Lincolnshire farm bequest to be let on the open market

Added by Love Business East Midlands | 3 April 2019

Lincolnshire Agricultural Society is offering the open market an opportunity to occupy and farm Trafford Farm in Lincolnshire, after being gifted the property by well-respected Lincolnshire farmer, the late Miss Shelia Trafford.

Consisting of 465 acres arable of land surrounding the village of Carlton Le Moorland, between Lincoln and Newark, the farm was a bequest to the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society (LAS) by Shelia in 2015 and has now been renamed Trafford Farm after previously being called Corner Farm. 

Shelia Trafford decided to leave the farm to the Society following her support of the Society’s charitable aims and objectives, which are to educate the county about food, farming and a sustainable environment.

Jane Hiles, chairman of Lincolnshire Agricultural Society, said:

“This is a great opportunity for our charity and for young farmers in Lincolnshire and beyond.  We hope to receive some interesting proposals from prospective tenants, which as well as providing an opportunity to farm the land, will enable the charity to fulfil the late Miss Trafford’s wish that her farm support the education of young people in agriculture.”

Featuring a recently renovated four bedroom farmhouse, a traditional range of farm buildings and paddock located on the east side of the village, the house and farmyard could each be optional additions to the letting, extending the land to 477 acres.

The Society, which owns the Lincolnshire Showground, is letting the farm under a Farm Business Tenancy for a minimum of six years, and is being brought to the market through land agents JH Walter of Lincoln.

Michael Johnson of JH Walter said:

“The LAS will expect the land to be farmed to a high standard to deliver not only a financial return to the Charity, but also environmental and social benefits.”

Since Shelia’s death, the arable land has been farmed using contractors with parts let on one year agreements to grow potatoes, sugar beet and maize.

Shelia’s intentions that the farm be used to support the education of young people in agriculture is presently being achieved through the charity’s education and training programme.

Over the last year, the LAS welcomed more than 6000 school children who participated in one of its educational programmes.  These programmes include hands-on learning about the importance of a healthy breakfast, project-based food and environmental challenges for schools, teacher training programmes, facilitating farm visits, food and farming related careers days and attending in-school careers events. Individual grants are also made to help young farmers with career development.

Applicants are invited to submit their proposals and rent offers for the whole or parts of the property by 12 noon, 10 May 2019. 

View days are on Tuesday 9 and Friday 12 April 2019.  For further information about the farm or tender process, please contact Ian Walter, JH Walter on 0791 694 230.

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