Edingley-based organic farmers and growers, John and Margaret Hill have been awarded the top prize in this year’s Nottinghamshire Farm Environment Awards.
The competition, which has been run since 2001, rewards excellent farm conservation practice within the county, recognising how farmers and growers look after and enhance the environment in a sustainable way.
NFU’s county adviser, Andy Guy said: “Our judging day on Tuesday (7 July) was incredibly enjoyable, but tough at the same time as the debate on who to give the top prizes to, went backwards and forwards for a very long time! All the four finalists showed tremendous variety and very varied application of the awards’ criteria; the standard of all the entries was outstanding so it was a thrilling way to end the competition’s fifteen year run.
“In the end, John and Margaret Hill’s mixed enterprise won through as their dedication to integrating the production of beef, arable crops and soft fruit into their overall environmental ethos was outstanding; the judges were unanimous that they should win the first prize. This tops their previous awards’ record as they were the small farm category winner in 2006, so well done to John and Margaret!”
Second prize this year goes to David Gash, who farms at Cotham, near Newark. David’s approach to conservation is excellent, with his 23 acre wildflower meadow a particular highlight. The meadow has been carefully managed for generations and is registered with Nottinghamshire Biological and Geological Records Centre.
Andy Guy added: “The work David has achieved on the farm’s ponds and river banks was also noted by the judges and the attention to detail on issues such as field margin management for insects and his new tree planting schemes, were commended.”
Third prize is awarded to the Welbeck Estate, which showed just how a large area of land can be managed sustainably. The way soils are managed was particularly praised by the judges, and much thought obviously goes into the care of wildlife habitats across the whole farm. Andy Guy remarked: “Everything Welbeck does, it does well. Their excellent management of wildlife areas included some exceptionally well managed wild bird seed and pollen and nectar plots. The judges noted how all the many habitats and projects across the farm were connected to each other: a key characteristic of habitat creation.”
Andy Guy continued: “Hedges were a feature that struck a chord with the judges when they visited the fourth-placed Sharman family at Halam. Ian, Steph and Tom had previous won the county environment award and a return visit to the farm showed how several projects were progressing well. In particular the judges commended the Sharmans on their new orchard project: the attention to detail in researching traditional varieties and the management of the new planting was excellent. The family’s interest and investment in renewable energy was also a key feature of the farm.”
The prize winners will be invited to a presentation ceremony at the headquarters of home and garden retailer, Wilkinson, near Worksop, towards the end of the year.
