Natural England

Mrs Adel MacNicol, owner of the Stody Estate in Melton Constable, Norfolk, and her estate team have triumphed in this years regional final of Natural England’s national farming award scheme.

Mrs MacNicol of the Stody Estate, and our two highly commended finalists Richard Symes of Earlsway Farm, Halesworth, Suffolk and Jason Gathorne-Hardy, of Great Glemham Farms, Saxmundham, Suffolk, will now go forward to represent the region at Natural England’s ‘Future of Farming Awards’ scheme national award ceremony on 19 November.

The MacNicol family have farmed the 1700 hectare (ha), now mainly arable farm, since 1941. The estate, set in the North Norfolk countryside, includes areas of woodland and open grassland. The River Glaven runs through the estate and provides a perfect habitat for otter, white clawed crayfish and brown trout. Visitors to the farm can be lucky enough to catch glimpses of grey partridge, turtle doves, snipe and yellowhammer from the 20km of permissive bridleways, paths and open access areas that have been developed with support from Natural England’s environmental schemes.

The Stody Estate impressed the judges with their active integration of commercial farming with wildlife, landscape and the historic features on the estate. Their commitment in involving the public through provision of footpaths and bridleways and their very successful work with schools was also highlighted.

What stands out above all is the innovative way the Estate leads various partnerships, influencing farmers and graziers to achieve wider benefits for the environment particularly in relation to the River Glaven.

Ross Haddow, 54, Stody Estate Manager, said: “Winning the regional final is a reflection of the successful partnership between the estate, Natural England and the vision of the late Mr Ian MacNicol which is now carried forward by his widow Adel MacNicol. Importantly, it is also recognition for the hard work and effort that is done by all of the people who are involved and who work on the estate.

“We are flattered to have won the regional final and see this as an opportunity to help and encourage others to have confidence in Natural England’s environmental schemes.” Earlsway Farm and Great Glemham Farms were also highly commended.

Mr Symes, 56, Earlsway Farm, said: “It was a great surprise and a delight to be selected as a regional finalist. Although I did not win I see this as an opportunity to spread the message about positive farming and conservation. I’m also very keen to encourage people to come into the countryside and get a better understanding of farmers and farming.”

Richard has been farming since 1976 and now farms 162 ha of arable land with areas of grassland, ponds, ancient woodlands, hedgerows and a thriving equestrian centre.

Mr Gathorne-Hardy, 39, manages White House Farm on Great Glemham Estate, said: “Being selected as a finalist was a nice surprise. Alongside the partnership arable farming business, we are developing a programme of events that celebrate the interlinkage of food, farming landscape and the arts, cross-financing sister projects in the Kelabit Highlands of Malaysia.

It has been nice to take a step back and receive recognition and affirmation for what we are doing. It is useful to be able to share knowledge and experience. The re-localisation of food production and the integration of farming with the arts and cultural heritage are resurgent themes at the moment. To get to the regional finals of the Future of Farming Awards will help to get this message across."

The Great Glemham Estate is a family partnership consisting of six farm holdings, is set in 365ha of the Suffolk river valleys comprising arable, woodland and important historic and farm parkland grassland.

Nine Future of Farming Award scheme judging panels, made up from Natural England experts together with representatives from the National Farmers Union (NFU) and the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), have been busy scrutinising applications from across England.

Peter Grimble, from Natural England, who chaired the East of England regional judging panel, said: “ The panel had a tough job in assessing the three regional finalists, all of whom exemplified the very high standards of land management that are practised and often go unrecognised in the east of England. The standard of all applicantion was high across the region which underlines the quality of the contributions to environmentally sustainable farming made by the three finalists."

Nicola Currie, Regional Director of the CLA, who was a member of the judging panel, said: “It has been a privilege to see three such high quality examples of the integration of commercial farming with conservation. The finalists use a wide variety of imaginative ways which encourage the public to get out into the countryside whilst gaining a better understanding of the links between food production and landscape. All three entrants went the extra mile to show the public the work land owners are continually doing to care for the countryside.”

Paul Hammett, of the NFU, also judging the awards, said: "Once again these winners stood out because they are making things happen. The farms provide a fantastic educational and leisure resource for local people, they understand their customers, and have made it their business to marry high quality food production with a flare for environmental improvement."

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Notes for editors:

1. For further information, high resolution photographs or to contact the finalists please contact Natural England’s East of England press office:
   Heather MacMorland on 01733 455080 or mobile 07919 228388 or;
   Linzee Kottman on 01223 533474 or mobile 07824 475359 or;
   Out of hours 07970 098005.
   www.naturalengland.org.uk

2. The criteria used for judging this year’s award reflects Natural England’s integrated approach to management of the natural environment. The regional finalists were chosen because they demonstrate:

• Innovative land management practices that boost biodiversity, public access opportunities and landscape conservation.
• A good understanding of the economic, social and environmental opportunities that biodiversity, public access and landscape conservation brings.
• Pioneering management of the natural environment in one of access, biodiversity or landscape that sets a new standard for the future.

3. Environmental Stewardship was launched on 3 March 2005. It is a Government- funded scheme, managed by Natural England, and open to all farmers. The Scheme funds the delivery of environmental benefits through agriculture and aims to conserve wildlife, maintain and enhance our landscape quality and character, protect our natural resources, and promote public access to the countryside.

4. It is composed of three tiers:-

• Entry Level Stewardship (ELS), a whole farm scheme which aims to encourage farmers and land managers across England to deliver simple but effective environmental management;
• Organic Entry Level Stewardship (OELS), which is open to farmers who manage all or part of their land organically;
• Higher Level Stewardship (HLS), which, when combined with ELS or OELS options, aims to deliver significant environmental benefits in high priority areas.

5. Environmental Stewardship is the latest phase of 21 years of agri-environment schemes which have brought real benefit to the countryside.

These schemes have:

• Delivered 5 million hectares across England under Environmental Stewardship agreements Restored more than 17,000 kilometres of hedgerow
• Created more than 4,800 kilometres of footpaths, and 2,400 kilometres of cycle paths and bridleways
• Assisted recovery of a range of species including the stone curlew, bittern, twite, cirl bunting, and chough
• And we are on target to bring 95% of Sites of Special Scientific Interest into favourable condition by 2010.

6. Natural England works for people, places and nature to conserve and enhance biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas. We conserve and enhance the natural environment for its intrinsic value, the wellbeing and enjoyment of people, and the economic prosperity it brings.