Author Topic: Complete Newbie looking for advice please (Read 1814 times)

salli_c · « **on:** July 03, 2017, 09:55:22 am »

Hi folks. We are in the process of buying a 6 acre smallholding in Wales. Have never managed land before although we are professional gardeners so have experience with veg.

I'm looking for some info on what we are allowed to do with the land. It's a registered smallholding which has been mainly used for sheep in the past.

We are wanting to dig a large vegetable patch, extend the garden into one of the paddocks and have a polytunnel. In the future once we have learned what to do, we will include a few animals too. Would all this be allowed or are there any rules or restrictions which would prevent us from doing any of that?

Thanks in advance for any insight.

Jukes Mum · « **Reply #1 on:** July 03, 2017, 10:09:21 am »

Hi and wecome to TAS! There are some very knowledgable, helpful people on here who I'm sure will be along soon to advise.
In the meantime, I would not have thought that you be allowed to extend your garden into the field (we wanted to do this too). They get a but twitchy about using agricultural land for leisure use.

salli_c · « **Reply #2 on:** July 03, 2017, 10:46:26 am »

Thank you. Is there a legal difference between agricultural land and a smallholding?

Penninehillbilly · « **Reply #3 on:** July 03, 2017, 11:42:36 am »

We have a large polytunnel because it's within the curtilage of the house, i presume that's variable with site. You may need to apply for change of use to extend your garden, would this be your veg area?
I would rent some land out if you aren't going to use it immediately, land soon goes backwards and collects weeds.

salli_c · « **Reply #4 on:** July 03, 2017, 01:51:13 pm »

The property we are looking at has a smallish garden around the house and 3 fields currently rented out by the owner to local farmers for sheep. We were wondering if it is likely we would be allowed to erect a polytunnel and make vegetable garden in one of these fields, and move one of the fences (nearest the house) out by around half an acre to extend the garden?

Would it be best to call the council's planning department and discuss it with them, without naming the property we are interested in?

Thank you for any help

Backinwellies · « **Reply #5 on:** July 03, 2017, 02:27:29 pm »

Why extend the garden by half an acre? (that is a lot of garden!!) Grow veg in the field!

Planning rules on Poly tunnels are different depending on whether they are in garden curtilage or on Ag land .... ask Bionic (on here)

A smallholding is a small farm usually ... and thus agricultural land ... but worth checking what it is registered as.