Welcome to Strutt & Parker Rural Hub

The Rural Hub is the place to find information, advice and the latest research on all aspects of land, estate and farm management.

discover more

Specialisms

As you consider your future strategy, having access to the right expertise and information is crucial. Our teams cover every service and discipline within the rural sector; grounded in excellent farming and land management fundamentals, we are underpinned by the wider financial and property expertise of the BNP Paribas Group.

View all Specialisms

Managing Estates & Land

Strutt & Parker’s national land management team provides strategic business advice and practical management services to clients including private estates,...

Farming

Our experienced and knowledgeable farming team can help make you become more profitable and efficient by offering practical and realistic...

Estates & Farms Agency

Strutt & Parker have been at the forefront of the estates and farms market for over 130 years. We have...

Forestry & Woodland

John Clegg & Co is the specialist forestry & woodland division of Strutt & Parker. Our specialist forestry and woodland...

Environmental

Strutt & Parker’s environmental land management advice is delivered with an eye firmly on the bigger picture and with a...

Energy

Rural Ambitions

Managing Rural Housing

Our services are tailored to each client and range from advising on the regulations affecting residential tenancies, through to a...

Viticulture

Strutt & Parker’s viticulture group are the market leaders in identifying and securing land suitable for vines through purchases or...

Rural Connectivity

Strutt & Parker's unrivalled telecoms group acts for landowners only and never for telecommunications operators. With dedicated local specialists, we...

Client Accounting & Taxation

Our land & property accounting and bookkeeping department works closely with our taxation team, who uniquely combine rural and agricultural...

Estates Development & Planning

The Planning Team work alongside landowners, institutional clients and the development industry to unlock the planning potential of land and...

Future Trends

Keeping abreast of trends in markets and demographics is key to running successful rural businesses. Whether it is looking for...

Research

Our in-house rural research team reviews the latest information and trends and produces briefing papers for clients and for our...

View all Specialisms

Latest Articles

View All Articles

Helping farms to make the right decisions on rooftop solar

At a time when electricity prices for businesses remain volatile, rooftop solar is a proven way of helping farming businesses to lower energy costs and potentially generate income from surplus power. But the success of a project depends on getting the fundamentals right: choosing the right-sized system, making sure you are on the most appropriate tariff, and exploring […]

Farming
Renewable energy

14.10.2026

3 mins

Health and safety update

Autumn is a sensible point to review the practical arrangements that keep estates, farms and property portfolios safe, accessible and and operational throughout the winter. The focus does not need to be an exhaustive inspection programme. It’s about identifying foreseeable seasonal pressures and dealing promptly with issues that could affect people, property, livestock and access. Before winter arrives Tree risk management – review known higher-risk locations, particularly around buildings, […]

Farming
Managing Rural Housing
Health & Safety

09.10.2026

4 mins

Land Business Update | Week Commencing 5 October 2026

Farming & Food SFI26 Window 2 closes in one day due to demand (England) As expected, demand for the scheme was very high, with many businesses unable to submit an application at all or one that included the actions they wanted to do. There has been a significant reaction and Defra has said that it […]

Research
Land Business Update

09.10.2026

7 mins

From fields to florists: the potential of British cut flowers

The UK’s cut-flower sector is undergoing a significant revival creating new opportunities for UK farmers. For decades, the market has been dominated by imported stems, particularly from the Netherlands, Kenya and South America, while domestic production has steadily dwindled. Yet British growers are slowly reclaiming market share, as sustainability goals and consumer preference drives demand. […]

Farming
Diversification

01.10.2026

3 mins

The role of nature-based solutions in improving water resilience

Landowners across the UK are increasingly caught between having too much water and too little. In recent years, many have faced increasingly challenging conditions, from flooding and waterlogged soils that have made land difficult to work, to periods of hot, dry weather that have hit forage supplies, crop yields and seen private water supplies dry […]

Environmental
Water Management

24.09.2026

5 mins

Land Business Update | Week Commencing 14 September 2026

Farming & food Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026 (SFI26) Window 2 opens on 22 September (England) Demand is expected to be exceptionally high for this so be ready to submit an application as soon as possible as they will be determined on a first-come-first-served basis. Please call our farming team if you would like any assistance. Strutt & Parker’s twice-yearly farm and estate staff […]

Research
Land Business Update

21.09.2026

8 mins

Navigating a new policy landscape for affordable homes in rural areas

Affordable housing delivery in rural England has long faced a structural challenge. Housing need is often acute, but schemes are typically small and development costs are higher. As a result, Registered Providers (RPs) can find individual Section 106 opportunities difficult to justify commercially. The Government’s latest announcements in this space provide a significant strengthening of […]

Estates Development & Planning
Planning

18.09.2026

4 mins

Seven decisions rural estates cannot afford to delay

The need for rural estates to adapt has never been clearer. Rising costs, regulatory pressures, and shifting demands on land use have made it evident that standing still is not an option. While the forces reshaping the rural sector are significant – from climate change to taxation – the consensus is clear: resilience depends on […]

