Farmers Team Up

Last week I was contacted by John King, a farmer from East Harptree who became involved with the evacuation of 500 cattle for James Winslade’s farm near Moorland. He had heard of the farmer’s plight through social media and decided to help. But I am not sure when he set off that day he was expecting to be so profoundly moved by what he experienced which has stimulated him to continue providing support to those whose lives have been so badly disrupted.

Initially there had been a call for Land Rovers and trailers to help move the stricken cattle but it soon became clear that the flood waters were rising so fast that even Land Rovers were not going to be up to the task and so John set off to meet at Burrowbridge with his tractor and cattle box to see if he could help.

On arrival he was directed down the already flooded road towards Moorland which was delineated by electric fence posts so he could see the edge of the road. However, these fence posts were soon submerged leaving those involved with the rescue having to guess the limits of road which on occasions was very precarious with deep rhines and the swollen waters of the River Parrett often only feet away.

The first load of cattle were removed reasonably easily to the safety of Sedgemoor Market, which has been acting as a collection centre for both evacuated livestock and fodder and bedding which has been donated by farmers from as far afield as Scotland, northern England and East Anglia. However, by the time John retuned to pick up a second load, there were calves up to their bellies in flood water and older cattle up to their hocks. It was a terrifying experience for the cattle and not much less so for the people involved.

But what it did leave John with was an immense feeling of empathy for those who had lost their homes to the flood and for the farmers whose livelihoods will be profoundly affected for months if not years to come. As a consequence John has taken on the role of co-ordinating fodder and bedding donations from farmers in the Mendip area while Alvis Brothers contractors are doing the same for farmers in North Somerset.

John also realises that it is one thing delivering feed to Sedgemoor Market but it is quite another getting the donations to the farms were the fodder and bedding is needed in sufficient quantities to make a difference. Further this support will need to continue for many weeks to come and John has therefore been delivering the donated goods on a daily basis to where it is actually required.

He emphasised to me that small donations, little and often is what will be needed in the coming weeks because there is nowhere to store hay and straw under cover in large quantities while the wrapping of many of the silage bales has been punctured during transportation and so they will not last for long.

Therefore John stressed the need to deal with donations in a practical manner so as to put them to good effect and he is very happy to be contacted by anyone interested in making a donation on 01761 221234 or 07887755949.

Similarly the Bath and West has set up a “Somerset Farmer’s Fund” for the feeding and welfare of animals and the longer term regeneration of land to grazing pasture. This fund will be co-managed with the NFU and Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution to direct help to farming businesses to assist their recovery and if anyone feels able to make a donation please visit http://www.justgiving.com/Somerset-Farmers-Fund.

James Stephen MRICS FAAV
Partner
Rural Practice Chartered Surveyor, Wells
T: 01749 683381
E: james.stephen@carterjonas.co.uk

Bottoms up in Bath!

The big Christmas lights switch on with John Cleese in Bath last Thursday has signalled the official beginning of the festive period and as we know this is usually followed by the swift hibernation of the UK housing market!

However, in recent years with increasing access to property via web portals and smart-phone web apps the housing market has become far less seasonal and 2011 as a whole looks to be continuing that trend.

The early ‘New Year’ market was particularly buoyant in the southwest region and certainly out-performed the perceived stronger selling seasons of spring and early summer and this has become somewhat of a trend in recent years as quick decisions about property are made following the Christmas and New Year break.

The early autumn market too used to be a popular period for both buyers and sellers but the summer holiday hangover seems to have lasted longer in recent years and that is certainly true of 2011 in the southwest as the market didn’t really start to pick up until early October. We’re now rapidly approaching the end of November and viewing levels are still encouraging even though quality stock is in short supply and the viewing to offer ratio has come down to approximately 1 in 8 for October which was 1 in 49 in September. Activity is such that we have just released two new properties to the market, something that we would not have generally advised in years gone by and after just a few days we have had several viewings on both and an early bid on each.

It is also worthy of note that the greatest activity, particularly since the summer has centred on property below £1m and even more so on those below £500,000 suggesting that should a recovery be forthcoming it will have been supported to a greater extent from the bottom up rather than from the top down! In Bath we are particularly keen on increasing the level of city centre property that we are dealing with but we are now focusing just as much on high quality flats and apartments as we are on fine Georgian town houses due to the greater demand.

I am convinced that with just a few more positive headlines regarding the housing market we will see the return of buyers for the regions prime country houses, although in many cases significant price reviews will be needed as unrealistic pricing has been a fundamental reason for the severe lack of activity and confidence in this sector of the market in recent months.

So the Christmas parties, drinks receptions and general celebrations will have to wait at least for a few more weeks while we still have willing buyers and motivated sellers. We have all learned a great deal from the 2011 market, particularly from the vantage point of our new office here in Bath, the recovery is clearly going to be a slower process than many ‘experts’ predicted back in 2008/9 and old fashioned proactive agency together with realistically priced property will be the key to a successful 2012 and we’re eagerly anticipating a busy and productive New Year.

Patrick Brady
Associate
Residential, Bath