The Silver Lapwing Awards 2023

A Welsh farmer has been recognised by the farming and conservation industry for his outstanding efforts to promote good habitat and environmental management on his farm. Iwan Davies was awarded the highly-coveted ‘Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group National Silver Lapwing Award’, which is now in its 44th year. Hafod-y-Maidd Farm, Glasfryn, Cerrigydrudion, Wales, was awarded from a national shortlist of four farms, each selected for demonstrating outstanding commitment to good environmental practices, alongside running successful farm businesses.

The Silver Lapwing Award recognises farmers who go that extra mile to protect and enhance the countryside in which they farm, demonstrating how high-quality food production exists hand-in-hand with sound environmental management. The award is generously sponsored by Evelyn Partners, ranking as the second largest UK wealth manager measured by EBITDA (source: Accountancy Age 50+50 rankings, 2022), with a network of offices across 26 towns and cities in the UK, and Frontier Agriculture with its specialist crops and environmental land management division, Kings Crops. Frontier is the UK's leading crop production and grain marketing business, recognised for its close customer relationships with farmers and grain consumers. The FWAG Association is very grateful to have the support of these organisations.

The celebrations this year took place on Thursday 22nd June at Strickley Farm in Kendal, Cumbria, this being the farm of last year’s winners, the Robinson family. Gary Rumbold, CEO of FWAG SouthWest, welcomed guests before host, James Robinson, Strickley Farm, introduced guests to the farm and highlighted how far his family’s farm has come. From James’ great grandfather who originally took over the 300 acre Cumbrian farm, through to his grandfather and father who rejuvenated their hedgerows in the ‘80s and now have a long-term hedge-laying programme in place. James continues the legacy with his son Robert, taking care of meadows filled with over a hundred different species of flowers, grasses and herbs. Supporting habitats for many species including the threatened whiteclawed crayfish and educating local school visits for children and other community engagement. After a warm welcome from James, the Silver Lapwing Award 2023 presentations commenced.

Silver Lapwing Judge Martin Hole gave a rundown of the four finalists, concluding in the 2023 FWAG Silver Lapwing Award being presented to Iwan Davies, Hafod-y-Maidd Farm, Denbighshire, Wales by Silver Lapwing Judge Martin Hole, Farmer and representatives from our sponsors: Jim Egan from Kings Crops, and Ryan Harrison from Evelyn Partners.

Iwan Davies, farmer of Hafod-y-Maidd Farm, Winner of the Silver Lapwing Award 2023: “I am over the moon and humbled to receive this award, also I’m delighted to be able to showcase Welsh farmers. The farm is the work of our generations, and we are the fifth-generation in my family to be farming at Hafod-y-Maidd. I have just been carrying on the work, the fields are the same sizes as they were 600 years ago. I would like to thank FWAG because they have helped us to join up the dots and keep us informed about the schemes, closing the gap between making money and conservation. Thank you very much indeed. It's been a pleasure.”

Hafod-y-Maidd integrate sustainable, quality meat production with protecting new habitats. The farm is part of a Bangor University carbon audit scheme and energy use on the farm is carefully considered. Soil testing is on a 3 year cycle and there is a 10 metre buffer strip running alongside every water course. The farm hosts 15 ‘lapwing scrapes’ and carefully manages their SSSI habitats. During the presentation, Silver Lapwing Award judge, Martin Hole, underlined that the standard of competition was incredibly high this year and the runner-up was announced as Stuart McIntyre of Cambs Farms Growers Hainey Farm, Ely, Cambridgeshire. The judges congratulated our two additional finalists; Henry, Richard & Harry Lang of The Home Farm, Somerset, and Jamie Wood & family of Pendwick Farm, Northumberland. Each of our finalists for 2023 should feel incredibly proud to be amongst the most forward-thinking farmers in the UK.

Over 80 invited guests from all sectors of the British agriculture industry and wildlife conservation industry attended the celebrations. The day concluded in a farm walk and tour of Strickley Farm, showcasing some of the reasons why James Robinson & family were presented with the Silver Lapwing Award in 2022. The sun shone as guests walked, talked and were treated to ice-cream and cheese made with milk from Strickley’s quality organic herd of shorthorns.

About the FWAG Silver Lapwing Award

To win this prestigious and longstanding award, a farm has to demonstrate a real commitment to species and habitat conservation and be able to show how they integrate their environmental management in their overall farm business. Understanding and conserving historic aspects of the farm is also important. In addition, consideration is given to the farm’s approach to conserving natural resources; this includes good soil management, the protection of water quality and efficient use of water and energy. These are all areas that the judges consider on their tour of the competition finalists.

About the Silver Lapwing Competition Judges

Martin Hole grew up on the (mainly rented) family farms on the Southdowns around Lewes, East Sussex, before doing his degree in Rural Environmental Studies at Wye College, graduating in 1985. After a spell back in Sussex milking cows and helping with the arable enterprises, he went to work at Elmley, on the Isle of Sheppey by the Swale Estuary, where some three and a half thousand acres of grazing marshes were being entered into a National Nature Reserve agreement, where he was the first head of conservation.  After 6 years managing what is now the highest concentration of nesting waders in the UK he married Gundrada and returned to East Sussex to run a small family farm on the Pevensey Levels, taking this from just over 200 acres to some 700, and running this too as a wetland nature reserve, supported by Natural England, organic beef and sheep and some diversification. This farm was voted UK Lapwing Champion back in 2004. Martin is currently county chair of East Sussex NFU, Founder and Chair of the Pevensey Farmers cluster and a founder member of the Nature Friendly Farming Network. Passionate about wildlife, Martin, father of three daughters, is also a keen canoeist, former fast bowler and regular fives player.

Chris Butler has a 1500 acre family arable farm, near Halstead, North Essex. Chris is keen on regenerative farming, minimum cultivation (less than 50mm) for over 8 years and third of the farm is direct drilled. Part of a stewardship schemes for 30 years, currently in mid-tier which includes AB8, AB9, AB15, AB12, SW1, SW3, SW4, hedge coppicing and hedge management. Started diversifying in 2007 with the conversion of a thatch 17th century barn into Café/Restaurant, Post Office, and Farm Shop. The farm yard now also includes a pre school nursery, forestry school, hair dresser, dog groomer, animal feed retail outlet, beautician, ceramic and pottery studio and small events barn. The majority of which are heated by a 200kw biomass burner supplied by the farm’s hedges and woodland. Chris has been involved with FWAG since the early 80s, has been Essex Chairman, and a natural trustee and is currently National Chairman of the FWAG Association. The farm was the Essex LEAF demonstration farm from 1997 to 2012. Chris is married to Tania and has three children, 2 daughters and a son and 2 grandchildren. His son David, is now back on the farm and pushing to get Dad into an old people’s home! Chris is a keen tennis player and game shot.

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