Managing Estates & Land
Estates & Farms Agency
Estate & Land Management

11.09.2026

6 mins

Land Business Update | Week Commencing 31 August 2026

Farming & food SFI26 Window 1 now closed and Window 2 opening on 22 September (England) The window for smaller farms and applicants without an existing agreement has now closed. The unspent Window 1 funding will be added to the Window 2 budget, which is now £290m. Defra has published some interesting data on the […]

Research
Land Business Update

03.09.2026

9 mins

The future of farming requires transformative thinking

Struggling, surviving or transforming – which type of business is yours? For years, we’ve heard warnings that UK agriculture is at a crossroads and while many farming businesses have folded over the past two decades the system has never fully imploded. But now we really are at a critical juncture. Even the pragmatists are concerned. […]

Farming
Farming Update

02.09.2026

3 mins

What the NPPF means for residential development viability

The new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) brings some important changes for the development viability process – in particular where and when viability is likely to be tested. Viability assessments are used to establish whether a development is financially viable, by looking at the value and costs of a proposal, which includes establishing the maximum […]

Estates Development & Planning
Development

28.08.2026

6 mins

Coolcations and noctourism – the opportunities for Scottish landowners

Scotland’s rural estates and farms are well-positioned to capitalise on continued growth in experience-based tourism, with strong interest from consumers – particularly Gen Z and Millennials – for activities based around food, nature, heritage and the outdoors. An expanding body of research points to consumers increasingly prioritising their discretionary spending on leisure activities and experiences. […]

Managing Estates & Land
Farming
Diversification

24.08.2026

5 mins

The 2026 NPPF – first impressions

The new rules-based National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) has landed and represents the most significant rewrite of national policy since the introduction of the NPPF in 2012. It is not necessarily a substantive shift in policy (that came in the NPPF 2024), but a new policy-based framework, divided into plan-making and decision-taking policies, and much […]

Estates Development & Planning
Planning

24.08.2026

5 mins

Finding a workable way forward when farm disputes escalate

Resolving disputes can be extremely challenging for family farms and other rural businesses. Decisions about succession, the future of a partnership or the value of land and property not only have financial implications, but can also impact on relationships between family members, neighbours and others who may have worked together for years. A disagreement over […]

Farming
Management

21.08.2026

5 mins

Land Business Update | Week Commencing 17 August 2026

Farming & food Drought and climate change relief package for land managers Following the driest July on record in England (and Wales) and the third drought in five years, the government has announced an aid package to support land managers. It includes: The government also, rightly, stressed that land managers must also take steps themselves […]

Research
Land Business Update

20.08.2026

6 mins

Drought support for farmers in England and Wales

Drought conditions continue to take a serious toll on farmers and landowners across England and Wales, resulting in devastating wildfires, worryingly low spring-fed private water supplies, dwindling fodder supplies and crop failures. In response, the Governments of both countries have announced measures aimed at supporting farmers and landowners through these challenging conditions. Farmers in Wales […]

Farming
Environmental
Grants

17.08.2026

2 mins

Land Business Update | Week Commencing 3 August 2026

Farming & food Early reports are of a very mixed harvest (England) Reports from a variety of sources are suggesting that: Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (England) Expressions of interest can now be submitted for agroforestry and woodland improvement agreements, as well as new single-focus agreements that cover scheduled monument management and species-rich grassland. Please contact your local farming team if you […]

Research
Land Business Update

05.08.2026

7 mins

Rights of way: Time to review Section 31 (6) deposits

Most landowners have some form of public right of way running across their farm or estate, providing walkers with the opportunity to explore and enjoy the countryside. The warm weather may have led to increased use of these routes, making this a useful time for landowners to take stock and check that paths are being used as intended. Walkers can unintentionally create alternative routes […]

Managing Estates & Land
Public Access

29.07.2026

3 mins

Land Business Update | Week Commencing 20 July 2026

Farming & food Agricultural commodity prices expected to fall over the medium-term (global) The OECD and FAO produce an annual assessment of the ten-year prospects for global agricultural commodity and fish markets. It is always interesting as it provides a comprehensive assessment of how supply, demand and prices might change. The projections are based on […]

Research
Land Business Update

23.07.2026

7 mins

Improving the water resilience of farming businesses

As periods of drought become more common, water security is rising up the agenda for UK farmers. We explore how businesses can improve their water resilience. Water has traditionally been viewed by many farmers as a utility that is simply there. However, with the increasing frequency of extreme weather patterns, resulting in prolonged droughts and flash […]

Farming
Environmental

13.07.2026

2 mins

14 October 2026

Good fruit, tougher market: UK vineyard survey highlights commercial pressures

A Vineyard Business Survey, produced by Strutt & Parker, Plumpton College, Vinescapes and Stephen Skelton, highlights that while producers have enjoyed strong growing seasons over the past two years, rising costs, cash flow and the effort of reaching customers are weighing on businesses. The survey, carried out in the summer of 2026, asked vineyard owners […]