A south Lincolnshire fen farmer has been named overall winner of the Silver Lapwing Award.
Nicholas Watts, of Vine House Farm near Spalding, was presented with the trophy and a cheque for £1,000 at a ceremony in the House of Commons yesterday. John Fenton of Yokefleet Farms, Goole, was second and James Tallowin of Willow Farm, Hickling, third. Television present Adam Henson made the presentations.
Run by the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG), the awards are aimed at farmers and landowners who demonstrate an outstanding commitment to positive agri-environmental practices. They reward those who can point to a three-year track record of marrying environmental consideration with the demands of a commercially successful business.
Mr Watts is now a two-time Silver Lapwing winner, having first triumphed in 2001. The passionate ornithologist, who grows commercial birdseed on 140 ha of his land, is the only person to have won twice in the awards’ 34-year history.
Judges said he had turned Vine House Farm into a paradise for birds.
Mr Watts meticulously records varieties and implements conservation plans based on the results. Six ponds have been created with hedges on their North side to provide habitat for insects and the farm has 26km of 6m-wide cultivated margins, providing pollen and nectar from March to September.
Mr Watts has also persuaded the local drainage board to cut watercourses on only one side, which allows birds such as reed warblers, sedge warblers and reed buntings to nest, and has restored buildings and constructed towers for other nesting species including barn owls, tree sparrows and kestrels. Some of his conservation ideas have been adopted by national organisations.
FWAG Technical Director, Jim Egan, said: “The Silver Lapwing Award is all about long-term commitment to farmland conservation and Nicholas Watts epitomises this.
“Since first winning ten years ago he has continued to carry out extensive conservation work, which has contributed to the survival of many bird species in the Fens.
“I have no doubt that Vine House Farm will continue to provide a haven for wildlife for many years to come whilst also efficiently providing food for our growing population.”
The Silver Lapwings are sponsored by Waitrose in association with Coombe Farm.
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