WITH YOU EVERY STEP OF THE WAY
As experienced rural business consultants, our core team has a proud track record of delivering practical and innovative land management services across the UK.
It is all delivered with integrity and professionalism, as well as a passion and respect for the countryside, that is the hallmark of our business approach.
OUR TEAM
Michael Bell MRICS
Managing Director
Born and brought up in Norfolk, Michael graduated from Harper Adams University with a BSc(Hons) in Rural Enterprise and Land Management, then successfully completed the Assessment of Professional Competency to become a Member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and a RICS Registered Valuer. During his time as Managing Director of Buccleuch Rural Solutions, Michael took the lead in driving the business forward and increasing the range of services available, which he looks forward to continuing with Bell Rural Solutions.
DD: 01896 802 252
M: 07584 644 246
E: mbell@bellruralsolutions.com
Alan Nisbet FRICS
Consultant
Alan grew up on the family farm in Lanarkshire and gained an HND in Agriculture at the Edinburgh School of Agriculture in 1975. He began his land agency career with Smiths Gore, leaving in 1987 to take up a position with Kelso-based FBR, which was acquired by the Buccleuch Group in 2005. Having worked for the company for 22 years, Alan was Managing Director for five years prior to its sale in November 2009.
Stuart Buchanan
Consultant
Stuart grew up on a livestock farm in the Scottish Borders and holds a BSc in Agriculture from the University of Edinburgh and a postgraduate diploma in Rural Surveying from the College of Estate Management. After a number of years practical farm management experience, his professional career began with Smiths Gore in Edinburgh from where he moved to FBR Ltd in Kelso and enjoyed 17 years farm business management and rural surveying practice whilst holding the position of director. Stuart now supports the team at Bell Rural Solutions as a Consultant in between farming and pursing other outside interests.
M: 07889 570 659
E: sbuchanan@bellruralsolutions.com
Debbie Edmondson
Personal Assistant to Managing Director
Born and brought up in the Scottish Borders/North Northumberland, Debbie brings with her in excess of 30 years’ experience having worked in rural surveying offices for most of that time at Personal Assistant level. In 2013 Debbie took up the position of PA to The Duke and Duchess of Roxburghe which included the secretarial role for Floors Stud where she continued to work for 5½ years. More recently, she assumed the part-time role of Secretary for SAAVA (The Scottish Agricultural Arbiters’ & Valuers’ Association) during a time of great change in the agricultural industry. Outside work, Debbie also finds time to assist her husband with their Castlebank Texels flock and can be seen at various local annual shows and Kelso Ram Sales.
DD: 01896 802253
E: dedmondson@bellruralsolutions.com
Bess Innes
Farm Secretary
Bess grew up in Gloucestershire where she studied at the Royal Agricultural College and subsequently spent five years on a mixed farm as Farm Secretary. Having recently married, she has relocated to the Scottish Borders where she started doing freelance secretarial work before joining Bell Rural Solutions as a Farm Secretary. As well as looking after the book keeping for the business, Bess also looks after a number of key client accounts both from office and on farm. Bess also finds the time to run her own floristry business.
DD: 01896 802 255
E: binnes@bellruralsolutions.com
Andy Wiseman MICFor
Forestry Consultant
Andy graduated from the National School of Forestry at Newton Rigg and Aberdeen University. He gained forestry experience working across the public and private sectors including commercial upland conifer with the Forestry Commission in Wales and lowland broadleaves with Blenheim Estates in Oxfordshire. Andy then worked with Buccleuch at the Scottish Borders and Midlothian estates as a senior manager for 20 years. Andy brings specialist knowledge for woodland creation, forest management (including continuous cover forestry) and harvesting and marketing projects.
DD: 01896 802 255
M: 07733 121 178
E: awiseman@bellruralsolutions.com