Natural England

Two farmers from Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire are celebrating their success at winning the regional final of a national farming awards scheme.

Chris Dowse of Stainton –le- Vale near Market Rasen and David Hutchinson of Strixton near Wellingborough will now go forward to represent the region at Natural England’s ‘Future of Farming Awards’ scheme at the national award ceremony in November.

The new scheme has been established to celebrate environmental excellence and innovation in wildlife friendly farming. It singles out for recognition farmers like Chris Dowse and David Hutchinson who have made the greatest contribution to both conserving England’s special wildlife and landscapes whilst helping people have greater access to our natural environment.

Chris Dowse, Estate Manager for Sir Richard Sutton’s Settled Estates, based at Hall Farm in Stainton-le-Vale, won the regional Future of Farming Award for his innovation and achievement in managing the natural environment sustainably. Mr Dowse, 58, said: “I am absolutely thrilled to win this regional award from Natural England. For as long as I can remember, I have always been fascinated by birds, insects and the natural environment, which led me to a career in farming. I truly believe that it is impossible to separate the environment from running a successful farm business. I will certainly be keeping my fingers crossed when they announce the national winner too!”

The 3000 hectare arable farm hosts dozens of group visits each year and receives Entry Level and Organic Entry Level Stewardship grants from Natural England, and hopes to enter the Higher Level Scheme soon. Organically raised beef is slaughtered locally and sold in box schemes across the country and in Waitrose.

David Hutchinson was nominated as the runner up for his commitment to biodiversity work and protection of historic landscape features. Manor Farm is a 300 hectare, mainly arable, commercial farm on which Mr Hutchinson, 43, has lived and worked all his life. David said: “We are delighted to be recognised by Natural England for what we have achieved on the farm. Since we changed our techniques a year ago, we have seen a dramatic increase in the variety and quantity of wildlife, which is great to see on an arable farm. We have far more English Partridge, lapwings, brown hares, waders and finches as well as rare birds including the Little Ringed Plover.”

“We’re looking after the natural environment and our historical environment. Manor Farm has been a settlement dating back to Roman, Saxon and medieval times so we’re careful not to disturb important ancient sites. Visitors to the farm will see commodity crops alongside strips of grass and wildflowers next to ditches and hedges which provide food and shelter for wildlife. The newly-restored lake is teeming with pondlife. ”

Additionally, Mr Hutchinson is converting a Dutch Barn to office accommodation with a low carbon input and energy requirement. He hope’s to offset the carbon created in the construction to the land and crops by further changing farming techniques. The farm produces oilseeds for vegetable oils, now important for biofuels as well as food, and wheat is grown and sold to local mills, which reduces transportation.

Natural England launched The Future of Farming Awards Scheme at this year’s Royal Show in July. Since then the judging panels made up of Natural England’s experts together with representatives of the National Farmers Union and the Countryside Landowners Association have been busy scrutinizing applications from up and down the country.

Geoff Sansome, Natural England’s East Midlands Regional Director said “I am delighted to offer my congratulations to Mr Dowse and Mr Hutchinson whose success is well deserved. It was a close finish between Mr Dowse and Mr Hutchinson. The awards will give the regional finalists the recognition they deserve for the important achievements of farmers who have set a new standard for environmentally friendly farming and provide inspiration to others. The Awards are proof of the ‘new’ contract between society and farmers, in which farmers supply public services and goods to the public”

Richard Hezlet, NFU Regional Director and Helen Woolley, Country, Land and Business Association, Regional Director, who were on the judging panel commented that “We were treated to a variety of agricultural enterprises and all of them demonstrated great enthusiasm and commitment to improving the environment. But what set the winners apart for us was the ability to combine profitable farming and outstanding husbandry with a deep care for the environment.

The winner and runner up go forward into the final round where a national panel chaired by Peter Allen, a Natural England board member and 17th generation Lakeland tenant hill farmer and Chairman of the North West Regional Management board of the National Farmers Union, will select the overall winner, and runner up.

The criteria used for judging this year’s award reflect Natural England’s integrated approach to management of the natural environment. The regional finalist and runner up were chosen because they demonstrate:

• First-rate 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.

In future years Natural England will expand the Awards introducing more categories to recognise other areas of environmental excellence.

Notes to Editors:

1. Images of Chris Dowse and David Hutchinson and interviews are available on request. Please call the number below.

2. 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.

3. Farm facts

• Hall Farm arable 3000 hectares.
• Livestock includes 35 native breed Lincoln Red Sucklers and 600 North Country Mule gimmer lambs which are bought, reared and sold for breeding.
• Fat cattle are slaughtered locally and the organic meat is sold in box schemes across the country and also in Waitrose supermarkets.
• arable crops are winter wheat, barley for malting, oats, oilseed rape, sugar beet, beans and vining peas.
• The LEAF demonstration farm, well known to the many visitors from farming community and general public, is an Entry Level and Organic Entry Level Stewardship scheme farm and also runs Countryside Stewardship agreements, with plans to introduce measures to qualify for Higher Level Stewardship.
• Manor farm mainly arable 300 hectares
• Mixed farm including a 2 winter wheat and winter oilseed rape rotation.
• Flock of 100 ewes grazing the old grassland covering part of the medieval/sunken village of Strixton.

Issued on behalf of Natural England by Government News Network East Midlands. Media enquiries to Gaby Hateley on 0115 971 2797 or gabrielle.hateley@gnn.gsi.gov.uk