LandWise Rural Resource Management

...... for nature, for people, for business

LandWise

LandWise is a Rural Surveying company set up to provide specialised estate management services focusing on environment, natural resources and positive relationships for the sustainable management of land.

LandWise can provide a range of services to owners and occupiers of land who want to adopt an environmentally and socially responsible approach to the management of their property.

As a small company carrying low overheads LandWise can tailor services to suit your needs and provide a very cost effective way of obtaining highly experienced and enlightened professional services on a 'pay as you need it' basis.

LandWise is based in Salisbury but works in association with leading environmental Rural Surveyors in Worcestershire and Shropshire through 3D Rural Surveyors. Between us we can provide a wide range of experience and expertise nationwide.

Our Services

Let Estate Business Planning

The LandWise approach to let estate business planning takes stock of existing lettings, categorises properties according to their condition, sensitivity and market potential and tailors specifications and levels of spend to optimise returns on investment.

LandWise can help develop strategies to bring redundant buildings back into economic use, reduce turnover of tenants and minimise voids between lettings.

Green Estate Management

LandWise offers an approach to land management that recognises the importance of soil, air, water and biodiversity as fundamental resources in their own right as well as vital economic assets for rural business.

We can help land managers take stock of their natural capital, assess its condition and identify opportunities for restoration, enhancement and income generation.

Policy and Guidance

LandWise can help to establish clear objectives for property management to meet the needs of the land manager and develop an appropriate level of policy, technical guidance or ad hoc advice as required as well as training for managers and staff.

This might be achieved quite simply by capturing the essence of what the property is about in a statement or by establishing a set of sustainability principles to be adopted by all concerned. Or it could involve the development of more comprehensive set of written policies together with technical guidance relating to different aspects of management.

LandWise can also carry out research into different aspects of sustainable land management and provide reports to help progressive landowners to adopt innovative approaches, exploit new opportunities or just develop their own best practice.

Rural Resource Planning

LandWise can carry out a comprehensive audit of the environmental, social and business assets of your rural property. We will assess the condition of all resources to establish how well they are being used now, what risks they might face and the potential to enhance or use them more effectively in future.

The process is aimed at improving the sustainability of land management and can be tailored to meet the objectives of different owners. It can be used for an individual site or for a farm, estate or even a whole organisation.

Positive Relationship Building

As positive negotiators and pioneers of the Land Partnerships Approach, LandWise can offer a creative way of developing more co-operative relationships where objectives are shared, risks are more evenly divided between the parties and novel agreements are built around common interests.

LandWise can also help landowners to build stronger links with local communities, provide greater public benefit and to create opportunities for people to get involved. All of this is a key part of truly sustainable estate management and can pay dividends in many ways.

About

I am David Riddle - a Rural Surveyor by profession and a committed environmentalist at heart. I have worked in conservation land management for more than 30 years - for the Peak District National Park and for 25 years with the National Trust.

I am passionate about wildlife and the environment and am personally committed to building positive relationships for the sustainable management of land.

I have a lot of experience of managing sensitive sites of high conservation and heritage importance and making them available to people for access, recreation, learning and discovery.

I have a long track record of using positive negotiation and diplomacy to build strong relationships between landowner, occupiers, neighbours and communities to achieve conservation objectives.

My experience includes direct management of upland and lowland estates including farmland, historic houses, parks and gardens, woodland, nature reserves, coast and commons, and has involved the care of many sites of national and international importance for landscape, nature and cultural heritage.

I studied Rural Estate Management at Reading University and am a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. I have obtained a BASIS Soil and Water Management Certificate from Harpur Adams University and am a Chartered Environmentalist.

I am a keen birder and amateur naturalist and sail a Cornish Shrimper on the South coast. I am an enthusiastic cook and my interest in healthy eating and local, seasonal food fits well with the potential for farmers to connect more strongly with people through what they produce.