A collaborative landlord and tenant relationship

A collaborative approach between a landlord with more than a dozen sites and its tenants is delivering impressive results for farming and the environment.

The Countryside Regeneration Trust (CRT) owns just over 2,000 acres of working farms, smallholdings and woodland across England. It works in partnership with tenants to enable them to use nature-friendly farming methods, offering guidance, resources and volunteers to improve wildlife habitats and carry out conservation projects.

The set-up has allowed those from non-agricultural backgrounds to enter the industry, providing opportunities for the next generation of farmers to bring their ideas and energy to the farmyard.

Kayleigh Robb, 36, has been the tenant farmer at the 200-acre Pierrepont Farm in Surrey since April 2024. She does not come from a family of farmers, and has found the relationship with the CRT to be highly beneficial as she navigates her journey in developing a regenerative future for the dairy farm, as well as adding sheep for the first time.

“For me it was one of the appeals with entering into a tenancy with the CRT – we both bring something to the table,” she says.

“Having landlords that put time aside to ask the simple question of ‘are you ok?’ or ‘how can we help?’ has been integral. Taking on a tenancy and navigating the ups and down in the first year can be challenging, but having a good line of communication with the CRT allows me to confidently ask questions.

“As farmers we aren’t always best at asking for help, so by having a good sounding board within the CRT and being able to tap into their wealth of knowledge has helped. That includes Farming in Protected Landscapes grants for the new milk vending machine, and working together to achieve a Sustainable Farming Incentive agreement that works both for the farm’s future and within the CRT’s core principles.”

Kayleigh has returned the herd to its original 50 milking Jersey cows. Reducing the herd size and introducing herbal leys into the grazing system has taken pressure off areas with greater conservation importance, such as the acid grasslands. The grazing areas will also be planted with more trees and hedgerows to divide up paddocks, providing extra shelter for livestock and more habitat for birds and wildlife.

Over the years, the CRT has transformed the onsite ‘Old Dairy’ into a courtyard of restored Grade II listed buildings that are used by local artisans, who make and sell everything from fudge and cheese to jewellery and furniture. It is currently building more units to meet demand, while disabled parking bays have been created as part of a project to boost access and help the public enjoy the woodland, along with new information signs about the farm.

The River Wey runs through the margins of Pierrepont, which was gifted to the CRT in 2006, and its volunteers manage the habitat, as well as the mature bluebell woodlands and hedgerows. Kerriann McLackland, Head of Estates at the CRT, is a great believer in the power of relationships. She says: “Collaborative working with tenants is essential if landlords are going to achieve their aims and objectives.

“The key is finding the right tenants whose goals and ambitions align with your own, and dedicating the time to build and maintain those relationships.

“As this is Kayleigh’s first farm tenancy, we knew from the outset that taking on Pierrepont Farm would be a very steep learning curve for her. Before her tenancy commenced, we identified supporting her as a priority, and brought together a network of staff, trustees and other tenants that she could be in touch with from day one.

“As a result of the time invested, we have been able to build a great relationship. There have been unforeseen problems with some of the infrastructure and equipment on the farm, and together we have been able to obtain grant funding, combine skills and resources and come up with solutions.”

For Kerriann and the trust, nature is central to good farming, with the approach to sensitive land management wielding impressive results for biodiversity.

“While some of the support we offer sounds potentially expensive and definitely does have a financial cost, this is hugely outweighed in the longer term,” she says. “Where we have committed tenants, it results in amazing outcomes for nature-friendly farming and countryside education – the CRT’s two principle charitable objectives.”

The CRT was established in 1993 by the late farmer, journalist and conservationist Robin Page, and artist Gordon Beningfield. The initial aim of the charity was to buy intensively farmed land with declining wildlife numbers and restore it.

It now has seven farm business tenancies, seven graziers, seven residential tenants and 11 commercial tenants, with five more joining this year.

It is a model that has helped countless tenants. Tim Scott became the first tenant more than 30 years ago, and is passionate about the difference that nature-friendly farming has made to the 400-acre arable Lark Rise Farm in Cambridgeshire.

Balancing the needs of food production and wildlife, it grows wheat, barley, oats and triticale while hosting record numbers of bird species, including song thrush, yellowhammer, linnet, skylark, grey partridge and breeding lapwing.

Wildlife has been encouraged through smaller field sizes, crop rotation, beetle banks and wildlife strips, with volunteers helping to create four miles of new hedgerows and monitor species.

“Being involved in the CRT has changed my life,” says Tim, whose farm won the Redlist Revival Award for ‘Highest Density of Grey Partridge’.

“It’s lots of little things we do, such as not combining after dark to avoid disturbing nests, that add up.

“I’m incredibly proud that we have very high numbers of farmland birds, bucking national trends, and one of the highlights was having then-Prince Charles visit.

“The most important thing to me is what happens in the field. This is where we’re looking at broadleaf weeds that basically bring in the insects and other things feed on the insects. Then around most fields, we have grass margins. These have different management regimes from regular to irregular cutting.

“The CRT embraces everything. I might be the front man but lots of others have helped along the way, and are still helping me.”

Kerriann says the CRT adapts its support for longstanding tenants such as Tim. “With our more experienced tenants, they are less likely to need our help with things like dealing with the Rural Payments Agency or applying for grants, but there will also be times when we need to work together to find solutions,” she says.

“Lark Rise is threatened by the proposed East-West Rail scheme and we have worked together to oppose the scheme, and will continue to do so on issues such as mitigation if the route ultimately does impact the farm.”

The partnership between landlord and tenants is thriving. Asked whether she has any advice for others who have multiple tenants, Kerriann says: “It can be hard when workloads are high and demands on your time are multiple, but time spent having a conversation over a cup of tea or farm walk will never be wasted.

“Be clear in your aims and expectations. And most importantly, listen – really listen.”