The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Community => Introduce yourself => Topic started by: cmac21 on May 20, 2019, 10:00:48 am

Title: Do we qualify as a smallholding and does that mean grants are available?
Post by: cmac21 on May 20, 2019, 10:00:48 am

Morning,
We have just over 10 acres in West Sussex and currently keep 3 horses, hens, ducks and a cat and dog.  We are going through the very long list of what we need to do to keep this place maintained and help our land, buildings, yard etc from further deterioration and I wondered if we might be able to register as a smallholding and if that might mean there were any grants available. We have considered adding a few sheep as well.
I have looked on gov.uk but it looks like we need over 12 acres for basic payment so I wondered if something like country stewardship might be possible. 
All advice very welcome,  Thank you!
 :horse: :horse: :horse: :&> :chook: :dog: :cat:

Title: Re: Do we qualify as a smallholding and does that mean grants are available?
Post by: SallyintNorth on May 20, 2019, 09:17:19 pm

All the schemes like countryside stewardship have the basic payment scheme as a pre-requisite. And don’t regard horses or farmyard fowl as agriculture.

Whether there are regional schemes aimed at smallholders I wouldn’t know.  The land agents attached to your local mart is probably a good place to ask.