High Nature Value Farming Awards 2025

The High Nature Value Farming Awards is in its third year, recognising the great work taking place on farms across Teesdale and Swaledale. Working with farmers and land managers is an integral part of the Tees-Swale programme, and it is these farmers we celebrated in the 2025 Tees-Swale: Naturally Connected High Nature Value Farming Awards.

Tees-Swale: naturally connected is funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund with thanks to The National Lottery players, including providing the £500 for the gold award winners.

2025 Award Winners

High Nature Value Farming Award

This award highlights farms which have consistently shown best practice in looking after the land, and protecting important habitats and species.
Richard Wearmouth, Middle End Farm is the High Nature Value Farming Award gold winner, recognising long-term low intensity management, protecting nature and the natural environment.

Richard grew up at Middle End and moved back in 2001 to take over the tenancy of the farm. The farm includes areas of fell grazing as well as meadows, pastures and allotments. The hay meadows contain a diversity of species; pastures and allotments are used by breeding waders and Richard has created additional habitats by making wader scrapes in several areas. It is all managed with a low intensity stocking of grazing animals. Black grouse are seen across much of the farm. In addition to these habitats Richard has also collaborated positively to reduce pollution from old mine spoils at Great Eggleshope.

Mark Watson, Aukside Villa wins the silver award for the long-term management of species rich hay meadows and areas of woodland and scrub.
Mark Watson has been at Aukside all his life. The farm is a patchwork of species rich meadows, upland pastures and areas of woodland and scrub. The farm previously had a small herd of cattle but grazing is now carried out by neighbouring farmers. The meadows are sensitively managed and species that have been re-introduced as plug plants are thriving. Bracken has been controlled on banks and extra tree and scrub planting to extend these areas of habitat and provide winter shelter and food for species such as black grouse.

Nature Recovery

The Nature Recovery category, recognises farms that have transformed the way they are managed, turning them into a place where nature has a chance to thrive.
Edwin Wood, Woodside Farm wins the gold award winner in the Nature Recovery category for his commitment to restoring field boundaries on the farm and enhance other areas for wildlife.

Since taking over the tenancy of Woodside Farm, Edwin has been working to restore farm and field hedgerows and create wildlife friendly habitats. Over 1km of hedgerows have been planted and further mature lengths laid to reinvigorate growth and provide more cover. Lengths of dry stone wall have been rebuilt and wildlife boxes installed. Other areas of scattered tree planting have also been completed. Edwin has worked closely with the North Pennines National Landscape’s Tees-Swale: naturally connected and Farming in Protected Landscapes programmes.

Liz Sutcliffe, Heggs Farm wins the silver award, in recognition of her wide-ranging work towards nature recovery on her land.

Liz moved to Arkengarthdale six years ago and has been enhancing the area for nature since then. A large scale tree planting project was carried out early on. Liz has been active in ensuring the tree planting has been successful by checking and replacing tree guards and removing them once trees are established. Areas of wetlands and scrapes have been created to provide more habitat diversity, meadows have been enhanced and bracken controlled. Liz has also engaged with the public both in collaboration with the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority and by providing areas for camping and a bothy, both of which allow people to experience the wildlife that is now present.