The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Community => Introduce yourself => Topic started by: Simon O on March 26, 2010, 01:02:21 am

Title: Hello
Post by: Simon O on March 26, 2010, 01:02:21 am
Hi there this seems to be the way to introduce yourself here. We have been looking at this website for a couple of years since starting to search for somewhere outside Glasgow, somewhere with a smaller house and a bigger garden, and a bit of land to maybe get some birds or animals. Yesterday we viewed and bought in one day (assuming contract goes thru ok) a place in North Lanarkshire which seems like everything we have been looking for. So I thought we had better register.
We have been allotmenting for 20+ years and gardening is a big part of our lives. We have no animals at all since our dog died 2 weeks ago, so she never got to see the new place.
We have a lot of plans but will need to take it slow and steady.
A quick question to anybody who knows the answer. Our new place is a 'registered agricultural holding' with a 'farm code': what are the implications of this, the rights/responsibilties it carries, etc., or where can I find this out? Yes I know we should have known this before committing ourselves... :dunce:..a quick internet search - all that was possible in the brief time we had to decide whether or not to buy - did not reveal much useful info.
Looking forward to chatting with everybody about things.
Title: Re: Hello
Post by: garden cottage on March 26, 2010, 06:30:18 am
as long as its used for some kind of agricultural activity re livestock arable also includes some forestry, only problem will come if any sheds, yard, or field are not used for this then you may be required to apply for change of use thro planning.
Title: Re: Hello
Post by: JulieS on March 26, 2010, 07:12:41 am
Hello and welcome  :)
Title: Re: Hello
Post by: Wizard on March 26, 2010, 07:52:18 am
Hello Simon I don't tell em nothing let them find out Use the farm as a farm but if you use one of the sheds to make Windsor Chairs as a hobby don't tell them Let them find out .DO NOT Let the shed to me say because that is asking for bother and will definitely need a change of use order and Oh dear Restrictions restrictions restrictions and then they can find another ??? ;D :farmer:
Title: Re: Hello
Post by: Hilarysmum on March 26, 2010, 10:20:17 am
Hi , welcome and congratulations.  Looking forward to hearing what you do with your sheds and land.   :wave:
Title: Re: Hello
Post by: Daisys Mum on March 26, 2010, 11:16:12 am

Hi and welcome from the Scottish borders (east side). SEERAD website may help you but I just found it confusing. Good luck in whatever you decide to do with your land and sheds, chickens are a necessity IMHO. :chook: :wave:
Title: Re: Hello
Post by: Simon O on March 26, 2010, 05:48:47 pm
Hi there guys who have replied already - thanks for your replies so far and good to meet you. This site is so good for getting feedback. Yes chickens are a definite. Getting keys on 21/4 but still have to get a lick of paint on old place and get it on the market. Shame I have got to go and work now till tomorrow morning  :-[ but I'm going to check in tomorrow. Cheers. :)Simon
Title: Re: Hello
Post by: little blue on March 26, 2010, 07:40:41 pm
hello and welcome
Title: Re: Hello
Post by: Rosemary on March 26, 2010, 08:44:15 pm
Hi and welcome. Your holding number will be registered with the Government and will "allow" you to claim grants, keep livestock (subjct to further registration) and fill in various paperwork. If you are going to keep livestock - pigs, sheep, cattle - you need to register with Animal Health who will give you a herd, flock, herd numebr as appropriate.

