Houston Farms Life
There is a good analogy between the duck floating calmly on the surface of the water and the way a rural estate works. In both cases, while all may appear serene, the paddling below the surface is quite furious.
Activity is constant. The estate maintenance team will be engaged on property repairs. Roof leaks and boiler repairs in the winter, fencing the grazing in the spring, topping the pastures through the summer. Painting, cutting grass and hedges. |
In the woods there is a constant programme of felling, thinning and replanting. The young trees need protection against weeds, deer and squirrels. Modern timber harvesting is mechanised with ever larger harvesting machines, forwarders and timber lorries. Within living memory, the forestry squad numbered a dozen, now it is a few contractors and a forestry manager. Conservation and biodiversity are the twin pillars of forestry management and significant time and effort is put in on conservation work for ground nesting birds.
In the office there is a constant stream of work, keeping up with bureaucracy, responding to customer demands (yes, our tenants are our customers), doing all the paperwork that any modern business requires.
Owners and factors work closely together on budgets and cash flows, tax planning and forestry planning, planned maintenance programmes and health and safety management systems.
The landscape that we enjoy and the built environment within which we live is entirely man made and at Houston that landscape and built environment dates from the late 1700s when Alexander Speirs combined his purchases into Elderslie Estates. “People think that Houston is a really nice place to live. I like that and I think it is a good reflection on our stewardship for nearly 250 years” says Mark.
In the office there is a constant stream of work, keeping up with bureaucracy, responding to customer demands (yes, our tenants are our customers), doing all the paperwork that any modern business requires.
Owners and factors work closely together on budgets and cash flows, tax planning and forestry planning, planned maintenance programmes and health and safety management systems.
The landscape that we enjoy and the built environment within which we live is entirely man made and at Houston that landscape and built environment dates from the late 1700s when Alexander Speirs combined his purchases into Elderslie Estates. “People think that Houston is a really nice place to live. I like that and I think it is a good reflection on our stewardship for nearly 250 years” says Mark.