Natural England

A farm near York that acts as a countryside classroom to educate children about agriculture and food production is the first winner of a regional award recognising farmers’ efforts for innovation and excellence.

Grange Farm, part of Nun Monkton Estate, is the regional winner of Natural England’s inaugural Future of Farming Awards 2007. The farm, run by the Throup family, is one of 16 regional finalists from across the country now going forward to the national finals at Burghley House, Stamford on November 17.

They will be joined in the national finals by regional runner-up, Stephen Ramsden of Northside Head Farm Middlesmoor, near Harrogate.

Sir Martin Doughty, Chair of Natural England, said: "I’m delighted to preside over Natural England’s first Future of Farming Awards, celebrating excellence and innovation in English farming. The Awards will give all sixteen regional finalists the recognition they deserve for the important achievements of farmers who have set a new standard for environmentally friendly farming, and provided inspiration to others. The awards are proof of the ‘new’ contract between society and farmers, in which farmers supply public goods and services to the public."

Grange Farm, a traditional mixed arable and livestock farm, now regularly opens its gates to groups of school children who use the farm as a living classroom to learn about farming, the rural environment and where their food comes from. The farm’s busy programme of visits draws in children from a range of schools including inner city Leeds and Bradford. The Natural England award also recognises the farm’s efforts to open up the land for horse riders and ramblers by creating several new bridleways and signposted walks.

Sophie Throup said: "We are thrilled to have won this award, its nice to think that our hard work has been recognised. It has taken a lot of time and effort to get our educational facilities up to standard, but its all worth while when you see the children enjoying themselves whilst learning more about farming and the countryside".

Runner-up Stephen Ramsden, was also commended for his educational work with local schools and groups. Stephen, a livestock farmer, was one of the first people to enter land into the Countryside Stewardship Scheme and is now undertaking environmental work to protect moorland areas on the farm. He has also erected a 6kw wind turbine.

Stephen Ramsden said: "It’s very gratifying to be rewarded like this, especially when you think of all the good work that is being done by farmers in the region. I’m very proud of what our family has achieved up here, we like to think that we are doing our bit to protect the local countryside."

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

Laurie Norris, North East Regional Land Use Adviser with the NFU said: "Yorkshire is home to many innovative farming businesses and it is fitting in this, the Year of Food and Farming, that these inaugural awards have been made to two people who are passionate about helping young people find out more about the role of farmers, not just in terms of food production but also in managing the fabulous landscapes for which the region is renowned."

Dorothy Fairburn, Regional Director at the Country Land and Business Association said: "The efforts that farmers make often goes unrecognised, so it was nice to be a part of such a positive initiative."

Natural England’s Regional Director Peter Nottage said: "Yorkshire is well known for its diverse and wonderful countryside and we all owe a great deal of thanks to the many farmers and landowners who play their part in maintaining it. More and more people are recognising what a valuable asset our natural environment is, so it is only right that we recognise and reward those who work so very hard to look after it. I’m pleased that we have been able to select such a worthy winner and runner up, its good to know that their efforts have been recognised."

Notes for editors:

1. 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.

2. Natural England took over responsibility for the delivery of Environmental Stewardship from the Rural Development Service on 1 October 2006.

3. Environmental Stewardship was launched on 3 March 2005. 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.

4. Environmental Stewardship builds on the very best practice already evident in British farming. In particular, it takes forward Defra's two flagship agri-environment schemes, Environmentally Sensitive Areas and Countryside Stewardship. The primary objectives of the new scheme are to:

• Conserve wildlife (biodiversity).
• Maintain and enhance landscape quality and character.
• Protect the historic environment and natural resources.
• Promote public access and understanding of the countryside.
• Natural resource protection.

5. Farm fact file
Details of finalist and runner up:

The regional winners, the Throup Family run Grange Farm in Nun Monkton, York. The farm is mixed arable, with a dairy herd and free range laying hens. A countryside stewardship agreement has been in place for a number of years on the farm, bringing benefits like:

• Hedges have been allowed to grow to be better habitats for nesting birds, only cutting the hedges once every three years
• Six meter margins have been established throughout the holding, sympathetically locating them to protect watercourses and woodlands, creating important wildlife corridors.
• There are ten hectares of over-wintered stubble followed by a spring fallow to encourage the breeding lapwing and Grey Partridge on the farm by providing ground for nesting and food habitats for adults and chicks.
• A large number of hedges have been restored on the farm through coppicing and replanting to benefit wildlife, reintroducing the common species of hawthorn, blackthorn, holly, hazel and dogwood. A lot of elder removal has also been carried out as this is smothering existing hedge plants in certain areas.
• A programme of tree planting is being implemented, reintroducing oak and field maple to the area

The regional runner-up is Stephen Ramsden who owns Northside Head Farm in MIddlesmoor, Harrogate. Its an upland Livestock farm with a beef suckler herd and sheep. The farm has been part of the Countryside Stewardship scheme for a number of years, bringing the following benefits:

• Hay is still made and two of the meadows (9 ha) are managed in a Stewardship Scheme
• 213 ha of the moorland are managed in the Stewardship Scheme with reduced stocking to protect sensitive blanket bog and wet and dry heath habitats
• Mr Ramsden has welcomed school groups onto the farm since 1989. He gives the children tours of the farm and gives them an insight into how an upland farm operates and where their beef burgers and lamb chops come from.

6. 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.

7. 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. We increase opportunities to make the natural environment an enriching part of people's everyday lives, and improve its long term security by contributing to the sustainable management of our natural resources.

Issued on behalf of Natural England by the Government News Network, Yorkshire and the Humber, tel 0113 341 3180. Out of hours on 07970 098005

For further information about Natural England please visit: www.naturalengland.org.uk