Description
Maviston forms a productive Christmas tree farm on the shores of the Moray Firth offering immediate income potential.
Property agent Location
Maviston is situated about 3.5 miles east of the popular coastal town of Nairn on the southern shore of the Moray Firth, famous for its mild and dry climate and magnificent countryside.
Inverness lies 20 miles to the west, and has all the facilities of a modern city including an airport (13 miles) which offers regular flights to the south and to Europe. Elgin is about 20 miles to the east.
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Further InformationDESCRIPTION
Please note that as a result of the 2015 Christmas tree harvest in which 48,000 trees were cut and sold, the number of trees shown in the original sales brochure is no longer accurate. Please contact Savills for further details.
Extending to about 249 acres in total, the component parts of Maviston can be described as follows:
LAND
Maviston consists of a block of productive land extending in total to about 249 acres. The land is predominantly classified as Class 3(2) by the James Hutton Institute, with a thin band of Class 4(2) running through the centre of the farm, and lies at between approximately 10m and 30m above sea level. Being on the Moray Firth, Maviston benefits from a moderate climate in both winter and summer. The land is predominantly flat or gently undulating, which combines with the climate and free draining soils to create ideal conditions for the growing of Nordmann fir, with growth rates exceeding those seen in many other areas of Scotland and Europe.
The land currently planted with Christmas trees extends to about 238.5 acres split between nine separate enclosures. The planted areas have good quality perimeter deer fencing and are either accessed directly off the public road or via a well maintained internal farm track. Much of the land benefits from field drains which were installed by the previous owner and have been well maintained in recent years. Plans of the drainage scheme are available on request. The light soils and drainage systems ensure excellent ground conditions for tree harvesting and maintenance work in the winter months, with the internal tracks and roads designed to withstand winter harvesting conditions.
In addition to the productive land there is a further 2.8 acres of mature mixed conifer woodlands which form shelter belts, and areas of open ground with an attractive wetland and pond which extend to about 8 acres.
STANDING CROP
Planting of the existing crop took place between 2008 and 2012, as shown on the schedule and paln i the brochure. Nordmann fir is the predominant species, with the exception of compartment 8a where 8.4 acres of Abies lasiocarpa have been planted.
The Christmas tree crop included within the sale comprises over 625,000 trees with planting years ranging from 2008 to 2012. Annual harvesting is now well underway, with trees being selectively cut in order to leave the remaining crop with sufficient spacing to continue to grow and develop. Allowing for some losses due to damage, a harvest of 90% of the trees originally planted in each rotation is anticipated. Forecast tree numbers to be harvested from the first rotation are as follows:
2016 127,704
2017 86,191
2018 110,932
2019 76,614
2020 71,385
2021 52,471
Total 525,300
Maviston offers a purchaser the potential of a significant income stream over the next six years, with forecast total sales of approximately £4,0000. Trees identified to form part of the current year's harvest could either be specifically excluded from the sale and harvested and sold by the seller, or included within the sale, leaving the purchaser to harvest and market these trees accordingly.
As the first rotation comes to an end, the purchaser will have the option to re-plant a second rotation as harvest is completed, or to restore the land back to arable farmland, for which it would be well suited. This can be achieved through mulching or the mechanised removal of the stumps and is now a well known practice.
INFRASTRUCTURE
A yard area and open sided steel portal framed shed (30m x 15m) in Field 3 are currently used as the centre of operations during harvesting periods and for general storage. The yard has recently been extended and will shortly be undergoing further works to ensure sufficient space for loading lorries at harvest time. There is mains water to the shed and provisions are being made for an electricity supply. There is a telephone connection to the shed.
PLANNING
There is currently no farmhouse on Maviston. Subject to obtaining the necessary consents from Highland Council, it is possible that consent for a house from which to manage and run the farm could be granted, which would add to the farm as a whole considerably. No enquiries have been made with Highland Council to date, but there are a number of locations on Maviston which would form extremely attractive sites for a house. Further enquiries should be made to Highland Council.