Woodside Farm near Osgathorpe has new tenants.

It has been let on a long-term Farm Business Tenancy to Simon Davey and Katherine Freeman who intend to regenerate the traditional arable farm into an organic livestock farm.

The farm has been marketed and managed by Loughborough based specialist land development and property consultancy Mather Jamie.

 The 313-acre farm is part of the Paget Charitable Trust Estate - and Simon and Katherine also plan to look at various diversification options after the first year, once they have established their livestock target numbers.

 Simon has worked on farms since childhood, having grown up on a mixed family farm in East Sussex.  

Prior to taking on the tenancy for Woodside, Simon previously managed a 1,500-acre mixed farm in East Sussex as well as being involved in the organic conversion of two other agricultural holdings. 

Plans at Osgathorpe include turning arable land into grasslands for organic cropping.

Since 2000, Simon has also run his own fencing and agricultural contract business - K S Rural and has worked alongside organisations such as the National Trust.

He has plans to further expand by continuing to specialise in Agricultural & Equestrian fencing, with a continued focus on Countryside Stewardship Projects.

The couple have agreed a 25-year Farm Business Tenancy for Woodside Farm and have also opted into a Countryside Stewardship (CS) scheme for the holding.

This provides funding to farmers and land managers to improve their local environment. CS supports a range of enhanced environmental outcomes from restoring wildlife habitats and creating woodlands, to managing flood risk.

Amy Biddell from Mather Jamie said, "We received a lot of interest in Woodside Farm, and it was great to see such a high level of young farmers looking to convert to organic and take a step up the farming ladder.

"Simon and Katherine have exciting plans to expand and diversify the holding and we wish them well in their new farming venture." 

Simon added, "Katherine and myself are really excited to be settling in on the new farm with our young family and are looking forward to bringing in livestock and expanding the fencing side of our business."