Value of £4.25m farm bought by Welsh Government 'uncertain' as ospreys return
Value of £4.25m farm bought by Welsh Government 'uncertain' as ospreys return
An egg has been laid after the pair of birds returned for their second spell at the Powys farm
A three-year-old osprey at Gilestone Farm in Powys
(Image: Welsh Government )
The value of a farm bought by the Welsh Government for £4.25m is now "uncertain" after a pair of ospreys returned for their second spell there - and laid an egg. The Welsh Government bought Gilestone Farm in Powys in 2022 as part of a deal with the Green Man Festival for it to be a base for its operations but not move the main festival.
But in 2023 a pair of ospreys - a protected species - were seen there - the first time they have been observed so far south in Wales in around 200 years.
A 750-metre restriction zone around their nest was set up to protect the birds.
It has now been confirmed the birds have returned and laid an egg. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here
The Welsh Government bought Gilestone Farm for £4.25m saying it wanted to "support the growth of the creative sector in a stronger Mid Wales economy". In March 2025, it was valued at £3.75m. In terms of its future value, it was reported that "the presence of ospreys on the site inevitably brings some uncertainty to the process".
In January 2024, the Welsh Government said it would not go ahead with plans to allow Green Man to use the the farm. Then economy minister Vaughan Gething said that the plans were incompatible with the needs of a pair of protected Ospreys which nested at the site for the first time last year. You can read that here.
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The Welsh Government's economy director general, Andrew Slade has now given an update in a letter published ahead of a meeting of the Senedd's public accounts committee. Mr Slade said the farm was valued at £3.75m in March, adding "the presence of the ospreys on the site inevitably brings some uncertainty".
Mr Slade said the property continues to be leased on commercial terms via a farm business tenancy until November, with officials considering options beyond that.
Mr Slade wrote: "Members of the committee will appreciate the significance of the nesting ospreys at the site and I can confirm the ospreys have recently returned and within days of their arrival have laid an egg. The birds' welfare, and the protection of the nest, continue to be critical factors when considering future options for the site.'
Mr Slade promised to write to the committee again when he can provide an update on firm proposals for the site, which is thought to generate about £32,000 a year in tenancy income.
A 2023 Audit Wales review found ministers acted with "avoidable haste" as an underspend fuelled a rush to make a decision on the £4.25m purchase before the financial year's end.
The public accounts committee is finalising its report on the saga following a nearly three-year inquiry into the decision made by then-economy minister Vaughan Gething. In a statement on the future of Gilestone Farm in January 2024, Mr Gething was confident a way forward for the site would be agreed by that spring.
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Mr Gething had denied that money had been "wasted", you can read that here.
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