Suffolk FWAG Farm Conservation award winners announced

The winners of the Suffolk FWAG (Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group) Farm Conservation Competition and The Tim Sloane Award were announced at an awards ceremony on Wednesday 21 November. The event was attended by Suffolk FWAG members and guests.

The Farm Conservation Competition, which is sponsored by Ashtons Legal, has been running for over 30 years. It celebrates Suffolk farms which combine conservation and environmental stewardship with running commercial businesses.

The event was hosted by Glenn Buckingham, Chairman of Suffolk FWAG. Jeanette Dennis, Agriculture & Estates partner at Ashtons Legal, introduced the Farm Conservation Competition awards, which were presented by the judges, Chris Knock and Martin Sandford.

The three shortlisted farms were visited over the summer by the judges, accompanied by Ashtons Legal partner, Simon Cunningham.

The results were:

• Winner: Glemham Farms, Gt Glemham
• Runner Up: Bocking Hall, Helmingham
• Highly Commended: Lodge Farm, Gisleham

Also awarded at the event was the Tim Sloane Memorial Award, which went to joint winners, Boarded Barn Farm, Gt Finborough and South Elmham Hall, St Cross South Elmham.

Guest speaker, Johann Tasker, Chief Reporter for Farmers Weekly and Editor of Anglia Farmer magazine, spoke about the changes which have taken place in farming since Farmers Weekly was established in the 1930s. In that time, he said, vast changes have also occurred in the media. The advent of social media means that the huge number of good news stories that can be found in farming are now able to reach a wider audience.

Commenting on the evening, Jeanette Dennis said: “Ashtons Legal has worked closely with many of the region’s agricultural businesses for a number of years. We are passionate about the work Suffolk FWAG undertakes in helping to preserve the Suffolk countryside and reduce farming’s environmental impact. We are pleased to be sponsoring the awards once again this year and congratulate Suffolk FWAG on the successes of the past 12 months.”Pictured from left to right: Chris Knock (Judge), Jeanette Dennis, the winners Lord Cranbrook and his son Jason Gathorne-Hardy of Glemham Farms and Martin Sandford (Judge). Read more about our Agriculture & Estates team.