Good luck!
Title: Re: Hello
Post by: CameronS on March 26, 2010, 09:18:49 pm
Welcome from fife  :wave:
Title: Re: Hello
Post by: HappyHippy on March 26, 2010, 09:33:43 pm
Hello and welcome from me in South Lanarkshire  :wave:
As Rosemary said your 'farm code' is also known as your CPH number and basically means you don't have to go through the process of registering with SEERAD.
Look forward to hearing more from you as you make plans.
Karen
Title: Re: Hello
Post by: Simon O on March 28, 2010, 10:44:01 pm
Thanks for all your replies - I checked out SEERAD and realised I had been there before and that it was confusing and that was why I did not really understand it. I am guessing that if you claim grants you have to provide information about what you are doing and i realise that as Wizard says this might not always be a good idea. I wasn't sure if the fact that you had a number meant that you had to provide some sort of annual return of your activities. You have all given me some helpful info - at any rate it looks like we don't need to do anything immediately. We are going to settle in before getting any livestock, observe what comes up in the garden and make plans.  There is a little work to do on the house. Might get chickens first, maybe some weaner pigs next year. I would like to get cats as we are told there are a lot of mice around and they drink the 2-stroke; and I think Cheryl wants to gets a dog or dogs again soon though she says she doesn't. Becky our daughter does not want me to get cats as she does not like them; except bald ones. Karen you seem to be the nearest neighbour I know about so far; I know Rosemary and Dan are moving away to the coast soon or ?have moved already.
Cheers, Simon.
Title: Re: Hello
Post by: doganjo on March 28, 2010, 11:14:20 pm
North Lanarkshire isn't that far from Clackmannanshire - me and Sandy are here.  Let us know if there's anything we can help with.
Title: Re: Hello
Post by: Simon O on March 28, 2010, 11:40:05 pm
Thanks! - I looked at the dogs on your website - nice!
Title: Re: Hello
Post by: doganjo on March 29, 2010, 09:43:37 am
Merci, Monsieur, vous etes tres complimentaire
Title: Re: Hello
Post by: Wizard on March 29, 2010, 09:50:53 am
If you don't behave Annie I shall pop up there and administer my hob nailed boot to Olaf's bottom and wake im up ;D ;D :farmer:
Title: Re: Hello
Post by: sandy on March 29, 2010, 10:43:42 am
 :wave:Hello from Clackmammammamammm!!!! far too cold to think, it's freeeeezin here today!
Title: Re: Hello
Post by: doganjo on March 29, 2010, 11:06:07 am
Olaf has decided to hibernate as it's got cold again! ;D  Another 2300 tons of coal just trundles noisily past my window going to feed the burners at Longannet so you lot can use your low energy light bulbs. ;) ;)
Title: Re: Hello
Post by: Wizard on March 29, 2010, 01:15:03 pm
To far for the Lecie to come Annie Get mine from Drax The real Power Station.Have you Googled DRAX.Its massive.Simon went to a loading shovel there last week but hadn't time to wait for me to go to Immingham to go with him.You can go on a conducted tour but I wouldn't be able to keep up.There is allegedly 2 million tons of coal on the Drax Carpet :D :farmer:
Title: Re: Hello
Post by: Simon O on April 27, 2010, 07:52:30 am
Hi again - sorry to pull this hello back to the top again! - we got our place at Bonkle the other day despite lawyer shenanigans that went down to the wire. So we are exploring and moving things over - still decorating our old house in Glasgow so we can sell asap. I can see Fergie is a very close neighbour, probably just a couple of miles as the crow flies. Cheryl and I are very excited with our planss for the garden and land!  :)
Title: Re: Hello
Post by: jameslindsay on April 27, 2010, 07:53:56 am
Hello and welcome. :wave:
Title: Re: Hello
Post by: doganjo on April 27, 2010, 10:21:53 am
Good to hear you're all sorted, Simon and Cheryl!  Good luck!
Title: Re: Hello
Post by: Annie22 on April 27, 2010, 01:21:24 pm
Hello and welcome from Australia,  glad to see you are now moving in.
Title: Re: Hello
Post by: Rosemary on April 27, 2010, 05:18:01 pm
Congratulations, both of you. You might want to join Central Scotland Smallholders - big TAS crossover!
Title: Re: Hello
Post by: valr on April 27, 2010, 06:30:51 pm
Hi Simon! Great news for you and Cheryl. How much land do you have?
The farmer across from my house asked me this afternoon if I wanted some lambs. I thought he said "land" and got quite excited ;D
However I had to say as I have no room (and I'm sure the neighbours would draw the line at sheep!)
Val
Title: Re: Hello
Post by: Simon O on April 27, 2010, 06:40:54 pm
Hi Val I happened to be looking at TAS when I was meant to be finishing off at work and saw your post. We have 22 acres, it seems about half woodland and scrub and half fields, with 2 good fields and a couple of smaller scrubby ones where I wonder if pigs maybe could go, and with a 2acre walled garden which is overgrown with some ancient fruit trees still there. I spoke to the neighbouring farmer's wife on the phone last night to introduce myself - they have 130 milking cows sheep pigs and chickens so I hope will be able to give us a bit of advice - she has 3 'pet lambs', which the mum's could not cope with, at the moment so when Cheryl heard this she got excited about maybe having a pet lamb in the future! I hope you get your land as well as your lambs!
Title: Re: Hello
Post by: Fergie on April 27, 2010, 08:29:02 pm
Hi again - sorry to pull this hello back to the top again! - we got our place at Bonkle the other day despite lawyer shenanigans that went down to the wire. So we are exploring and moving things over - still decorating our old house in Glasgow so we can sell asap. I can see Fergie is a very close neighbour, probably just a couple of miles as the crow flies. Cheryl and I are very excited with our planss for the garden and land!  :)

Hello Simon & Cheryl,

yes, I'm a close neighbour - just the other side of the A71.  I saw the advert for the house and land for sale, which I assume is the place you've got.

I've sent you a PM to make contact - Please come and visit us.

Regards,

John
Title: Re: Hello
Post by: ballingall on April 27, 2010, 10:18:11 pm
Hello Simon! I must have missed this the first time!

I am also only just up the road from you- we are on the back roads between Falkirk and Livingston. Glad to hear you have your land. Hope your house sells quickly!


Beth