I did wonder about the non farming payment thing, as there is woodland in it too, or just wildflower meadowing it to save hassle! I've always dreamed of being a "farmer" from a young age, now I have the potential to I feel overwhelmed and disheartened by it

 

[Mc115reed]

Is it stock fenced and has water? .. also how far from it do you live? If your local too it, and it’s fenced and has water it would require very little day too day input from yourself too have some livestock on it, but on that scale I wouldn’t have ambitions of earning a living from it

 

[Nearly]

I've always dreamed of being a "farmer" from a young age, now I have the potential to I feel overwhelmed and disheartened by it

Join the gang.
A bit big for playing, not enough to lose a lot on.
Remember your 'farming' losses can be offset against your employed (?) income.
The (new) chancellor can afford for you to farm it.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Sell it and spend it on slow horses and fast women

 

[Arabaloosa]

Fencing will need attention. There is a natural water course which goes through on bit and troughs in the other. Just trying to get some ideas/insight before making any set in stone choices. It's a walkable distance from where in live, literally 5 minutes. No ambitions to earn a living on it, I know it's not achievable on that due to where it is, lack of infrastructure and not having a niche. Looking like selling it might be the best option @Northeastfarmer, but I'm not inclined towards other women and already have two retired, therefore slow, horses!

 

[Nearly]

Sell it and spend it on slow horses and fast women

Unlikely by her second post.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Rent some of it out and slowly improve bits of while you get on your feet and decide what to do
I take it is pasture land
What's it like and are the fences good?

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Unlikely by her second post.

Oooops I never read that

 

[Arabaloosa]

Rent some of it out and slowly improve bits of while you get on your feet and decide what to do
I take it is pasture land
What's it like and are the fences good?

It has apparently been offered for rent for a while over the years, no one has taken it up bar the parcel that's got road access. Fences need attention. It's neglected pasture land, need a lot of hedges taking back and scrub clearing, it's all encroached. An army of docks 7ft high, bramble cities in some parts... Clay soil. Sloping. In a bit of a valley. Typing this out is making me think it's more hassle than it's worth also in national parks, who are funny sods. Already been declined permanent livestock housing/handling for the pet sheep and horses for the paddocks by the house

 

[Derrick Hughes]

I love improving land like that ,but then I've been doing it all my life

 

[Arabaloosa]

I love improving land like that ,but then I've been doing it all my life

Still working on the 9acres that came with the doer upper house which we also inherited and moved into in October... Gained 20ft back on the field edges after clearing all the willow and brambles. The 9 months of rain didn't make it any easier!

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Still working on the 9acres that came with the doer upper house which we also inherited and moved into in October... Gained 20ft back on the field edges after clearing all the willow and brambles. The 9 months of rain didn't make it any easier!

I've been struggling on wet clay for 3 Months getting stuck all the time , it's finally dried out

 

[Nearly]

Are there a mob of ghosts in the house too?

 

[Arabaloosa]

Are there a mob of ghosts in the house too?

It wouldn't surprise me if the ghosts of my in-laws are haunting me, disapproving of my very existence and any changes I make... The whole place needs an exorcism and killing with fire...As you can guess, I'm not enamoured of the place!

 

[Mc115reed]

If you have the money doing nothing and have an hour free each day too check your stock/ can get away from work if they escape.. and already have a fairly flexible lifestyle .. I’d buy a few 10-15 cows … check the perimeter fence and repair and possible escape points and let your farming journey begin.. worse that can happen is your cows don’t earn there money back but you’ll learn a lot

 

[lloyd]

It wouldn't surprise me if the ghosts of my in-laws are haunting me, disapproving of my very existence and any changes I make... The whole place needs an exorcism and killing with fire...As you can guess, I'm not enamoured of the place!

Goats are the future!