Winners of farming awards are recognised for their contribution to nature in the North Pennines and Yorkshire Dales

6 December 2023

The North Pennines National Landscape team and the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority are delighted to announce the three farms that have been awarded the Tees-Swale: Naturally Connected High Nature Value Farming Awards for 2023.

The Tees-Swale: Naturally Connected programme is led by the North Pennines National Landscape and the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority and funded largely by The National Lottery Heritage Fund using money raised by National Lottery players. The programme is working in collaboration with farmers and land managers across 845 km² of the northern Pennines to deliver improved connectivity and biodiversity across this unique upland landscape.

It is these farmers that the awards aim to celebrate – those who represent a wider field of excellence and who are using the high nature value farming practices which will enhance the area over coming decades. There are three award categories – high nature value best practice, nature recovery and public engagement – with the winners receiving a prize of £500 each. The nominations were judged by a panel, led by Professor Sir John Lawton, chair of the Tees-Swale project board, with Richard Betton of Teesdale, and Hannah Fawacett from Wensleydale. The awards were presented by Sir John Lawton at the Moorcock Inn, Eggleston, on Wednesday 29 November after a farming and nature talk by Nic Rennison of Cannerheugh Farm, Cumbria.

Sir John Lawton said: “Farming gets a lot of bad press because of its environmental impacts. Some of these criticisms are valid, but they all too often ignore the very positive actions taken by farmers that never make the headlines. The Tees-Swale High Nature Value Farming Awards are a celebration of good environmental practice across the Northern Pennines, where, despite, living in in worryingly uncertain times, individual farmers have taken steps to maintain and make more space for nature on their farms, and to share that work with the wider public. I personally found their efforts (both the winners and all those nominated) truly inspirational and feel privileged to have been able to recognise their efforts through the generosity of the National Lottery Heritage Fund.”

The high nature value farming category aims to highlight farms which have consistently shown best practice. Often the people rewarded are those that have changed bad to good, but this award celebrates those who have always farmed less intensively and who have a long track record of high nature value farming best practice. The winners of the high nature value farming best practice, for the constant attention to detail, thoughtful approach and continuing enhancement of the farm and its habitats, are Ray and Sue Ridley of Kexwith Farm, near Marske.

Set in a small, deep valley surrounded by open moorland, Kexwith lies just east of the National Park boundary. Ray Ridley has lived and farmed here most of his life; Sue came here 43 years ago. Ray’s mother was born in the farmhouse, and she and her husband took over the farm from her family. The diverse range of habitats on this 50-hectare farm range from wet floodplain meadows surrounded by riparian woodland in the valley bottom to steep upland hay meadows providing fodder for sheep and cattle, to rush allotments at the fell boundary which are managed sensitively for the benefit of wading birds with the recent addition of scrapes. Restorative grazing management is provided by White Park cattle. A pressure system to take water up to some of the fields and avoid cattle accessing becks down steep banks is very impressive. Never intensely managed, the thoughtful approach of the Ridleys includes constant reflection on enhancement of the farm.

The judges were impressed by the attention to detail at Kexwith. Every aspect of what the Ridleys do is carefully thought through, from the pressure water system to the choice of White Park cattle to the management of their varied habitats. In addition, the Ridleys have welcomed others, particularly young people, onto their farm and given them an introduction to farming, and a chance to develop their skills helping start their careers in farming and nature conservation.

The nature recovery category is about a farm that has transformed the way it is managed, turning it into a place which nature has a chance to thrive once more. The winners of the nature recovery award, for the continuing transformation of this farm, are Charlie and Gina Parker of Hill Gill Farm, Baldersdale.

Charlie and Gina Parker took over Hill Gill farm about 12 years ago. Previously very intensively farmed, Charlie has been working to reverse this through a gradual process of nature recovery works. Charlie is from the Ingleton area and amongst the native breeds here are Dalesbred sheep, more often seen in Craven. There are also Dales ponies, Belted Galloway cattle and Old English goats. Recent works have including plug planting of native wildflower species, scrapes created in rush pastures and the fencing off from livestock of a watercourse used by water vole. But most impressive here is the careful planting of trees and hedges which befits a farmer with a background in forestry. The aftercare for these is exemplary and in time these will provide additional winter food for birds and improve connectivity between areas of trees within Baldersdale. Hill Gill is a long-term nature recovery project built into the farm business.

There were two aspects that impressed the judges here: the ongoing transition from a previously intensely farmed holding; and the continuing care in what has been planted. No tree or hedge plant is forgotten but all nurtured to ensure their success.

The public engagement category celebrates those farmers increasing the wider understanding of farming and nature, in an era when many people can feel disconnected from nature, and from farming and food production. The winners of the public engagement award, for their incredible start and sheer volume of public engagement in just a few months, are Jemma and John Clark of Bowlees Farm, Newbiggin-in-Teesdale.

