### Uncertain Future for £4.25 Million Welsh Government Farm as Rare Ospreys Return and Nest
The future value of Gilestone Farm in Powys has come under scrutiny after the return of a pair of ospreys, a legally protected species, has raised environmental and economic uncertainties for the Welsh Government. The farm, acquired at a cost of £4.25 million in 2022, has seen the rare birds nest at the site for a second consecutive year, leading to renewed debate about the site’s long-term prospects.
Gilestone Farm was initially purchased by the Welsh Government to serve as an operational base for the Green Man Festival. However, the acquisition came under review following the surprising arrival of ospreys on the land in 2023 — the first sighting of this species so far south in Wales in nearly two centuries. The birds’ return marked a significant moment for wildlife experts but brought with it a host of new considerations for policymakers.
To protect the newly arrived ospreys, authorities swiftly established a 750-metre restriction zone surrounding their nest. This move was instrumental in safeguarding the welfare of the birds and their habitat, but it has also introduced a layer of complexity to any further development or commercial use of the property.
Earlier this year, official valuations indicated that the farm’s worth had fallen to £3.75 million, a significant decrease from the purchase price. The Welsh Government’s economy director general, Andrew Slade, addressed this matter in correspondence published in advance of a Senedd public accounts committee meeting. He underscored that the nesting ospreys add a degree of uncertainty to any future plans for the site, both in terms of value and permissible land use.
The farm continues to generate income through a commercial farm business tenancy, currently bringing in an estimated £32,000 each year. That tenancy agreement is set to expire in November, with the government presently evaluating various possibilities for the period beyond.
In his update, Mr Slade confirmed that ospreys had again returned and successfully laid an egg within days of arrival. He emphasised that the welfare of the birds and the security of their nest were uppermost in the government’s considerations regarding next steps for Gilestone Farm.
Earlier plans to allow Green Man Festival organisers to utilise the farm were shelved in January 2024, after Minister Vaughan Gething highlighted incompatibilities between festival operations and the needs of the protected ospreys. This decision followed considerable public and political debate, and a protracted three-year inquiry by the Senedd’s public accounts committee into the rationale behind the hurried purchase.
A 2023 Audit Wales report found that ministers had acted with “avoidable haste,” spurred by an underspend that saw officials rush to finalise the acquisition before the close of the financial year. That finding added to ongoing questions about the decision-making process and whether public money could have been managed more effectively.
Although former minister Vaughan Gething previously expressed confidence that a solution for Gilestone Farm would be reached by spring 2024, and denied any “waste” of government funds, the presence of the osprey pair is expected to shape discussions around the property’s future for some time to come. Mr Slade has committed to providing further updates to the public accounts committee as options are firmed up.
With interest in the welfare of the ospreys now intertwined with the government’s management of this high-profile asset, the story of Gilestone Farm highlights the challenges faced when environmental conservation meets economic development. As these rare birds establish their hold on the land, the government must balance the twin imperatives of protecting wildlife and delivering value for public investment — a task fraught with both opportunity and uncertainty.