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Food and Environment 

Beautiful Farm 2005 results  

In May 2004 Bayer CropScience, in association with Farm Life magazine, launched the competition to find Britain's Most Beautiful Farm. This awards scheme was set up to recognise and celebrate the contribution that the farming community makes to maintaining the beautiful British landscape This ethos reflects Bayer CropScience's respect for the countryside and those that work in it helping to produce food for the British and export markets.

Criteria for the competition were: -

  • care for the environment and encouraging biodiversity; 
  • fully undertaking the key elements of the Voluntary Initiative;
  • financial success; 
  • able to exhibit 'social responsibility' that today's modern farmer must advocate, encouraging traceability and building consumer confidence; 
  • demonstrate a positive image of British Farming through a professional approach.

Candidate farms were also involved in local outreach programmes, promoting farming to their local community. Ultimately though, the farms were able to demonstrate that business success could be balanced with consideration towards the environment.

The competition was arbitrated by a panel of judges from across the agricultural industry and included:-

  • Mike Spillard, Picture Editor at The Daily Telegraph;
  • Kevin Hawkins, Director of the British Retail Consortium; 
  • David Felce, who runs a LEAF demonstration farm in Cambridgeshire;
  • Alastair Leake, Head of the Allerton Research and Educational Trust;
  • Caroline Calder-Smith, Publisher of Farm Life magazine;
  • Joachim Schneider, Managing Director, Bayer CropScience Limited

Aishe Barton in Silverton,Devonwas the ultimate winner of the competition. Andrew Baker, who manages the 200ha enterprise, started farming just seven years ago and combines the principles of organic and conventional farming to develop an integrated and sympathetic approach. These methods, in combination with extensive stewardship and regeneration projects, has resulted in a haven for wildlife.

A LEAF farm, Aishe Barton also welcomes schools and other parties to visit, helping to provide local communities with an insight to farming.

The five regional finalists were selected following a rigourous assessment by the judging panel and the competition culminated in an award ceremony at Kensington Roof Gardens, hosted by Jonathon Porritt, Director of the Sustainable Development Commission

Regional  winner forScotlandwas Brahan Farms nr Dingwall. This 1600ha estate managed by Jim Gilzean, is a mixture of forestry and arable, growing potatoes and cereals for a number of end markets. The estate demonstrated a comprehensive approach to the Beautiful Farm principles fully embracing Countryside Stewardship and the Voluntary Initiative with an emphasis put on improving the quality of produce while maintaining productivity. There is a keen and obvious commitment here to closely integrate farming, forestry and tourism in a sympathetic way.

All staff are trained and updated to ensure they are aware of best practice in farming for the benefit of the environment.

Regional winner for the East of England was Deepdale Farm, Burnham Deepdale, inNorfolk. Managed by Jason Borthwick and his father, the rationale here is that 'Best Practice' delivers the highest environmental considerations. A recent program of Investors in People has been adopted within the business to ensure that best practice is delivered. Financial success is key to this business and a full program of diversification has been adopted which includes Countryside Stewardship and sympathetic restoration of farm features and buildings creating opportunities for local businesses.

Regional Winner for the South of England was Home Farm, Goodwood, W.Sussex. Owned by Lord March and managed by Karl Barton this 1100ha estate has recently undergone conversion to organic status. Despite this challenging period the farm business has fully embraced environmental considerations and also operates an educational trust to promote farming to the younger generation. The ethos here is 'Local food for local people' and as such much of the farm produce is sold locally to small shops and some individuals.

Yew Tree Farm, inConiston,Cumbriawas Regional Winner for the North of England and was of such a high standard the judges also awarded the accolade of Highly Commended. Owned by the National Trust this 200ha livestock farm is run by John and Caroline Watson and occupies an Environmentally Sensitive Area. The aim at the farm is to operate in a way that protects the special features of this unique place, to encourage better understanding of the issues that face farming whilst showing that hill farming can be a viable option with a little imagination and commitment to making it work.

Following the success of this competition the 2005/06 competition will soon be launched. Watch this space!