Farming Diary by Helena White, chartered surveyor, H&H Land & Estates:

JUDGING by the last week of constant rain, summer definitely seems to be over - I’m just grateful I didn’t have too many site inspections booked in during the week!

Despite the atrocious weather, I’m pleased that it has generally been a successful period for many farmers in Cumbria, particularly with the exceptional livestock prices we are currently experiencing.

Last week, I was delighted to see the Kendal office being able to hold its first public auction since the start of the pandemic last year, and what a success it turned out to be. There were two very different lots on offer at the auction, one being a 3.35-acre parcel of land at Brown Howe on the shores of Coniston Water. The other was Dodding Holme, an ex-local authority, semi-detached restoration project.

Regardless of their differences, both lots proved incredibly popular, Dodding Holme selling at a final bid of £213,000.

The land at Brown Howe achieved the best result of the afternoon, going for more than six times the suggested guide price - at £310,000 in total!

This auction success gives us a real sense of what is currently desirable in the property market. Dodding Holme needed a complete overhaul, but buyers are keen to obtain properties similar to this so they can personalise to their own tastes. We knew the land at Brown Howe would have lots of interest as the recent pandemic has resulted in a lot of people looking for opportunities to be able to enjoy the great outdoors, which Brown Howe certainly has to offer.

H&H Land & Estates’ next auction is already scheduled for November 3 and is being held at The Olde Mill, Coast Road, Bardsea, Ulverston. This auction will include land at Leece as well as a delightful area of woodland near Calder Bridge. This woodland extends to approximately 16 acres. We all look forward to seeing the results for these great pieces of land.

I recently had the pleasure of attending the Cumbria Farming Awards, held on the evening of Friday, October 1 at the Greenhill Hotel, Wigton. It was a brilliant evening, showcasing the best of the best farming enterprise, farmers and individuals that Cumbria has to offer in the rural sector. What a change it made to see everyone dressed up and in their dancing shoes rather than their wellies!