Shropshire farmer wins the Midlands Nature of Farming Award
A Shropshire farmer has been named as the Midlands regional winner at this year’s RSPB Telegraph Nature of Farming Awards.
Robert Kynaston, who farms at Great Wollaston in Shropshire beat off stiff competition to win the regional round of the Nature of Farming Awards.
The Nature of Farming Award celebrates the great efforts farmers are making for wildlife and the environment – recognising farmers who are acting as ambassadors for wildlife in the farming community.
Robert Kynaston said: 'I really enjoy protecting and creating habitats on the farm, and I'm very proud to have even got to the final eight of this prestigious award.'
Robert has demonstrated a terrific interest in farming and wildlife and is enthusiastic for other farmers to get involved in agri-environment schemes by actively encouraging them to visit and attend numerous demonstration events held on his farm, Robert says: “Agri-environment schemes have enabled me to protect and enhance the natural environment far beyond what I could do on my own.”
He incorporates his own ideas into the management of the farm and considers wildlife when choosing the options available to him. He strongly believes that there is room for wildlife on a farm as well as profitable production.
The farm supports many species including lapwing, yellowhammer, grey partridge, skylark, curlew and swallow, numerous hares and voles, 14 species of water boatmen and over 20 mosses and lichens.
The field sizes on the farm have changed little over the last 100 years and the hedgerows and woodlands and numerous ponds are rich and varied in character.
Robert’s farm has permissive access and actively encourages the local community to take part in various events from Open Farm Sunday, to LEAF’s “let nature feed your senses” (see note 3) project designed to encourage disadvantaged groups to visit a farm, to local schools, field centre recorders and university students to learn about, monitor and survey the wildlife on the farm.
Caroline Drummond, Chief Executive of LEAF comments on Robert being a finalist in the RSPB Farming Awards: “Robert has been a member of LEAF for many years. He carries out LEAF farming principals that help him, and many other farmers, produce food whilst caring for the environment.”
Anna Broszkiewicz, RSPB’s Volunteer & Farmer Alliance Project Officer says: “It has been a very competitive year – we have been staggered by the fantastic efforts from farmers across the Midlands and choosing a finalist was very difficult.
“What is remarkable about Robert is his passion and enthusiasm for farming in partnership with protecting wildlife whilst looking to the future - he sees a need to protect the environment and wildlife against climate change and works to develop his techniques to maximise his outputs whilst minimising his inputs.”
Mr Kynaston and his farm will now be considered at the final round of the competition, which aims to find the UK’s most wildlife-friendly farmer.
The eight regional winners will now be shortlisted to four finalists by a panel of judges.
From 22 July, the UK public will be invited to cast their vote by phone, post, online via The Telegraph, or at country shows throughout the summer.
