Council plans farms' future

DRAFT STRATEGY AIMING TO SUPPORT AUTHORITY'S RURAL ESTATE

- By STAFF REPORTER

FARMERS will be supported by a new plan for managing its rural estate, a council says.

Leicestershire County Council owns 7,400 acres of rural estate, including 65 farms, alongside 275 acres of woodland and land which boosts biodiversity.

Bucking the national trend, it owns more acres of farmland than it did 10 years ago.

The council said its new plan aims to maintain an estate at the current size and boost support for existing and prospective farmers.