NFU member John Holt has been awarded a BEM (British Empire Medal) for services to sustainable farming.
The change to organic farming on his dairy farm, near Chichester, eight years ago has greatly benefitted biodiversity.
The farm is home to seven bird species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s UK Red List of birds needing urgent conservation action, including skylark, mistle thrush, whinchat, marsh tit, linnet, swift and house sparrow.
A wide variety of insects and butterflies can also be seen on the farm.
Environmental support schemes
Mr Holt, a third-generation tenant farmer, said much of this success has been achieved by working with the government’s environmental support schemes, including the SFI and Countryside Stewardship.
He backs the NFU’s calls for the new SFI scheme to be available to all types of farmers as soon as possible.
He said: “I’ve always been passionate about farming.
“We changed our farming system and moved into organic farming eight years ago.
“This work on the farm, using schemes like Countryside Stewardship and SFI, shows how farming can work well alongside supporting the environment.
“It shows how much support there is for farmers and there are many others out there doing fantastic work to support wildlife and the environment.”
NFU member John Holt
“We need some clarity over the future of SFI. It would be a huge shame if we had to discontinue any of this environmental work in the future.
“As tenant farmers every acre has to contribute, and we couldn’t do a lot of this environmental work without that financial support.”
Sharing knowledge to support biodiversity
No pesticides or artificial fertilisers are used on the farm.
All wheat, barley, oats and beans grown on the farm are used to feed the farm’s 240 Holstein Friesian cows.
Mr Holt works with other farmers and landowners across Sussex to support wildlife and nature.
He is a committee member on Weald to Waves, an advisory group which is working to establish a 100-mile nature corridor through Sussex.
Group members share knowledge, information and advice to support biodiversity.
Part of the community
Mr Holt also hosts farm walks for local groups and members of the public where he talks to people about the environmental work carried out on the farm.
Mr Holt said: “It is a huge honour and a complete shock to be awarded a British Empire Medal.
“I am very touched that people in this community appreciate what we are doing here on the farm and feel that I am worthy of such an honour.
“I think it shows how much support there is for farmers and there are many others out there doing fantastic work to support wildlife and the environment.”
