KIVELLS Professional has announced the new appointment of Devon YFC chairman, Claire Bellew, as a rural chartered surveyor to head up the professional office at Exeter Livestock Market.

Claire has a strong farming background, having grown up on the family farm in Bideford, North Devon, and after studying at Harper Adams University, she returned to her roots in Devon and has been working as a rural surveyor in Mid Devon for many years.

Claire said: “I am very excited to be working with the well respected Kivells team and I look forward to working with many farmers and landowners to help their businesses grow.

“Many aspects of the farming world are constantly changing and I will be on hand to help with a range of matters from BPS applications, grants and stewardship applications, planning and diversification queries, tenancy matters, compensation claims and professional valuations.

“I am also looking forward to building up the farm and land sales department. As we go into the spring everything seems to come to life in the agricultural world with lambing, calving and spring crops. Alongside this the BPS deadline gets closer, grass keep agreements need drawing up and grants become available!

“The hedgerows and boundary grant application window has recently opened with up to £5,000 available and the Rural Development Programme for England is open with £12.4-million available in Devon and Somerset to increase growth and productivity in rural businesses.”

Claire added: “Another aspect of my job that I enjoy is planning as development can really make a difference to a farm, whether this is just an agricultural building to expand an enterprise; the conversion of an agricultural building to residential or a new agricultural workers dwelling on the farm for another generation of the family. These can all make a huge difference to a business and I love being part of the development.”

Outside of work Claire can be found helping on the farm or travelling around the county in her role as chairman of the Devon federation of Young Farmers Clubs. This role keeps her very busy and she loves getting involved in all aspects of being a YFC member whether this is halter training her cattle for the show and sale or taking part in ballroom dancing competitions.

Claire has shown a passion for getting young people into agriculture and alongside her involvement in the land partnership scheme she would also like to combine her new role at Kivells with her YFC role to set up a farming discussion group for young people getting into farming.