HEXHAM-BASED rural estate management company Land Factor has announced that it will merge with Scottish rural property consultancy Galbraith.

From April 1, Land Factor will take its services of administration, capital tax planning, farm sales, valuation, project management and forestry advice to Galbraith, and will continue to serve its existing clients as part of the Galbraith team.

Director of Land Factor, Tom Warde-Aldam, said: “We have taken great pride in building a successful firm offering specialist estate and land management services and becoming part of Galbraith will enable us to not only continue providing these services but to explore new opportunities.

“Both ourselves and Galbraith have for many years been committed to an ethos of being independent companies providing the highest quality of personal service. These shared values, plus having greater strength and depth, will serve the interests of clients.”

Iain Russell, chairman of Galbraith, said: “We are delighted to be merging with such an established and successful firm as Land Factor. Both firms currently operate across the border and joining forces will enable us to provide enhanced rural services across a wider geographic area. Land Factor has been particularly strong in both estate management and forestry and our combined skills should deliver greater benefit to clients.”

The merged company aims to help clients through the current challenges in the rural sector, including the farm subsidy regimes, and how best to capitalise on the strong performance of the forestry sector with strong timber prices encouraging more active forestry management across all types of woodland asset.