FINALISTS UNVEILED FOR THE SCHÖFFEL COUNTRYSIDE AWARDS

Finalists unveiled for the Schöffel Countryside Awards – in partnership with the GWCT. Country clothing brand Schöffel Country and the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) are thrilled to announce the finalists for the inaugural Schöffel Countryside Awards, which recognise those who are improving the health of the British countryside and delivering for nature.

More than 80 nominations were received earlier this year, from which 24 finalists have been shortlisted across six categories. These countryside heroes include individuals, farms and estates from across the country.

The panel of 28 judges have spent the spring and summer visiting each finalist to observe their conservation work in action.

At a moment in time when the need to produce food and deliver biodiversity recovery has never been more crucial, these awards, run in partnership with the GWCT, aim to shine a light on the finest examples of ‘working conservation’ and progressive land management across the UK.

The winner of each category will be announced at an evening awards ceremony on Monday 3 November.

Schöffel Country’s executive director Marcus Janssen, who is also a judge, said:

“We’re excited to unveil our finalists, chosen from a very strong field of entries across all six award categories.

“These are exactly the sort of people and projects we set out to find when we launched the awards in January. The passion and dedication we have seen during our judging visits has been truly remarkable.

“We now look forward to sharing our finalists’ stories, and highlighting their achievements, with a wider audience.”

Megan Lock, judge and senior farm environment advisor for GWCT, said:

“I have been incredibly impressed with the commitment and dedication I have seen on all my judging visits, where individuals and groups have gone above and beyond to deliver benefits for the environment.

“These awards are a great way to showcase and appreciate those making a difference who generally go unrecognised.”

Finalists in each award category:

The Nature-Friendly Farm/Estate Award – sponsored by Oakbank

To celebrate farms and estates that have excelled in implementing practices that promote biodiversity and species recovery.

• Nedging Hall Estate, Suffolk
• Courteenhall Farms, Northamptonshire
• Cruglas Farm, Ceredigion
• Gordon Castle Estate Co Ltd, Moray
• J & J Beary Farming Ltd, Cumbria
• Vine House Farm, Lincolnshire
• Ragley Estate, Warwickshire
• EJ Barker & Sons, Suffolk

The Innovation in Conservation Award – sponsored by B-hive Innovations

To champion individuals or groups who have developed innovative solutions, technologies or methods that advance agriculture and the natural environment.

• Grazing Management Ltd, Gloucestershire
• Geoff Eyre, Abney Moor, Derbyshire

The Farm-Environment Partnership Award – sponsored by The Crown Estate

To recognise farms that have formed successful partnerships with others, showcasing the positive outcomes of collaboration.

• The Central Chilterns Farmer Cluster, Buckinghamshire
• Wellshead Estate & Wellshead Natural Capital, Somerset
• Wiston Estate, Sussex

The Wetland & Watercourse Conservation Award – sponsored by The Atlantic Salmon Trust

To showcase efforts and achievements in creating and restoring wetland habitats and watercourses to the benefit of biodiversity and ecosystem services.

• Norton Marshes, Raveningham Estate, Norfolk
• Shenton Estate, Warwickshire
• Bisterne Estate, Hampshire

The Rising Star Award – sponsored by Pressendye

To shine a light on a young individual who is demonstrating an outstanding approach to conservation.

• Emily Graham, County Durham
• Rosie Morton, Edinburgh
• Thomas Hilder, Hampshire
• Timothy Smith, Kent

The Working Conservationist Award – sponsored by Harrison Spinks

To celebrate an individual who has dedicated much of their life to the conservation of flora and fauna in the British countryside.

• John Hitchcock, South Yorkshire
• Rupert Brewer – Bisterne Estate, Ringwood
• Graham Denny – Brewery Farm, Suffolk
• James Allsop – Monk Wood Shoot, Derbyshire

The panel of judges is made up of GWCT ecologists and advisors and external experts in relevant fields, including ‘Cheerful Charlie’ Ireland from Clarkson’s Farm, Holkham Estate general manager of conservation Jake Fiennes, CEO of B-hive Innovations Vidyanath Gururajan, and numerous others.