Jemma and John Clark have been at Bowlees Farm for just over a year and have done an impressive amount of work in that time. Funding through the Tees-Swale programme helped the Clarks convert an old milking parlour into an on-farm classroom. This work was completed earlier this year. Already it is providing a venue for school visits, groups and the wider public. Exceeding the 25 school groups that the Countryside Stewardship scheme will fund, Jemma has taken an additional seven groups. She is also providing regular opportunities for children in care to spend time on the farm, and to work with young offenders. Using the skills she developed as a teacher, she is connecting young people with nature and with high value farming on an increasing scale, as well as public engagement through events like Open Farm Sunday. The engagement work is integral to their farm business as they also continue to enhance the biodiversity on the farm.

The judges were impressed by the amount that the Clarks have achieved in just over a year. The classroom only went in earlier this year, yet the volume of visits and people supported is truly impressive. The energy and drive were palpable so it’s deserving of its win at this early stage of its development. It looks set to go from strength to strength.

Helen Featherstone, Director, England – North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “It is terrific to see these local famers and land managers recognised for their important work and contributions to support a more resilient and nature-rich landscape. A huge congratulations from all of us at the Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we’re incredibly proud to support the Tees-Swale: Naturally Connected programme that firmly aligns with our priorities to support nature recovery at a landscape-scale. It is fantastic to know that this collaborative work is helping to boost biodiversity, mitigate climate change and connect people to nature.”.

Media enquiries

Notes for editors

Contact the communications team at the North Pennines National Landscape for further information, interviews with the winners and Sir John Lawton. A visit to one of the winning farms with Sir John Lawton can be arranged – communications@northpennines.org.uk, phone: Sarah 07768123247/ Kate 07920020648.

Images of Jemma and John Clark of Bowlees Farm with Sir John Lawton, Charlie and Gina Parker of Hill Gill Farm with Sir John Lawton, and Ray and Sue Ridley of Kexwith Farm with Sir John Lawton ©North Pennines National Landscape are attached. For alternative images please contact the communications team, email: communications@northpennines.org.uk or call Sarah 07768123247 / Kate 07920020648.

About The National Lottery Heritage Fund

As the largest dedicated funder of the UK’s heritage, The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for, and sustained for everyone, now and in the future as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033. Over the next ten years, we aim to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to bring about benefits foe people, places, and the natural environment.

We help protect, transform, and share the things from the past that people care about, from popular museums and historic places, our natural environment and fragile species, to the languages and cultural traditions that celebrate who we are. We are passionate about heritage and committed to driving innovation and collaboration to make a positive difference to people’s lives today, while leaving a lasting legacy for future generations to enjoy.

Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLotteryHeritageFund  www.heritagefund.org.uk

Tees-Swale: Naturally Connected  The North Pennines National Landscape team and the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority are working with partner organisations to deliver a major natural heritage programme that focuses on the landscape and communities of Upper Teesdale and Swaledale. Tees-Swale: naturally connected covers 829 square kilometres of Teesdale in the North Pennines National Landscape and Swaledale in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Inspired by the report ‘Making Space for Nature’, the programme aims to restore, expand, and connect habitats across the uplands of Teesdale and Swaledale, showcasing how public funds can enhance wildlife and deliver multiple public benefits. The ethos of the programme is to work closely and in partnership with farmers, landowners and conservation agencies from the outset. In so doing, we will build the relationships and establish the skills required to sustain our High Nature Value farming systems.

High Nature Value farming is a term used to describe low intensity farming systems that are particularly valuable for wildlife, the environment, and people. The concept of knowledge exchange will be a core principle of the programme, with farmers encouraged to share their land management skills and experience, in order to target habitat improvement and restoration, in a way that allows the whole farm to work as a system.

The Tees-Swale programme area contains many areas of nationally important habitats such as Upland Hay Meadows and rush pastures supporting upland breeding wader populations. The maintenance of these habitats is often underpinned by ongoing sensitive management as part of a High Nature Value farming system. Valuing this way of managing habitats is an important part of ensuring continued positive management into the future. Without a continuation and expansion of High Nature Value farming there is likely to be degradation and loss of important habitats and species. The awards are to promote High Nature Value farming systems and recognise good practice within upland farming, showcasing farms and farmers within the project area who are delivering excellent environmental outcomes and public goods as part of their farming enterprise.

Through an innovative programme of interpretation, activities, and rights of way improvements, we will enable people to discover, explore and enjoy the stunning landscape of Teesdale and Swaledale. At the heart of this will be a drive to reveal to visitors how this landscape is managed and why this is relevant to them. Opportunities will include on-farm activities and community-led environmental art. A comprehensive learning programme will see skills developed through traineeships, knowledge-exchange schemes, and volunteering with the aim of building resilience within farming communities and empowering a future rural workforce.