Evicted sheep farmer fears flock could be 'shot'

A tenant farmer fears his prized flock of sheep could be “sold, culled or shot” after he was evicted from his land.

Terry Mitchell has been locked in a long-running dispute with real estate company Savills after placing two mobile homes on five acres in Longney, Gloucestershire.

The 62-year-old claims he was forced to breach the terms of his tenancy agreement after being evicted from a nearby property also managed by Savills.

Both the property and land are owned by the Henry Smith Charity, which said it offered Mr Mitchell financial support to find alternative accommodation.

Mr Mitchell’s 140-strong flock comprises a mixture of animals reared for meat and rare Cotswold and Zwartbles he supplies to other breeders.

He said fear about the future has taken a significant toll on his mental health.

“All we want is safety - for our animals more than for ourselves,” he said.

Savills act as estate managers for The Henry Smith Charity, which is a grant-making organisation.

It owns a significant amount of land in the area.

Mr Mitchell said his dispute with Savills began in 2019 when he agreed to leave a home he had rented for more than 30 years after splitting from his ex-wife.

He was rehoused in a different property which he claims was structurally unsound and damp.

“It was minging damp - water would basically be running off the walls.”

Mr Mitchell was eventually evicted from the house in March 2023, along with Mrs Mitchell and her 22-year-old son.

They claim they had refused to pay rent until repairs were carried out, or Mr Mitchell was paid to undertake the work himself.

The farmer then placed the two mobile homes on a five-acre plot of land also managed by Savills.

“We needed to live somewhere, we needed to be close to the sheep because of animal welfare rules.”

Sheep need to be checked every three hours during lambing season between February and April, Mr Mitchell said.

“A while after that Savills came along and accused me of breach of contract because I am living there. We have nowhere else to go,” Mr Mitchell said.

“We don’t want to be here, it is horrible that we are living in mobile homes. It’s cold in the winter.”

“As soon as we had paid a full year’s rent from January 2023 to January 2024, Savills didn’t send a renewal (contract) and started the ball rolling with eviction proceedings.”

A county court judge eventually ruled against Mr Mitchell and he and his family were forced to leave the land on Thursday.

Mr Mitchell has been told he cannot return to the land to tend his sheep, and he has one week to move them or the animals will be "disposed of".

Mr Mitchell leases a further 19 acres elsewhere around Longney, but his lambs are currently being weaned and are being housed in a purpose-built shed on the five acres.

“They have told us that arrangements have been made for someone to come and feed them - some of those animals are under medical supervision.”

“We have been told that after a week the flock will be ‘dispersed’,” Mr Mitchell said.

“Whether that means sold, culled or shot, we haven’t got a clue.”

A spokesperson for the Henry Smith Charity said: “During the past two years the Charity, our agents, as well as a number of independent organisations have endeavoured to work with Mr and Mrs Mitchell to find a mutually agreeable solution in relation to longstanding rent arrears and more recently the use of a site without permission.

“On 24 June 2024 an order by the court was issued to vacate premises by 25 July 2024. However, this was ignored.

“Regrettably, and in order to continue to meet its legal and fiduciary duties, the charity was granted a warrant for possession for 3 October 2024.

“The charity has offered financial support to help Mr and Mrs Mitchell find suitable alternative accommodation”.

Savills has been approached for comment.

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