Conservation of Upland Habitats Recognised in Nidderdale Friends Enterprising Farm Award
Tuesday 21st September 2011
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The Friends of Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
(AONB) have awarded Jack Graham of Haver Close Farm, located North
West of Lofthouse in upper Nidderdale, as their Enterprising Farm
Award Winner for 2011.
The Friends Enterprising Farm Award is run in association with
the Nidderdale Agricultural Society and is sponsored by Nova
Healthcare, a specialist brain cancer facility at St James's
Hospital, Leeds. It is a bi-annual prize given to farmers working
within the AONB and who have demonstrated enterprise and commitment
to enhancing the natural environment. The winner receives a cheque
for £300.
The judges were impressed by Mr Graham's sympathetic
management of blanket bog, upland heath land and mixed ash
woodlands which are priority habitats.
One of the judges, Brian Wood, a Friends Committee member,
said: "Mr Graham's 628 hectare farm is located in one of the dale's
most important yet uncompromising areas close to Scar House
reservoir, a part of the dale popular with walkers. His work in the
enhancement of moorland, protection and restoration of dry stone
walling often representing different periods of enclosure, stock
proofing ancient woodlands in the steep gills has been undertaken
with great care and sympathy for the landscape. Selective, native
species, new tree planting is scheduled later this year.
"This management contributes to maintaining and increasing
populations of lapwing, a bird that has shown steep decline in
numbers in recent years, curlew, red grouse, skylark and golden
plover. The foraging land is present on and around the farm's inbye
land and this helps other breeding birds including snipe, redshank,
wheatear, oystercatcher and meadow pipits".
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Picture shows (left to right): Paddy Green,
Director, Nova Healthcare (award sponsor), Jack Graham, Haver Close
Farm, Lofthouse (winner), Peter Ashby, Rose Tree Farm, Farnley
(runner up), |
The runner up prize worth £150 goes to Peter and Sarah
Ashby of Rose Tree Farm, Farnley. Located at the southern end of
the AONB, close to Lindley Reservoir, the Ashbys have demonstrated
an imaginative approach after switching from milk production in
2002 and moving into short horn beef cattle. They now sell freezer
packs from the farm gate. In 2006 they started to convert to
organic and gained entry into the High Level Stewardship scheme. In
2008 they obtained organic status and also introduced Teeswater
sheep, a vulnerable category breed.
In addition they have planted new hedgerows, maintained
traditional hay meadows and developed a year round programme of
stone wall maintenance and renewal.
Commented Louise McManus, chair of Friends of Nidderdale AONB: "It is heartening to see the commitment of farmers in the AONB to managing both land and livestock to produce local, natural food while benefiting the flora and fauna in their care. These are dividends in which everyone can share and we thank them for their hard work. They deserve to be recognised.
Commented Louise McManus, chair of Friends of Nidderdale AONB: "It is heartening to see the commitment of farmers in the AONB to managing both land and livestock to produce local, natural food while benefiting the flora and fauna in their care. These are dividends in which everyone can share and we thank them for their hard work. They deserve to be recognised.
"We are indebted to our sponsors Nova Healthcare, without
their generous support these awards would not take place".