Particulars of 341.43 Acres of Heathland for Cattle Grazing
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LODGE & THOMAS HAVE BEEN FAVOURED WITH INSTRUCTIONS FROM NATURAL ENGLAND NATIONAL NATURE RESERVES ESTATE PARTICULARS OF 341.43 ACRES OF HEATHLAND FOR CATTLE GRAZING AT NORTH GOONHILLY & BOCHYM ENCLOSURE THE LIZARD, CORNWALL AVAILABLE IN TWO LOTS 3 YEARS - EXPIRING 31/12/2022 NORTH GOONHILLY 213.35 ACRES (86.34 HA) OR THEREABOUTS BOCHYM ENCLOSURE 128.08 ACRES (51.83 HA) OR THEREABOUTS Chartered Surveyors, Auctioneers, Valuers & Estate Agents 58 Lemon Street Truro Cornwall TR1 2PY 01872 272722 [email protected] www.lodgeandthomas.co.uk Situation: The two heathland grazing blocks are known as “North Goonhilly” and “Bochym Enclosure” and are located on the Lizard National Nature Reserve, Cornwall, all as shown on the attached Site and Location Plans. Description: The Lot known as “North Goonhilly” extends in all to approximately 213.35 Acres (86.34 Ha). The Lot known as “Bochym Enclosure” extends in all to approximately 128.08 Acres (51.83 Ha). Therefore, the total area equates to approximately 341.43 Acres (138.17 Ha). The attached Plans show the boundaries of each Lot edged in red. The Lots are available for cattle grazing to be let by way of Natural England’s “Short Term Grazing Licence” which will run to 31st December 2022. It is intended that the land will be available again in subsequent years, subject to the agreement of the parties, however Natural England reserve the right to choose whether or not renew the agreement, or to offer by tender again, as appropriate. Each block of heathland grazing is gated and fenced, primarily with post and barbed wire fencing. Water troughs and/or natural water is present in each block as shown on the attached Plans. Basic Payment Scheme: The Grazing Agreement is on the basis that Natural England will submit their own claim under the Basic Payment Scheme. For the sake of complete clarity, the Licensee will not be entitled to any payment under the Basic Payment Scheme or any Stewardship Scheme and will indemnify the owner for any breaches that may result in deductions to payments under the Scheme due to his actions. Access: The block known as “North Goonhilly” enjoys good gated access direct from the Council highway. The block known as “Bochym Enclosure” enjoys gated access from Natural England’s adjacent land. This is accessed via the Higher Bochym Rural Workshops site as shown on the attached Plans. Application and Tender Form: Tenders must be submitted to the Agents using the attached tender form only. The highest or any other tender will not necessarily be accepted, entirely at Natural England’s discretion. Natural England will be assessing applicants’ responses to the questions on the tender forms in addition to the tendered sums. Natural England – Short Term Grazing Licence: Each Lot will be subject to Natural England’s “Short Term Grazing Licence” for Grazing by cattle. The Licence Fee will be payable by annual payment due 1st April in each year of the Licence. The Licensee will also be required to pay an additional 5% + VAT to the Agents in respect of the First Year’s Licence Fee. There are to be no charges for water consumed. The Term will commence 1st April 2020 and run to 31st December 2022, allowing for three years’ grazing. The Licensee will carry adequate third party liability insurance. The Tender Pack includes example Short Term Grazing Licences for each grazing block, which Natural England have prepared. These detail the terms that the Grazier will be expected to comply with. These should be read in detail prior to submitting a tender, with particular attention to be paid to Schedule 2 of each example agreement which deal with Management Requirements and stocking levels. The required stocking rate for each block equates to 0.3 Livestock Units per Hectare. Full details are shown in the example Agreements, but this equates to an average of approximately 16 cattle/cows grazing throughout the year for the Bochym Enclosure, and approximately 25 cattle/cows grazing throughout the year for North Goonhilly. Please note that these are averages, and so numbers will inevitably vary according to age of cattle and it is expected that grazing numbers will be increased in drier months and decreased in wetter months. No bulls may be brought to the land without Natural England’s prior agreement. In addition to your cattle, a herd of Natural England’s ponies will continue to graze each block occasionally throughout the year in order to help achieve the required mosaic of habitat. The land is designated Open Access land, and is therefore subject to public access and rights of way. Graziers will be required to agree and follow a Risk Assessment, an example of which is contained within the tender pack. Viewing: Viewings are unaccompanied, but please contact Natural England’s Reserve Office at Bochym in advance to agree a viewing time. Telephone 01326 240808 / 07973 542257 to arrange Please take a copy of these Particulars with you, and respect the usual Countryside Code. T E N D E R F O R M RE LICENCE(S) FOR HEATHLAND GRAZING AT LIZARD NATIONAL NATURE RESERVE KNOWN AS “BOCHYM ENCLOSURE” AND “NORTH GOONHILLY” Full Name: ………………………………………………………………………… Address: ………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………… Telephone Number: LL …………………………… Mob …..…………………………… Email Address: ………………………………………………………………………… Closing date for Tenders: Monday 24th February 2020 at 12:00 noon I have read and studied the particulars attached to this tender form together with the example agreements and risk assessment, and have viewed the land. I understand that the Licence(s) that will be granted will be for a period from 1st April 2020 to 31st December 2022 and that there is no security of tenure as set out within the example agreements. I accept the terms of the Licence in accordance with the example agreements contained within the tender pack, and I agree to sign and execute a Licence as appropriate. I therefore tender the following Licence payment(s), per Lot, and acknowledge that the Licence payment(s) must be paid 1st April in each year of the Licence (not subject to VAT). I further acknowledge that, in addition to the Licence payment, the Agent’s Commission of 5% + VAT will also be due in respect of the first year of the Agreement. Year one = 1st April to 31st Dec 2020. Year two = 1st Jan to 31st Dec 2021. Year three = 1st Jan to 31st Dec 2022. LOT 1: “Bochym Enclosure” 128.08 Ac £……………………….. per annum LOT 2: “North Goonhilly” 213.35 Ac £……………………….. per annum Signed: ………………………………………………............... To be returned to: Lodge & Thomas, Chartered Surveyors, 58 Lemon Street, Truro, Cornwall TR1 2PY For the attention of Ross Collins, BSc(Hons), MRICS, FAAV Please also return the questionnaire on the following page Supplementary Questions (Please use additional sheets if required) 1. Please outline your existing farm business including area owned / rented and livestock numbers and type. 2. Please outline your plans for the farming of this land, including details of the breed and age of the cattle you intend to graze. 3. Please outline how the management of this land will link with your current farming business. 4. You will have noted that there are no livestock handling facilities on these sites. Please outline how you would overcome this. 5. Natural England currently graze ponies on these two sites. At North Goonhilly, around 20 ponies graze for around 10 weeks of the year (in May/June/July). At Bochym Enclosure, around 6 Exmoor ponies graze all year. Would you be willing to accommodate this level of pony grazing alongside your own cattle grazing on these two sites? 6. Burning is a valuable tool in the management of Heathland. Do you have any experience of small scale, controlled burning on heathland? Would you be willing to undertake a controlled burn on this site? 7. Please use the space overleaf to provide any other relevant information if you wish. .