Rural Estates

Rural Estates support the rural economy by providing opportunities to earn a living in the countryside by farming and/or other allied activities.

Gloucestershire County Council, in common with the majority of other County Councils, owns an extensive agricultural estate, managed under the Statutory Smallholdings provisions and known as the Rural Estate. The County Council Estates amount to over 320,000 acres nationally, and provide opportunities for farming and rural businesses for approximately 5,000 tenants.

Land was originally acquired on a large scale in the early part of the 1900s, primarily to provide a future for those returning from the Great War who desired a rural life. The scheme has, since then, continued to provide opportunities for young farmers who otherwise would not be able to get onto the farming ladder.

Gloucestershire's Estate currently extends to approximately 8,595 acres. There is a wide range in the size of the holdings, from small and intensive horticultural units of less than 10 acres to dairy farms in excess of 150 acres. The largest proportion fall within the 60 - 90 acres size.

There are approximately 169 lettings. The predominant activity is stock/cereal farming but there are a number of dairy holdings, arable holdings and horticultural holdings, together with bare land and miscellaneous lettings.

The Estate is particularly dispersed, extending from Wickwar in the south to the North Cotswolds/Vale of Evesham area in the north. The main estate of 1,235 acres is situated at Standish, near Stonehouse.

The Estate Office (where the Rural Team is based and the day-to-day management of the Estate is undertaken) is located in Shire Hall, Gloucester.

The Rural Estate is continually being strategically reviewed and rationalised to provide a range of farming opportunities. Gloucestershire County Council encourages sustainable farming practices, conservation and educational visits, and strives to generate more rural employment by promoting diversified enterprises.

	Newsletters Copies of The Maltings - the Biannual Newsletter sent to Tenants
	Policies, Reports and Management Data The Council endeavours to run a very open management regime and the Gloucestershire Rural Estate Forum (GREF) was established to facilitate communications with the estate tenants and the wider agricultural community.
	Tenants' Information Information for existing and prospective tenants, re-lettings,useful forms and web links.
	The Wider Role This initiative was launched during the autumn of 2001 to examine how the profile of the Estate could be raised within the wider community, but is currently on hold awaiting capital finance.
	How to contact the Rural Estates Team How to contact the Rural Estates Team