New Chairman for the Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group

Henry Lucas elected as national Chairman

Henry Lucas, farmer and former Warwickshire FWAG chairman has been elected as national chairman of the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group.  Henry farms at Pleasance Farm near Kenilworth where he finishes beef cattle and also has an arable enterprise which he runs alongside a successful tourism business. 

Henry has farmed at Pleasance Farm in various family partnerships since the late 1960's.  He milked until 2002 when he chose to sell the cows and focus on the beef and arable enterprises.  He has recently diversified into a successful tourism business which is managed by his daughter Zoe who runs a B&B from a house on the farm as well as a self catering holiday let with two more due to open in 2009. 

Henry has been a keen FWAG member for over ten years during which time he has enhanced the wildlife habitat on his farm with guidance from the Warwickshire FWAG advisory team.  He has planted areas of woodland, restored hedges, brought unimproved grassland back into appropriate low-input management and also has areas of wet grassland that are valuable for farmland birds.   He first entered the Countryside Stewardship Scheme in 1999 and then chose to double the area of the scheme in 2002.

Henry has since entered the Entry Level Scheme and is now looking towards undertaking more conservation work under a future Higher Level Scheme.

Henry's understanding of farmers and farming, coupled with his passion for conservation and wildlife provide him with the ideal credentials for the role of FWAG Chairman. Henry commented:

‘I am very much looking forward to the opportunity of leading FWAG through an exciting and challenging period in the coming three years.

‘FWAG's unique position as the principal organisation that can unite farming and conservation through practical, cost-effective advice means that it is the key to ensuring that farmers can meet the future environmental challenges and operate a profitable farm business.'

Henry was county NFU chairman for two years and is also currently chair of Warwickshire Rural Hub.  He is one of five farmer champions for the Sustainable Strategy for Farming and Food in the West Midlands.