Your Hertfordshire county NFU update

Jessica Malings

Jessica Malings

Hertfordshire County Adviser

Introducing your new county adviser

New Hertfordshire County Adviser Jessica Malings brings with her more than a decade of experience across rural surveying, farm consultancy and estate management.

Jessica is a Fellow of the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers and a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. 

Most recently, she worked as a senior farm consultant at Bidwells in Cambridge, supporting farming businesses with financial management, environmental schemes, contract farming agreements and wider estate management. 

“I’m keen to ensure the farming voice is heard and respected,” she said.

“I look forward to using my broad experience to support farmers, champion our industry and inspire the next generation to get involved in agriculture so they really understand the importance of our hardworking farming industry.”

Outside of work, Jessica enjoys playing hockey and horse-riding. She has a long-standing interest in supporting and teaching younger people, whether it is in sports or farming.

Local news

Herts farm hosts Silver Lapwing Award

Farmers, conservationists and industry leaders headed to a Hertfordshire farm as it hosted one of the country’s most prestigious farming awards.

Finches Farm in Benington, Hertfordshire, hosted the 47th FWAG National Silver Lapwing Award, celebrating the best in sustainable farming and wildlife conservation. 

Host Andrew Bott, winner of the 2025 Silver Lapwing Award, took guests on a guided tour of the farm, seeing first-hand the regenerative farming practices that earned Finches Farm national recognition. 

During the event, Peter Clifford of Frampton Court Estate, Gloucestershire, was announced as this year’s winner. 

His farm was recognised by judges for its outstanding commitment to integrating productive farming with habitat restoration, biodiversity, and long-term environmental stewardship. 

The FWAG National Silver Lapwing Award is one of the UK’s longest running and most respected environmental farming awards. 

It recognises farmers who go above and beyond to protect and enhance the countryside while running successful commercial businesses. 

Judges assess how environmental management is integrated into the whole farm, considering habitat creation, species conservation, soil and water management, efficient use of natural resources and protection of the historic landscape.

The 2026 award was sponsored by Frontier Agriculture and Land App.