Seven farms owned by Cambridgeshire County Council are looking for new tenants from October 2017.

The council owns 33,000 acres and in the past 16 years, 88 new entrants to farming have joined the estate. The council has over 200 tenant farmers.

Among the farms coming to the market is Flaggrass Hill Farm, March that was taken over in 2012 by William Veal. He is now looking to move to a bigger farm.

“I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to take on a starter holding in 2012,” he said.

“The council employees were in contact with me during the process and I felt able to contact them at any point if I needed advice relating to the tenancy.

“I have now taken on a full-time holding and both Camilla (his partner) are I are excited by this opportunity and are busy planning how we are going to develop the farm in the coming months and years. “

He said he would encourage anyone who is thinking of applying to “go for it - if you are prepared to work hard and commit to it then you have nothing to lose and a lot to gain”.

The farms to let from October 2017 are:

•Oldfield Farm, Landbeach totals 198.226 hectares (489.81 acres) or thereabouts of lime-rich loam and clay soils together with a house and buildings.

•Middle Farm, Landbeach comprises 119.333 hectares (294.90 acres) or thereabouts of lime-rich loam and clay soils together with a house and buildings.

•Dawsons Farm, Warboys totals 105.77 hectares (261.35 acres) or thereabouts of predominantly black clay loam soil together with bungalow and buildings.

•Marshalls Farm, Farcet comprises 98.36 hectares (243.05 acres) or thereabouts of predominantly peaty loam soil together with house and buildings.

•Fen Bridge Farm, Cottenham is made up of 36.237 hectares (89.55 acres) or thereabouts of loam over clay soils together with a house and buildings.

•Flaggrass Hill Farm, March consists of 33. 67 hectares (83.12 acres) of predominately clay loam soil together with buildings and yard.

•Manor Farm, Girton comprises 3.567 hectares (8.82 acres) or thereabouts of permanent pasture together with a residential dwelling.

The estate is holding an open viewing day on Wednesday 15 February 2017, with business plans from applicants due by Friday 10 March 2017. Full details are available on the council’s website www4.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/countyfarms. “Despite a tough economic climate in the agricultural sector at present interest is anticipated to remain high,” said a council spokesman.

For further information please contact Anna Hicks, Graduate Surveyor (Rural) for Cambridgeshire County Council on 01223 728190 or anna.hicks@cambridgeshire.gov.uk