Why invest in farmland?

  • Average England farmland values have grown 6% per annum over the last 100 years, with low volatility.
  • Like gold, farmland is a scarce commodity, unlike gold, the total supply of farmland is decreasing and it offers investors both appreciation and income.
  • By 2050 the UK population is forecast to reach 78 million, +11% versus today.
  • An additional 1.5 million houses are to be built by 2029, reducing available farmland.
  • An area the size of Kent needs to be "rewilded" to hit the Government's biodiversity targets.
  • The UK imports 40% of its food, with no clear plan on food security, despite growing geopolitical uncertainty.
  • Climate change will put more responsibility on temperate countries like the UK to feed the world's population.
  • Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) can reduce the taxable value of farmland by up to 100%, provided it is actively farmed or let on a qualifying tenancy.

Why back farming?

  • Since World War I, farming has focused on producing as much food as possible at any cost, through heavy chemical use, fields of single crops and feeding animals on an industrial scale.
  • Extracting more from soil than it can naturally provide has an environmental and economic cost - over 50% of farm costs are fertiliser, pesticides and fuel.
  • Today an alternative approach is gaining momentum: Regenerative Farming, which prioritises soil health to build self-sustaining, resilient land systems that require far fewer inputs.
  • For more information on regenerative farming and why we believe it's the future, see here.
  • Successful farms today have evolved into dynamic, multi-enterprise businesses generating income from a range of activities including shops​, restaurants, ecotourism, fishing lakes, renewable energy, battery storage and woodland burials.
  • 'Enterprise stacking' allows the same land to support many complementary businesses, improving profitability and resilience.
  • Historically, nature was treated as a 'free' resource, which led us to deplete it at far greater rates than the earth can replenish.
  • Now, emerging markets like carbon and biodiversity credits are beginning to price the £100 trillion in value we derive from nature.
  • We believe we are at a tipping point: natural capital will become a major global investment trend in the coming years.
  • As the largest holders of natural capital, farms which combine productive agriculture with nature restoration stand to be major beneficiaries.

A trusted, foundational asset

UK farmland has historically attracted investment from large business owners, institutions and investment funds, as a diversified and stable store of value

Dyson

James Dyson

The renown entrepreneur owns 37,000 acres of farmland across Britain.

Blackrock

BlackRock

The world's largest asset manager has been investing in UK farmland since 2007.

Royal London

Royal London

A leading UK fund manager, they recently acquired 21,000 acres of prime farmland for £260m.

Crown Estate

Crown Estate

Manages a rural portfolio of 185,000 acres across England and Wales.

Church of England

Church of England

The Church Commissioners own over 85,000 acres of agricultural land.

Bamford

Lord & Lady Bamford

The owners of JCB, together they own 3,000 acres of farm operations under the Daylesford Organic brand.

Oxford

Oxford Colleges

Together several Oxford colleges own over 40,000 acres of farmland.

How does Herd work?

1.

Sourcing exceptional farms

We comb the UK for undervalued arable, pasture and woodland sites with high economic and regenerative potential.

2.

Creating FarmCo

Each farm is placed into a new limited company (FarmCo). Your shares represent direct equity in that FarmCo and its land.

3.

Offering shares to qualified investors

We complete due diligence. You choose how many acres’ worth of shares to purchase (minimum one).

4.

Stewardship

The farm is managed by a Herd-approved farmer, via an attractive revenue sharing agreement, with regen milestones.

5.

Reporting & returns

We publish annual soil‑health and biodiversity data plus audited financials. You receive cash distributions or re-invest.

Why Herd?

  • Access to off-market deal flow
  • Deep market insight & network to find undervalued farms
  • All-in-one platform
  • Direct equity in a single identifiable farm
  • Globally recognised experts serving on the advisory board
  • Best-in-class operators vetted by board of advisors
  • Professional farm management & transparent reporting
  • Community of like‑minded owners with on‑farm events

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum investment?

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Can I sell early?

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What fees does Herd charge?

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Will I pay inheritance tax?

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Is this investment eligible for my ISA?

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Herd is a concept and not a real investment opportunity. This website is for information purposes only and does not constitute a financial promotion or an offer to invest.