ABSTRACT

Climate Change Programme Agricultural diversification Farmers and landowners are well accustomed to the concept of introducing some non-agricultural element to their properties and businesses. Indeed, the latest Government figures show that over half of farmers within the UK now have an alternative source of income and diversification schemes are becoming an increasingly common sight across the country. In almost all such cases, the development will have been undertaken essentially for financial reasons, either to supplement failing farm incomes or to exploit new opportunities. There are only few occasions when part of a farm may be given over to another use without some monetary motive, although this does arise in certain situations, such as Countryside Stewardship or creating a visitor centre for school children. Diversification schemes do often create a facility that benefits a wider public, as in the case of farm shops or pay-as-you-go bridleways, but, essentially, they will be founded upon a commercial purpose.