Woodbridge asparagus farm with beach hits the market

The land at Lodge Farm, Ramsholt, is expected to achieve a premium price due to various factors - including its location with access onto the River Deben.

The farmland - which lies on a south-facing slope, is irrigated and has an abstraction licence and a lagoon - is seen as having a wide range of future possibilities. These include a vineyard operation, leisure use - or continuing with vegetable growing.

Current owners - the Simper family - are now in their fourth generation at the site and great grandson Harry Simper and his father, Jonathan - have been developing a fishing diversification.

The family will retain the farmhouse but are selling the land in order to fund a commercial fishing fleet.

William Barton of Landbridge said the current farmer owners wanted to expand their diversification. It was an "unusual" opportunity and a "stunning" location, he added.

"The land is coming to the market for the first time since the Quilter Family sold a wider part of their estate including this land to the Adeanes," he said.

"At the time the current owners - the Simper Family - father/grandfather was a tenant of the estate.

"They had a chance to buy the farm approximately 30 years ago. Now in the fourth generation of the current family ownership the core business they operate has diversified from farming to a commercial fishing fleet.

"Part of the decision to sell the land is to enable that business to expand."

The land was "well placed" with frontage to the River Deben and he was expecting interest from a broad range of buyers, he added.

"We would expect interest from farmers, investors and those looking for something with amenity value and river frontage.

"We believe the land is also very versatile and has potential for alternative cropping such as vines - especially as it is free draining low lying close to the river with some south facing aspects.

"There may also be some leisure interest (STP) and opportunities to create biodiversity net gain - subject to survey and registration - especially given the proximity to the river and the fact it has been arable cropped which is likely to mean it will have a low base value which can then be enhanced."

The site lies close to the village of Ramsholt and the popular Ramsholt Arms pub. It is also within the Suffolk Coast and Heath Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

It is surrounded predominantly by agricultural land and woodland to the north and east and the River Deben to the west.

The Property extends to approximately 107 acres  of bare arable land  separated into five "good-sized" fields together with a lagoon and surrounding grass field and reeds. There are no buildings included in the sale other than a pump house.

But it includes a beach and access to the river adjacent to Shottisham Creek.

The land has not been intensively farmed having been in long term asparagus.

"We woud expect to achieve a premium price given its soil type and location," said Mr Barton.

The guide price will be provided on application.