Provider Profile

(An outline of the opportunity being provided)

About the opportunity: 

A 2500-acre upland/hill farm located between Bala and Trawsfynydd, rising to 1500ft. The farm is enclosed, split into four adjoining areas. A shepherd currently works on the farm, running a flock of around 1500 Welsh Mountain ewes. We lamb all the ewes outdoors, from the middle of April. Lambs are weaned in September and are typically sold as stores or hoggets in the following spring. Ewe lambs are kept as replacements. Ewes are fed silage and energy blocks during the winter.

The landowner is looking for a joint venture agreement.

If things go well with the joint venture agreement, there is a possibility for this opportunity to develop into a tenancy agreement.

About the landowner: 

The landowner is looking to provide a shepherd with a joint venture opportunity where he or she would provide the day-to-day management and labour of the farm in return for a payment and profit share.

The landowner has other business interests, including lowland farms located in North Wales. This upland/hill farm is currently being managed by a shepherd, who has been working there for 35 years, but is approaching retirement age.

About the farm:

Location: Between Bala and Trawsfynydd

Infrastructure available:

• Sheep handling facilities
• Shed that could accommodate cattle or would be suitable to house 500 ewes

Livestock available:

• There are 1200 ewes and 350 replacements which are all Welsh Mountain
• At one point, the farm ran 2000 hardy Welsh Mountain ewes, but the numbers have now been reduced due to various factors. The landowner has no objection to increase ewe numbers if needed and is happy to introduce a different breed.
• There are no cattle on the farm at present, but the landowner is happy to reintroduce cattle to the farm if the seeker is keen to do so.

Machinery available:

• Tractor
• Quad
• Hymac
• Livestock trailer
• Topper

Accommodation for the seeker: 

There is no accommodation available on farm. However, it would be possible to bring a static caravan to the farm.

Goals for the next 5 years:

• Generate a profit
• Maintain/improve the farms soil health/fertility status and biodiversity
• Maintain/improve the farms fencing
• Retain an acceptable level of control over the farming operation through close cooperation with the shepherd

Type of agreement being considered: 

Joint venture

Key characteristics the landowner is looking for in a business partner:

• Bilingual – ability to speak Welsh and English
• Hard working and practical