WELCOME
Challenges and opportunities
CONTENTS
4 Bringing a secret castle back to life.
6
We always approach the summer with keen anticipation.
Woman’s work: Farming is in the blood for two of our land agents.
As well as being enjoyable, it is always a very busy time of year, with agricultural shows, livestock auctions, fruit harvesting, farms and land coming to the market and more.
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In amongst all this activity, as advisors we attempt to take stock and assess how best our clients can plan for the future and capitalise on opportunities where they exist. Currently the key issue on everyone’s mind remains the need to plan for an uncertain post-Brexit future. While politicians, at the time of writing, are still divided, the rural sector is clear – we understand the value of our land, our livestock, our produce and the benefits we bring to consumers, the economy and wider society. Cultural and political changes may seem rather daunting at first glance, but with every challenge comes an opportunity. Many of us are already demonstrating best practice in terms of land management for public goods and the opportunities offered by diversified land use. The value in our land is its versatility. We stand ready to embrace the changes ahead.
Decline of salmon continues.
10 COVER STORY: The amazing value of the humble bee.
12 Going back to the wild on two Scottish estates. Forestry without grants.
14 A9 and A96 road widening update. Ossian Experiences – the new leisure offering from Galbraith.
16 Behind the scenes at the Stirling Bull Sales.
Private water supplies. Galbraith and Land Factor merge. See you at the shows.
20 All about septic tanks. GALBRAITH is a leading independent property consultancy. Drawing on a century of experience in land and property management, the firm is progressive and dynamic, employing 240 people in offices throughout the UK. We provide a full range of property consulting services across the commercial, residential, forestry, rural and energy sectors.
Smaller forestry projects can be profitable – and they could be a lifeline for struggling sheep farmers, says Jennifer Jeffrey.
All about LDPs.
18 ian hope, Head of rural
How trees
Land agents meet at Glamis Castle.
22 A day in the life... Putting more game on the menu.
With the threat of Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (LFASS) payments grinding to a halt, confusion over future farm subsidies and the ready market of investors looking for bare hill land suitable for forestry planting, it may seem that upland livestock farmers have no option but to sell up and cash in while they can. However, consideration should be given to how livestock and forestry enterprises can be run in tandem on the same holding to add value to your land and business. The answer could be agro-forestry. The benefits that agro-forestry can bring to sheep health and productivity are well known and proven: • Providing shelter and shade for animals. • Assisting with water management. • Increasing bio-security. • Increasing grass growth. What may not be as well known is that smaller forestry plantations can be profitable too and bring a wider benefit to the whole farming business.
Galbraith provides a personal service, listening to clients and delivering advice to suit their particular opportunities and circumstances.
tax benefits Follow us on Twitter: @Galbraith_Group @Galbraith_Rural Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/GalbraithRural/ See us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/GalbraithGroup Join us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/galbraith
Rural Matters is produced by Galbraith and designed by George Gray Media & Design, St Andeux, France. © CKD Galbraith LLP.
Page 2 | Rural Matters | Summer 2019 | galbraithgroup.com
Forestry brings a number of tax benefits – one of the reasons investors are keen to cash in. No income tax is payable on profit made from the sale of commercial timber and the gain in value of commercially managed standing timber is free from Capital Gains Tax so passing on property to the next generation may be less onerous. Commercially managed woodland also qualifies for Business Property Relief, so no Inheritance
