This well established West Country shoot has previously been managed in hand by the Estate owners and has more recently been let as a private shoot selling some days. The shoot has an excellent reputation of producing sporting and challenging high pheasants. The shooting rights cover both in hand and let farmland and in hand mixed woodland.
Location
The shoot is located to the south of the village of Milton Abbot in rural west Devon. It is approximately 40 miles from the centre of Exeter, and 23 miles from Plymouth. Mainline railway stations with trains running directly to London from Plymouth Railway Station, which is approximately 21 miles away, and from Exeter St David’s train station which is 42.8 miles from Milton Abbot.
Shoot Description
The Hardicott Shoot has for the past seven seasons been let to a private individual who has enjoyed the shoot with his friends and guests and has also sold a number of days. The emphasis has been on producing quality pheasants across undulating farmland and woodland in a spectacular West Country environment.
The shoot has 10 established principal drives, utilising 4 large release pens. During the 2017/18 season the shoot held 27 formal driven days with an additional 2 beaters days. Average bags per day were of between 250 and 500 head. Average returns on birds released over the last three seasons are 35%.
Shooting Rights
The shooting rights cover farmland (both in hand and let) and woodland. Included are sporting rights reserved over third party landowner’s land and also sporting rights rented over third party landowner’s land.
Cover Crops
The current shoot tenant has established game cover crops across the estate to improve the quality of the shooting. Approximately 273.4 acres of cover crops are currently established. The location of the current plots are identified on the plan below. The shoot tenant is responsible for the costs of establishing, maintaining and the management of the plots. A separate game cover crop rent is paid per acre.
Buildings
There is a range of general purpose farm buildings located at Coombe Farm that are currently used as a base for the shoot. The buildings provide a building for beaters to meet and eat, a cold store based game larder, storage for machinery and equipment, feed silos and parking facilities. These facilities can be made available to rent.
Farming and Subsidies
The landowner and its tenant farmers claim basic payment from the RPA and have entered land into the Countryside Stewardship Scheme. The shoot tenant is to work with the farming interests so as to not compromise such schemes and payments.
Staff
The current shoot tenant directly employs a head keeper and an under keeper. The head keeper has been involved with the shoot for several seasons. The tenant also engages the services of a shoot manager who lives locally. The landowner would like to see a similar arrangement continue in respect to a shoot manager. The shoot has an established team of helpers who assist the shoot staff and who offer support and take part in beating and picking up on shoot days.
The current tenant rents two residential properties from the Estate as accommodation for the game keepers.
- 2 Coombe Lodge – 2/3 bedroom detached house with garden and outbuildings.
- 1 Leigh Cross Cottage - 3 bedroom end of terrace cottage with garden.
Shoot Lunches
The current shoot tenant takes shoot parties to Beera Farmhouse, an Estate let farm where the tenant farmer’s wife provides shoot lunches and refreshments. Beera Farmhouse also offers bed and breakfast accommodation.
Overnight accommodation
The Hotel Endsleigh sits within the heart of the Estate. It is described as a Grade I historic house set in 100 acres of fairytale woodland, follies and grottos created by Humphry Repton. The Duke of Bedford who owned, in his time, a third of Devon chose this spot for his fishing and hunting lodge. Hidden on the edge of Dartmoor, many of the 18 bedrooms have magnificent views of the gardens, the river Tamar and beyond into Cornwall. The current shoot tenant has made use of this facility for overnight accommodation.
Forestry Operations
The woodland is managed on behalf of the Estate by Savills. The Estate will liaise with the shoot tenant on proposed Woodland Management Plans and operations.
Shoot Equipment
Various items of shoot equipment can be made available to the incoming shoot tenant to purchase from the outgoing tenant. A list of these items can be supplied on request to interested parties.
Proposed Terms of the Shoot Agreement
An initial term of three years from 2 February 2019. The Rent to be paid annually in advance from the 2 February 2019. The rent to be reviewed annually and by the increase in the Retail Price Index (RPI). The agreement will restrict the number of birds released. The agreement will allow up to 30 days shooting per season with a maximum of 10 guns. Family Days – the shoot tenant is to provide for the landowner each season, at no cost, 2 days of 200 birds and 1 day of 100 birds. Stalking Rights will be excluded from the agreement.
A shoot agreement will be prepared using the letting agents current form of shoot agreement.
Rent
The Shoot rent will comprise of:
- A base rent per annum
- Game crop rent at the rate of £230 per acre
- Coombe Farm Buildings – a rent of £3,000 per annum
- Cottages: 2 Coombe Lodge - £10,440 per annum. 1 Leigh Cross Cottage - £8,100 per annum
- Water – there are various private water supplies. The tenant will contribute to the cost of the water consumed from these supplies as follows:
- Coombe Farm – Mains water supply – charged on meter readings
- Coombe Farm – Private water - £175 per annum
- Ford Farm - Private water supply - £175 per annum
- Leigh Farm – Private water supply - £175 per annum
Tender
The shoot is being offered on an informal tender basis. Interested parties are to provide a business plan of their proposals.
Viewings
Viewings are to be arranged strictly by appointment.
Contact Simon Derby or Harry Gosling:
Tel: 01823 445030
Email: taunton@savills.com
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