Today, Allendale Estates is a diversified, progressive and imaginatively managed business, covering some 20,000 acres. It was one of the first rural estates in Northumberland to diversify by developing redundant farm buildings into high-quality office space, studios and workshops.
Allendale Estates has been involved in agriculture for generations and farming continues to lie at the heart of the Estate. Over recent years the Estate has grown its in-house farming operation, managing the land by contract farming or grazing agreements. In addition, about 4500 acres are let as farm tenancies to about 20 different tenants. The Estate has a mixed farming pattern including arable, livestock and dairy holdings with a number having also diversified with, for example, farm shops.
The Estate’s forestry is managed in-hand and follows a policy of natural regeneration where possible, with woodlands managed for amenity, shooting and commercial forestry, under the guiding principle of sustainability and conservation.