Smallholding & Entrepreneurship: Mark Rees’ Journey from the Army to Gotland Gin

This episode of the HighGround podcast explores life on a smallholding and the realities of farm diversification. Host Tom Constable welcomes Mark Rees, a 22‑year Army veteran who, with his family, bought a smallholding in Devon and began rearing Gotland sheep—a Swedish breed prized for its lustrous wool and tender meatlivingwithgotlands.com.

Mark explains that a smallholding is generally a home with land bigger than a garden but smaller than a farm—anything under about 50 acresarbtech.co.uk. To make his 20‑acre holding viable, Mark diversified: he started fencing and gardening businesses, trained in butchery and project management, and eventually founded Gotland Gin, using botanicals such as lingonberries to reference the sheep’s Scandinavian origins. He discusses the licensing hurdles, the impact of the pandemic, and how direct sales and farm experiences help market both the gin and his wool products.

The conversation highlights how ex‑military skills, discipline, hard work, adaptability-translate to small‑scale farming and entrepreneurship. Mark stresses the importance of resilience, learning from mistakes and following one’s passion. The hosts also touch on grants, training courses and networks available to would‑be smallholders, and encourage listeners to seek out HighGround’s Rural Week courses for hands‑on experience.

00:00 Introduction: Tom & Jamie outline the podcast’s goal to create a library of land‑based career conversations for veterans and service‑leavers.

02:42 Meet Mark Rees: 22‑year Army veteran and former Army Air Corps/PT Corps instructor introduces himself and describes buying a 20‑acre smallholding in Devon.

03:50 What is a smallholding? Discussion about the term; smallholdings are generally a home with land larger than a garden but smaller than a farm—usually under about 50 acresarbtech.co.uk.

04:10T ransition & early diversification: Mark describes setting up gardening and fencing businesses while establishing the smallholding and explains why he specialised in Gotland sheep.

06:00 Service‑leaver advice: Mark emphasises the lack of land‑based guidance when he left the Army and urges veterans to plan early and take advantage of courses.

10:16 Gotland sheep: The breed produces long, curly wool with lustre that grows 10 inches in a yearlivingwithgotlands.com and lambs grow quickly; ewes are excellent mothers, often raising twins or tripletslivingwithgotlands.com. Mark explains how wool and lamb sales originally supported the farm.

13:08 Birth of Gotland Gin: The idea came from a conversation over gin and tonic; Mark developed a recipe using lingonberries to link the gin to the sheep’s Swedish heritage.

15:25 Licensing & early sales: He details the process of contracting a local distillery, gaining HMRC licences and testing the gin at markets before investing in his own still.

17:47 Pivot during lockdown: With markets cancelled, Mark offered free hand sanitiser with gin orders and delivered bottles across Devon, building the brand and social‑media following.

20:13 On‑farm experiences: Mark explains how farm‑tasting sessions and sheep interaction experiences help sell gin and wool products and educate visitors about smallholdings.

21:19 Economics & diversification: Smallholder finances are tight; mixed income from wool, meat, contract work and gin production keeps the farm viable. Mark notes that smallholders often need multiple revenue streams.

23:32 Learning & resilience: Self‑teaching, reading and listening to other farmers have been vital. Mark emphasises learning from mistakes and using military discipline to persist.

25:30 Advice on training: Jamie points out that land‑based colleges offer short courses—tractor driving, ATV, spraying—many of which can be funded through veterans’ learning credits.

27:43 Starting with less capital: Mark suggests farm apprenticeships, council tenancies and contract work as ways into agriculture if buying land is not feasible.

31:09 Support networks & grants: Discussion about grants, farm‑advisory services and new environmental schemes that help with herbal‑lay planting and sustainable farming.

34:19 Final advice: Mark urges aspiring smallholders to be brave, follow their passion and use their military resilience. He reminds listeners that “everything you were taught in the military is a seamless transition to farming life.”

Mark Rees is a former Army Air Corps soldier and Physical Training Corps instructor who served for 22 years. On leaving the Army, he and his family moved to a 20‑acre smallholding in Devon, where they rear Gotland sheep—a Swedish breed known for its long, lustrous wool and tender, mild meatlivingwithgotlands.com. Gotland ewes are prolific mothers and lambs mature quicklylivingwithgotlands.com, making the breed suitable for dual‑purpose wool and meat production. To make the farm viable, Mark launched fencing and gardening businesses, studied butchery and worked as a building‑project manager before founding Gotland Gin, a micro‑distillery using botanicals such as lingonberries. He now sells award‑winning gins, wool products and farm experiences while supporting HighGround’s Rural Weeks as a guest presenter. Follow Mark’s work at gotlandgin.co.uk, instagram.com/gotland_gin, and facebook.com/gotlandgin.

1. Smallholding definition – A smallholding is generally a home with land larger than a garden but smaller than most farms; usually under about 50 acresarbtech.co.uk. A family can often be self‑sufficient on around five acresarbtech.co.uk.
2. Benefits & challenges of smallholdings – Smallholdings can be more productive per acre than larger farms by combining different uses (orchards, animals, bees etc.)arbtech.co.uk, but start‑up costs include fencing, tools and legal registrationsarbtech.co.uk.
3. Gotland sheep – Their fleece grows up to 10 inches a year and is prized for its lustre and soft handlelivingwithgotlands.com; ewes have adaptable, personable temperaments and lambs mature quickly, often with twins or tripletslivingwithgotlands.com.
4. Diversification – Farm diversification, such as producing spirits, is becoming increasingly common as farmers seek alternative revenue streams. NFU Mutual notes that farms are turning wheat or barley into craft gins and vodkas to connect consumers with the farm and increase profitability.
5. Training & advice – UK land‑based colleges and organisations like LANTRA offer short courses in tractor driving, ATV, spraying and animal husbandry. Veterans can often fund these through learning credits schemes (ELCAS/SLC). HighGround’s Rural Weeks provide hands‑on experience and introductions to employers.
6. HighGround charity – Find out more about HighGround’s Rural Weeks and horticultural therapy programmes at highground‑uk.org.

If this episode resonated with you, please share it with your network—other service‑leavers, reservists and veterans may find inspiration in Mark’s journey. For hands‑on experience of smallholding and other land‑based careers, consider signing up for a HighGround Rural Week. You can also support Mark by purchasing Gotland Gin or visiting his farm experiences to learn more about Gotland sheep and life on a smallholding.