LORD HOPES SALE WILL 'CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FARMERS'

A massive chunk of land in Gwynedd is being sold off for the first time in centuries.

- By ANDREW FORGRAVE Countryside and Tourism editor [e-mail]

About 1,000 acres of farm fields on Lord Newborough's Glynllifon estate will be put up for sale in instalments over the coming months.

Lord Newborough, who also owns land in Shropshire as well as the 12,500-acre Rhug estate in Denbighshire, said he hopes the selloff will create new opportunities for farmers.

Disposing of the land will free up resources so that Lord Newborough can focus on developing core business activities at Rhug, near Corwen, where "exciting growth" continues to take place, he said.

Already, more than 100 staff are employed across Rhug's farm shop, cafe, drive thru, takeaway and cutting plant.