Yorkshire Water has appointed a new tenant for a farm it owns near Swinsty Reservoir, as part of a scheme to encourage young farmers and sustainable land management.
The company announced the starter scheme last year amid concerns about the lack of farmers aged under 40.
It revealed today it has appointed 23-year-old Robert McAneney as the first tenant under the new scheme.
Yorkshire Water will rent Scow Hall Farm in the Washburn Valley to Mr McAneney for five years.
It will then help him find a permanent residency and rent the farm to another tenant for five years as part of the company’s Next Generation programme.
Mr McAneney grew up on his family small-holding and currently works on an arable and Christmas tree farm in Darlington.
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View of Swinsty Reservoir from Scow Hall Farm
He plans to keep a flock of Oxford Down sheep and Cheviot mules alongside other livestock at Scow Hall Farm.
Mr McAneney said:
“I’m really excited to start this new chapter. When I got the call from Yorkshire Water I was at work, out in the fields ploughing – my life changed overnight, and I immediately started planning what I want to do at Scow Hall Farm.
“To have this kind of opportunity at this age is amazing, and the team at Yorkshire Water have been really supportive. I’m most looking forward to being able to develop Scow Hall Farm into a more sustainable farm and increase my flock to substantial numbers.”
Yorkshire Water’s Next Generation programme was created as part of its Beyond Nature scheme, which supports farmers with sustainable land management.