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Spring Smallholding considerations from Cliverton

4th April 2019

Spring has finally sprung; there are lambs skipping around the fields and the landscape is starting to change with the new season, bringing with it the chance for new potential.

It sounds idyllic; an abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables at your fingertips, living off your land and enjoying the farm-to-fork experience but don’t be fooled, running a smallholding can be a 24/7 commitment.

It’s important to have a basic plan in place from the start, having responsibility for the land and choosing what you wish to do to make the land purposeful will be time consuming and potentially costly.

Smallholdings are used for a range of activities but it’s worth knowing in your plan the legal obligations  of using your land ,and what insurance you need .

Reaping the benefits of your smallholding can be rewarding and deciding who will be helping you on the smallholding, whether they are chief tea maker or experienced labourers will be a weight off your mind in terms of covering the workload and planning ahead. It is worth noting that if you have anybody working on your behalf, your insurance policy will need to include Employer’s Liability.

If the idea of having cute lambs running around or being followed around like a mother hen by baby chicks appeals, then it is worth noting that keeping livestock means you are subject to the same legislation as any other farmer would be. The welfare of any animals you are keeping is paramount; is there adequate shelter, how are the animals going to be transported and who will be looking after them?

In terms of your land, a good sturdy boundary fence is important. Apart from the obvious protection it offers in defining the boundaries to your land, it also provides extra security. If you plant a border hedge too this will also encourage pollination and foraging from all manner of creatures.

Expert insurance advice will prove invaluable; often there are all manners of equipment that require insurance cover and as a Smallholder you may well have amassed quite a collection of tools already.

Alongside the Public Liability and Products Liability as part of a bespoke policy additional covers can be added tailored to the requirements of your Smallholding or Hobby Farm. It is worth also considering cover for Farm and Domestic Buildings and Contents, Livestock and elements of Business Interruption cover.

With the sun shining it’s time to, sow the seeds of success and grab a slice of the good life.

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