Award is launched to celebrate the environmental achievements of farmers
The prestigious FWAG Silver Lapwing Award, sponsored by Waitrose in association with Coombe Farm offers UK farmers the chance to celebrate their environmental achievements and win £1,000.
The Award will be the culmination of the UK’s most prestigious environmental competition for farmers organised by the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG), the UK’s leading independent provider of conservation and environmental advice to farmers. Now in its 31st year, the FWAG Silver Lapwing Award seeks to showcase the best in UK farming.
Besides the cheque for £1,000 the winner of the 2010 Award will receive a silver lapwing sculpture by leading artist Patricia Northcroft at a special ceremony in the House of Commons in the autumn.
The FWAG Silver Lapwing Awards are aimed at farmers and landowners who demonstrate outstanding commitment to good environmental practices. They reward the very best land managers who can show a three year track record of good practice in a commercially successful farming enterprise. Submissions are welcomed from farmers, farm managers, tenants or owners and from all types of enterprise regardless of size of holding.
Andy Ormiston, Managing Director of FWAG said: "The FWAG Silver Lapwing Awards are a great opportunity to showcase and celebrate the wonderful work that UK farmers undertake alongside the production of food. 2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity and we want to use this year’s FWAG Silver Lapwing Award to demonstrate just how much work farmers are doing to safeguard the UK’s biodiversity thereby enhancing wildlife and protecting our natural resources for generations to come."
Heather Jenkins, Waitrose Director of Agricultural Strategy, said: "The high standard of last year’s entries really reflected how committed farmers were to managing our landscape along with delivering quality produce. By sponsoring the FWAG Silver Lapwing Awards for the second year, we hope even more farmers will be encouraged to share their achievements and gain the recognition they deserve."
Last years winners of the FWAG Silver Lapwing Award were cousins Patrick and Brian Barker of Stowmarket in Suffolk who successfully farm a 510 hectare mixed enterprise in conjunction with looking after and promoting the local landscape and biodiversity .
Farmers who want to enter the 2010 FWAG Silver Lapwing Award can download the application form from the FWAG website www.fwag.org.uk, or request a copy from Jane Hampson at FWAG HQ on 024 7669 8702 or jane.hampson@fwag.org.uk Closing date for entries is 28 May 2010.
