Local Farmer in Running for National Award

Woodborough Park Farm, Nottinghamshire has been nominated for a national farming & conservation award, recognising the outstanding efforts of husband and wife team John and Cathy Charles-Jones to promote good habitat management.

John and Cathy are one of five finalists going forwards for the Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group’s Silver Lapwing Award. The winner will be announced at an award ceremony on Wednesday 3rd June in Essex.

The award, generously sponsored by Waitrose for the seventh year running, recognises farmers who go the extra mile to protect and enhance the countryside in which they farm. John and Cathy made the national shortlist of five farms, each selected for demonstrating outstanding commitment to good environmental practices, alongside the production of food.

Joe Martin, Chairman of the FWAG Association, said, “This longstanding national award, now in its 38th year, celebrates the environmental achievements of farmers. It showcases just what can be achieved on a typical farm with passion, dedication and sound, independent farm advice. We hope the award will inspire other farmers to go on to achieve great things for wildlife on their own farms.”

John and Cathy Charles-Jones farm 600 acres of hilly land at Woodborough Park on the north-east edge of Nottingham. The soils across the farm comprise a very heavy clay that requires subsoiling every year; subsequent min-till ensures substantial yields. Seventeen acres of old woodland have been augmented by 25 acres of new planting alongside the older woods, in field corners and along watercourses. There is 90 acres of permanent pasture let to a neighbour and approx. 470 acres of conventional arable of which about 55 acres is in conservation schemes. 

A pond has been dug, 7 kms of new hedges planted and 37 acres of floristically enhanced arable margins created. Annual conservation work includes the establishment of wild bird seed plots and overwintered stubbles with spring fallows.