Farming Minister, Victoria Prentis backs Yorkshire Water's new 'starter farm' initiative to help young people get a foothold in the industry

Applications for young farmers to become tenants at Yorkshire Water’s first Beyond Nature starter farm open this coming Monday, August 24
Yorkshire Water is offering the farm as part of its new Beyond Nature starter farm initiativeYorkshire Water is offering the farm as part of its new Beyond Nature starter farm initiative
Yorkshire Water is offering the farm as part of its new Beyond Nature starter farm initiative

The utilities company, which is the second largest landowner in Yorkshire, is looking for a young farmer to take on Scow Hall Farm as part of its mentoring scheme.

The farm, near Swinsty Reservoir, is part of Yorkshire Water’s Beyond Nature programme which rents farmland for broader objectives than purely commercial agriculture.

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Each farm in the programme has nine key objectives that tie into sustainable land management, including water quality, biodiversity, carbon sequestration and peatland restoration.

The young farmer chosen to rent Scow Hall Farm will be given a five-year tenancy, during which they will receive mentorship, support and guidance from the water company on how to manage the land sustainably. After five years, the company will support the farmer to find a more permanent residency, and the farm will be rented to another young farmer, creating a five-year cycle.

The initiative has been praised by farming minister, Victoria Prentis, who said she was “very pleased” to see Yorkshire Water create this opportunity for a young farmer to learn how to run a profitable and sustainable business.

“Farming efficiently and protecting the environment can, and should, go hand in hand,” she said

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“This Government is committed to supporting our farmers to move towards a more sustainable style of land management, which is why farmers will be rewarded for delivering public goods under our new Environmental Land Management scheme.”

Gaynor Craigie, manager of land and property at Yorkshire Water, said: “We are looking for applicants that are interested in managing a farm for the first time but do have some previous knowledge and understanding of the industry.

“The successful candidate will have a vision for the farm and an idea of how it will operate under the Beyond Nature values and our land strategy of delivering exceptional land for Yorkshire.”

For more details or to request an application form contact [email protected] or visit yorkshirewater.com/beyond-nature/next-generation-farming/

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James Mitchinson