Natural England

Two Cheshire farmers have been chosen as the North West’s representatives in the final of Natural England’s ‘Future of Farming’ awards. Blaze Farm Partners, run by the Waller family from Blaze Farm, Wildboarclough, near Macclesfield, is the regional winner, while Keith Siddorn from Meadow Bank farm, Broxton, near Chester, is runner-up.

They will now go on to the national finals for the awards, which celebrate environmental excellence and innovation for integrating environment land management and sound farm business, on 19th November.

Mr Waller and Mr Siddorn came out on top in the whole of the North West after being assessed by a panel of judges including experts from Natural England, the National Farmers Union and the Countryside Land & Business Association. The experts looked at how farming practices are tailored to benefit the wildlife, landscape and access opportunities on the farm.

The Waller family has a traditional mixed grazed upland farm that covers two main blocks of land, on the Cheshire Plains and into the Peak District. Blaze farm features a variety of grassland and upland oak woodland which has been enhanced and restored in recent years.

Planting has linked up existing wooded areas to create a large area of high-quality woodland where bluebell, campion and trefoil, as well as the butterfly population, now thrive. Many bird species including reed bunting, skylark and meadow pipit enjoy the undisturbed rough grass areas that have been created, whilst late summer nightjar and roding woodcock are rare delights that had previously not been heard for several decades. A native herd of red deer now have more shelter at calving time in quiet areas away from the domestic livestock.

Milk from the Blaze farm dairy herd is used to produce its Hill Billy Ice Cream, sold in the farm tea room and ice cream parlour. The farm also sells its own meat. Free access throughout the year allows thousands of visitors to learn more about farming and how and where their food is produced. The farm is also actively involved in educational access and regularly hosts school and group visits through involvement with the Year of Food and Farming and Open Farm Sunday. At present a scheme is being operated with Ground Works, based in Stockport which aims to bring inner city school children to the farm to see at first hand where food comes from and learn about the connections between farming and food.

There are nature trails, with a choice of three, short, medium or long routes, some with wheelchair access, and permissive paths to let visitors enjoy the panoramic landscape and historic features. They cover a wide variety of habitats from new planting to ancient woodland, improved grassland to old hay meadows and nature ponds.

Marshall Waller said: “I am delighted to be selected as the regional winner not just for myself but for my family and local people who support our business. We are passionate about farming in a sustainable way and are keen to make the most of every opportunity to help people understand more about where their food comes from and its interaction and dependence on a high quality environment. Access and good communication are just as important as good husbandry and need to be incorporated into a successful farming future.”

Keith Siddorn is the fourth generation of his family to farm at Meadow Bank farm in Broxton. It features many habitats created solely for wildlife. Wild bird seed mixtures are used to provide a winter food source for small birds such as the tree sparrow, finches and linnet; pollen and nectar mixes to provide a nectar source for invertebrates, particularly for butterflies and bees. Fallow plots provide habitat for nesting lapwing, which later in the year are used by nesting skylark; and raised water levels in one field that attracts over-wintering waders.

Mr Siddorn has worked with the Broxton Barn Owl group to put up large nest boxes for barn owls. The boxes are equipped with cameras, linked by a “wi-fi” network to a display monitor in the Hayloft visitor barn. There are also more than 200 boxes for tree sparrow. Meanwhile, in every 150 metres of fenceline there is a “mammal gate” which allows the easy passage of foxes and badgers across the farm.

Meadow Bank has over 9km of permissive access routes for walkers, bird watchers, and wildlife enthusiasts and hosts educational visits, working especially closely with Reaseheath College. In 2009 the farm will work with nine local schools where the local education authority has given teachers the permission to teach topics outside the standard national curriculum, which will for example allow children to go to the farm to study in a practical way rather than in a classroom.

Mr Siddorn has also replanted many hedges, now managed on a five-year rotational cutting programme that allows them to grow tall and bushy; blossom in the spring, then berries in the winter also benefit wildlife. There are six-metre grass margins in the fields and 13 ponds across the farm.

Mr Siddorn said: “I’m passionate about farming in a socially acceptable and sustainable manner. One of my aims is to help educate young people about the environment and where their food comes from. I also wish to demonstrate to the general public that farmers help to create and preserve the wonderful countryside in which we live.”

Liz Newton, Regional Director for Natural England in the North West said: “I am delighted to offer my congratulations to Mr Waller and Mr Siddorn and their families. The awards give the regional finalists the recognition that they deserve for their ability to combine profitable farming with long term environmental benefits on their farms.”

Mark Tripney, who is on the Cheshire Dairy Board for the National farmers Union, commented: “Marshall Waller has integrated all aspects of the farm into a business that has embraced its location, continues to protect and enhance its environment and has successfully communicated the importance of sustainable farming practices to the public. Keith Siddorn has led by example, showing how farms can be managed successfully to enhance the environment, which has led to neighbouring farmers embracing the same ideals.

Douglas Chalmers, Regional Director for the Country Land & Business Association, and a member of the judging panel commented: “Blaze Farm is an excellent example of how a commercially run business, very much a food producing farm, demonstrates high standards of environmental management and also encourages public awareness of everything farmers do.
“One of the features that I liked at Meadow Bank Farm was how Mr Siddorn is working with local schools and with his neighbouring farmers”.

-Ends-

Notes to editors:

1. The criteria used for judging this year’s award reflects Natural England’s integrated approach to management of the natural environment. The regional finalists were chosen because they demonstrate:

• Innovative 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.

2. Environmental Stewardship was launched on 3 March 2005. It is a Government-funded scheme, managed by Natural England, and open to all farmers. The Scheme funds the delivery of environmental benefits through agriculture and aims to conserve wildlife, maintain and enhance our landscape quality and character, protect our natural resources, and promote public access to the countryside.

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.

Environmental Stewardship is the latest phase of 21 years of agri-environment schemes which have brought real benefit to the countryside.

These schemes have:

• Delivered 5 million hectares across England under Environmental Stewardship agreements
• Restored more than 17,000 kilometres of hedgerow
• Created more than 4,800 kilometres of footpaths, and 2,400 kilometres of cycle paths and bridleways
• Assisted recovery of a range of species including the stone curlew, bittern, twite, cirl bunting, and chough
• And we are on target to bring 95% of Sites of Special Scientific Interest into favourable condition by 2010.

3. 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.

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF NATURAL ENGLAND BY COI NEWS & PR NORTH WEST
MEDIA CONTACT: BARBARA PHILLIPS AT Barbara.Phillips@coi.gsi.gov.uk or 0161 952 4504