Natural England launches its Future of Farming Awards 2008

Farmers and farm managers across England are invited to enter Natural England's 2008 Future of Farming Awards.

The award scheme, which opens on Monday 7 April, recognises and celebrates farmers in England who have integrated wildlife, landscape and access management with more sustainable farming production on their farms. The awards are being supported by the farming industry with input from the CLA, NFU and TFA.

Launching the awards for the second year, Sir Martin Doughty, Chair of Natural England, said: "These awards showcase how first rate environmental land management and sound farm business can go hand in hand.

"Natural England believes that the future of farming lies in adopting techniques that not only produce high quality food, but also enhance the beauty of the English landscape and conserve and protect our much-loved native wildlife."

The inventor of a revolutionary new way of collecting and sowing wild seeds to help restore medieval hay meadows in Sussex was the 2007 Future of Farming Award winner. Keith Datchler of the Beech Estate, near Battle, East Sussex won the award for his work for both running a successful farm business and for protecting a precious yet threatened habitat that supports a rich mix of native wildlife, including wildflowers, butterflies and other rare insects.

In the East Midlands ,Chris Dowse, Estate manager for Sir Richard Sutton's Settled Estates, based at Hall Farm in Stainton-le- Vale won the regional award for his innovation and achievement in managing the natural environment sustainably. David Hutchinson of Manor Farm, Strixton near Wellingborough was nominated as runner up for his commitment to biodiversity work and protection of historic landscape features.