A NEW survey which reveals more and more small farms are being bought by non-farmers, has split opinion on the future of rural life.

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) survey has revealed 44pc of small farms on the market between April and June this year have been bought by non-farmers.

One in five small farms sold in Yorkshire, and a third of such properties in the North-East, have been bought by non-farmers.

While the new owners have no intention of farming the land, they may rent it to a neighbouring farmer. They often renovate the farm house and either live in it or use it as a weekend or summer retreat from the rigors of city life.

While everyone understands why people want to live in beautiful areas like the dales, vales and moors, opinion is split on what affect the trend will have on rural life.

Robin Jessop, a chartered surveyor based in Bedale, explained that he recently sold two small farms, each had 50 to 80 acres of grassland, and both attracted serious interest from non-farmers.

"It is either people moving from the cities, perhaps Leeds, and there is also a move from the south to north happening as well," Mr Jessop explained.

"I sold one recently, it sold exceptionally well and needed a lot of money spending on it; up to £200,000 to upgrade the farm house.

"I think it must be good for the rural economy because they will be hiring builders and other tradesmen. They're bringing employment to the area."

The Country Land and Business Association agreed with Mr Jessop, welcoming the boost to the rural economy.

However, the Countryside Alliance fears farmland will become "suburban theme parks" or "rural dormitories" without any real community.

Norman Allison will complete the sale of his farm at the end of August, and feels the trend for non-farmers buying rural properties is ruining the countryside.

He has farmed sheep at Cotcliffe Bank Farm, between Thonton-le-Beans and Borrowby, near Northallerton, for the last 35 years.

Now aged 70, he has decided to call it a day and move to Carlton in Cleveland, where his wife is from.

He has managed to buck the trend and sell the property to a sheep farmer.

But Mr Allison acknowledges that although prospects in farming have been improving this year, he cannot see a long term future in smaller farms.

"There's not a lot of money to be made in farms like this, but it's about quality of life and the countryside," he said.

"I think having people from cities buying farms is ruining the countryside, it will change the countryside markedly - and for the worse.

"If there are only big farms, the attraction won't be the same, because the countryside won't be half as nice.

"There won't be the same quantity of people needed in farming and that does away with community spirit. People coming in spend all this money, but they don't put anything back into the community."