Wannabee shepherds flock to get glimpse of Parc Life

The conservation charity’s announcement that Parc Farm on the Great Orme in Llandudno would be let for less than the cost of two second-class stamps sparked international interest and thousands of enquiries from potential applicants received from across the globe.

National Trust General Manager William Greenwood said: “The volume of interest has been incredible. People clearly want to give nature a helping hand and ensure this special place is healthy, beautiful, rich in wildlife and culture and is enjoyed for ever for everyone.

“It seems to have really caught the public’s imagination, and we’re really looking forward to welcoming some of those potential applicants to Parc Farm for the official viewing day today, to give them a taste of just what that one pound buys.”

Soon after the announcement last Wednesday the National Trust switchboards were jammed by wannabe shepherds and staff in Wales offices were dealing with more than 100 enquiries an hour.

“On the day of the announcement we had TV and radio crews broadcasting at the Great Orme from 6am until 9.30pm,” said William, “and since then it’s been picked up by media in Tokyo, Boston, Canada and Brazil.”

Today’s viewing day is restricted to potential applicants only, and it will only be possible to access the site by displaying the Lettings Particulars Pack. However, if people would like to join the viewing day, but have not sent off for their Lettings Particulars Pack some copies will be available at the site for a £15 fee.

This unique £1 tenancy follows on from the announcement of the conservation charity’s new ten-year vision, aimed at reversing an alarming decline in wildlife – 60 per cent in the past 50 years – and finding long-term solutions to help nurse the countryside to better health and deliver nature at its best for all to enjoy and appreciate.

In buying Parc Farm at the Orme’s summit, and the associated grazing rights over the majority of the headland, the National Trust has taken on the means to ensure the survival of its internationally rare habitats and species; some of which exist nowhere else on earth.

William added: “We’re looking for a very special person to take on the tenancy, someone who puts nature first, has excellent shepherding skills and can share how they look after the landscape with the Great Orme’s many hundreds of thousands of visitors.

“And while it may be called Parc Farm this tenancy is no walk in the park, it will involve long hours, and a lot of hard work in a landscape which is exceptionally exposed to extreme weather.”

For more information on the tenancy, and how to apply please go to the National Trust website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/find-us-a-farmer