24 October 2006
Tyting Farm is set to remain in agricultural use for the foreseeable future thanks to the borough council's decision to lease the farm to Surrey Wildlife Trust (SWT) in association with the HALOW Project.
The future of the farm in Halfpenny Lane had been uncertain since the last agricultural tenancy ended in June 2005. Now, in response to the efforts of local residents, conservation organisations, farming representatives and local campaign group, Save Tyting Farm, the farm will be kept in public ownership. It will stay in agricultural use but will also provide a small community offering assisted-living to young adults with special needs. Ward councillor Sarah Creedy, Guildford Borough Council, explains:
"Tyting Farm is within the green belt and the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is heavily protected because of this. Our position has always been to safeguard it from the threat of inappropriate future development and ensure it has a viable future. SWT has exciting plans to regenerate the fields and woodland and graze cattle there again. Combining this expertise with HALOW's plans for the buildings is a fantastic way of safeguarding Tyting's future and preserving this beautiful area of Guildford.
"We are keen to make sure there is an active presence on the farm before winter sets in," adds Cllr Creedy.
Surrey Wildlife Trust's Head of Conservation, Jill Barton, comments:
"We are absolutely delighted that Guildford Borough Council has decided to lease Tyting Farm to Surrey Wildlife Trust. Not only does it give us the chance, in partnership with one of Surrey’s leading farmers, to manage 115 acres of valuable grassland, it also allows us to move into a fascinating and immensely rewarding area of community work. We are thrilled to be given the opportunity to work alongside the HALOW Project and grateful for the continuing support given to us by the Save Tyting Farm Campaign, other local organisations and, of course, Guildford Borough Council.”
Adds John Rigg, Chairman of the Save Tyting Farm campaign:
"This campaign has evidenced the enormous public support for protecting this outstanding landscape of the Surrey Hills, keeping land in agriculture and preserving working farms owned by the council. We are impressed that Guildford Borough Councillors have listened and responded so readily to the strength of public feeling: it has been a great example of local democracy in action for which we express our heartfelt thanks to all those who have helped secure this exciting outcome".
Tim Oliver of the HALOW Project says:
"We would like to express our gratitude to Guildford Borough Council for making such a great decision for Surrey Wildlife Trust and the HALOW Project as well as the people of Guildford. Our thanks must also go to the Save Tyting Farm Campaign as without their intervention on the sale of the property this would not have been possible".
The council received five bids for the leasehold of the farm. Each bid was looked at in terms of proposed use, sustainability, deliverability and financial benefit. Surrey Wildlife Trust's bid scored top marks overall against the criteria. The next step for the council will be to gain all the necessary statutory consents before being able to grant the lease.
Notes for Editors
For information on Surrey Wildlife Trust please call the PR Adviser, John Rennie, on 01737 213202 or email jrennie@dial.pipex.com .
Together with the Surrey Wildlife Trust the HALOW Project will be restoring the traditional working role of the farm providing the residents with work opportunities to complement other stimulating activities which will be aimed at encouraging creativity through responsibility, social enterprise and the arts. The HALOW Project hopes to attract the local community (particularly the young) to become involved and participate in the vibrant life of the project as it develops.