Summer time is show time and we are now well in to show season.

The last show we had the H&H stand at was Penrith. Going over Shap in the torrential rain I very nearly turned the car around, however I persevered and enjoyed the challenge of getting the car off the field at the end of the day, dodging between the green parts and parked cars.

Shows are an important part of our work, and for me personally, one of the highlights of the year is The Westmorland Show.

Usually very well attended by the rural community, we at H&H Michael CL Hodgson always look forward to catching up with our customers, colleagues and friends.

Although we are in the main summer holiday period there is certainly plenty happening in the office at moment. We have two Group property auctions coming up in September/October and so we have all been busy pulling together the sales particulars for these, in addition to the usual valuations, claims and lease advice.

Our last property auction saw the sale of the woodland at Troutbeck, 1.90 acres selling in the region of £40,000 and the lake frontage on Windermere selling similarly well. Our next two auctions will feature something for everyone, a range of farms, agricultural land and amenity properties.

For those struggling to get their grass in dry, or others fed up of gathering and clipping as many sheep between these heavy showers as possible, there has been some recent good news including the long awaited RPA Commons top up payments following the Michampton Court Case and the Small Dairy Farmers Scheme.

Mark Barrow

Chartered surveyor