Natural England

Two farmers from the North East are celebrating their success in the regional final of a national farming awards scheme.

Graham Dixon of Alwinton, Northumberland, and Chris Hodgson of Piercebridge, Darlington will now go forward to represent the region at Natural England’s ‘Future of Farming Awards’ scheme at the national award ceremony next month (Thursday 15 November).

The new scheme has been established to celebrate environmental excellence and innovation in wildlife friendly farming. It singles out for recognition farmers like Graham Dixon and Chris Hodgson 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.

As the famous TV ad would say, it’s not just organic lamb on regional winner Graham Dixon’s family run upland farm at Alwinton in the Northumberland National Park; it’s M & S organic lamb, cared for by a full-time shepherd and grazed on high quality multi-species herd-rich pasture using sustainable, low impact farming systems.

Once managed using a conventional high input farming system of fertilizers and slurry, Alwinton Farm is now into its second 10-year Countryside Stewardship Scheme (CSS) agreement and managed under a certified organic system. Meadows are now managed to encourage diversity of grasses and flowers which attract a wide variety of insects, mammals and birds. The farm supplies prime lamb to Marks & Spencer’s and other high quality outlets such as Dalesford Organics in Gloucestershire.

Graham Dixon said balancing stock levels had been the key to Alwinton’s successful management system: “To get the very best out of our animals, they have to be in a low stress system suited to their environment, and should have a high standard of welfare and stockmanship.”

The low stress environment also has benefits for the hundreds of visitors to the area; Alwinton Farm has more than 200 hectares of open access land which allows people to experience the spectacular Cheviot Hills landscape.

Runner-up Chris Hodgson has worked wonders on his 100 per cent organic grassland farm at Piercebridge, where much of the land has been reclaimed from gravel extraction and had limited worth in terms of biodiversity. Chris has restored old neglected hedgerows and planted new ones. Riverside fields are swathed in bluebells in spring and the locations of ground nesting birds are recorded so that farming operations such as grass cutting have little or no impact on them.

The Hodgsons sell local produce – including their own organic pork and chicken – through their popular farm shop and café. They encourage public access onto the farm with several groups using the facilities for themed walks, and they support community initiatives such as the Camphill Trust (a farming community for mentally disabled people) by supplying eggs and selling their produce in the farm shop.

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 Landowners Association have been busy scrutinizing applications from up an down the country.

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.”

Panel member for the NFU, Louise White said: “Mr. Dixon is a well deserved regional winner. We were particularly impressed with the way he has proactively marketed his business coupled with a strong environmental focus. It was a close finish between Mr. Dixon and regional runner up Mr. Hodgson who particularly impressed the judging panel by developing a thriving organic business with strong environmental credentials and establishing good links with the local community.”

The winner and runner up go forward into the final round where a national panel will chaired by Peter Allen will select the overall winner, and runner up, to be announced at the award luncheon at Burghley House in Stamford in three weeks’ time (17 November).

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 recognize other areas of environmental excellence.

ENDS

For further information, contact the Natural England’s press office on 0191 3607 or out of hours on 07970 098005

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

Alwinton Farm, Northumberland.
Alwinton Farm was one of the first in the area to adopt stewardship. The entire farm is managed under a certified organic system and is now in its second 10-year CSS agreement. Meadows are managed to promote diversity of grasses and flowers. More than 200 hectares of the farm has open access which allows people to experience the spectacular landscape of the Cheviot Hills, Coquetdale and the many archaeological features on the farm. At present a scheme is being developed with Harbottle Primary School, Northumberland National Park and Alwinton Show to bring parties of inner-city schoolchildren to increase their awareness of the countryside. In addition to the farm income, the Dixons run a small business designing and manufacturing furniture made from locally grown hardwoods felled selectively.

Peircebridge Farm, Darlington
Largely situated on land reclaimed from gravel extraction, the farm has limited worth in terms of biodiversity. But Chris Hodgson has carried out extensive planting of new hedgerows and restored older, neglected hedgerows, which has involved irrigation and intensive weeding. Several groups use the farm and its facilities for themed walks including the Darlington ‘Dawn Chorus’ and naturalists’ groups. It is proposed to restore some walls which are locally distinctive, being lime mortared and believed to be constructed with stone from the Roman fort. The farm is 100 per cent organic down to grass, finishing store lambs, fatting pigs, laying and table chickens, and supports 14 staff as well as the Hodgsons.

For interviews, photographs or further information please contact Elfrieda Waren, GNN North East, tel 0191 202 3607.

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

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF NATURAL ENGLAND BY GNN NORTH EAST, TEL: 0191 202 3607; FAX: 0191 202 3599; EMAIL: elfrieda.waren@gnn.gsi.gov.uk