A WELL-KNOWN land steward for the Duchy of Cornwall has retired after more than 40 years working for the royal estate.

David Curtis set up the Hereford office 20 years ago and has been managing more than 37,000 acres across Herefordshire and further afield.

He led on the £7 million regeneration project of the Harewood End estate and guided the transformation of run down barns into bespoke modern business spaces in Upper Twyford, both south of Hereford.

“It’s been a fantastic career, the Duchy has been very supportive,” said Mr Curtis, who was appointed a Member of the Victorian order in 2004 in recognition of his service.

“It’s been great implementing the views and philosophy of the Duke of Cornwall. There’s always been new things coming around the corner, new problems and new issues.

“He’s been really keen on rural regeneration and replacing jobs lost, the biggest example of rural regeneration is at Harewood End where we’ve invested millions of pounds over the years.”

Mr Curtis said one of the more interesting aspects of his career has been working with several generations of farming families, as well as helping others get into the industry.

He added the Duke of Cornwall, currently Charles, Prince of Wales, has also been keen to help people onto the “farming ladder” by providing smallholdings with around 100 or 200 acres of land.

Mr Curtis will continue farming on land in Lyonshall, but as he takes a step back from the estate, he knows its still facing challenges.

“It goes without saying the Duchy, like the rest of us, is seeing what’s happening about Brexit,” he added.

“The last couple of years has been hard for farmers as Brexit has been delayed.

“It’s been very challenging to make the right long-term decisions. That’s been the major challenge recently.”

His career with the royal estate started in 1978 having come from a farming background and recently completed his formal education at the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester, gaining a diploma in rural estate management.

Two years into the job, he qualified with both the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers.

The duchy owns land in more than 23 counties, including farming, residential and commercial properties.

As well as its land in Herefordshire, the Duchy also owns land in Devon, Somerset and almost all of the Isles of Scilly.