The Farmers Mart Jun-Jul 2020 - Issue 69 | Page 58

58 HUMBERSTONE BANK FARM JUN/JUL 2020 • farmers-mart.co.uk LIVING THE DREAM IN THE WASHBURN VALLEY Chris Berry talks with Jonathan Grayshon of Humberstone Bank Farm. ‘MY main dream was to farm in my own right,’ this was how Jonathan Grayshon now of Humberstone Bank Farm, near West End in the hills and valleys of Nidderdale saw his life from being a boy on his father’s tenanted farm at Dacre. ‘I had a backup plan of either farm management or consultancy,’ says Jonathan who has just assisted his landlords Yorkshire Water in being awarded an RICS Social Impact Award for their ‘Beyond Nature’ project. It’s another feather in the cap for the young farmer who is now responsible for 2234 acres of predominantly moorland in and SSSI area where he has a flock of swaledales and herd of Galloway cattle. ‘I took on Humberstone, here in the Washburn Valley, four years ago. I’m 32 years old now and was delighted to come here. I signed the tenancy agreement on the morning of Nidderdale Show in 2016, taking over from Rita and Arthur Tuley who had started the groundwork on what Yorkshire Water wanted to achieve as landlords.’ Nonetheless, Jonathan had a tricky start as he took over just as the environmental stewardship scheme that the farm had been in had come to an end. ‘Stewardship is part of the backbone of the farm’s business model and we had an 11-month gap from when I started of not being within a scheme. The farm is substantially reliant on stewardship and now ‘public money for public goods’ so it was essential we were back in a scheme. We’re now in the higher tier scheme.’ ‘From my point of view the ‘Beyond Nature’ project allows us to run the farm in a viable form collaborating with other interested parties. That means we don’t graze the land too severely whereas if I purely had my financial hat on we would probably graze the land harder.’ Proud suppliers to Jonathan Grayshon and family, wishing them continued success. Tel: [phone] | Fax: [phone] Email: [email protected] Green Smithy, Bentham, Lancaster, LA2 7DH www.paxtons.co.uk Bishopton Veterinary Group & RAFT Solu�ons Ltd are delighted to support Jonathan Grayshon and congratulate him on his award. www.bishoptonvets.co.uk www.ra�solu�ons.co.uk ▪ Long established independent prac�ce. ▪ Dedicated team of farm animal vets. ▪ 24-hour emergency cover 365 days a year. ▪ Proac�ve approach to ca�le & sheep health, welfare, produc�on and sustainable farming. ▪ Prac�ce farm based training, delivered by vets and industry experts. ▪ Ca�le advanced breeding services. ▪ Consultancy services available. Find out more by calling 01765 602396 today! Committed to a modern approach to farm animal medicine Rob Nelson Agricultural & Equestrian Fencing Proud Suppler to Jonathan Grayshon and family of Humerstone Bank Farm Contact Rob on 07725 304 466 Manor House Farm, Glusburn, West Yorkshire