FWAG Silver Lapwing Award (England)

Cornwall Farmer Wins Silver Lapwing Award For 2008

The 2008 winners of the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group Silver Lapwing Award are Richard, Terry and Ian Lobb of AJ Lobb & Sons, Kestle Farm, St Austell, Cornwall.   

The FWAG Silver Lapwing Award is presented to the farm that is judged to have demonstrated a track record of environmental best practice integrated seamlessly into a commercially successful farming business over more than three years.

Kestle Farm is a traditional Cornish lowland mixed farm of 740 acres producing beef, sheep and root crops.  They endeavour to produce quality food in a sustainable manner by working with nature and using modern farming methods.  Much of their produce is sold direct to the consumer via their award winning farm shop at nearby Heligan Gardens.

Kestle Farm has 74 acres of woodland and 3 new orchards have been created containing 150 traditional fruit trees. Three ponds were established 10 years ago which now host ducks, geese and the occasional otter, and two small dams provide habitats for newts.  Kestle farm has over100 acres of permanent pasture which sustain a wide range of species.  The arable fields have margin strips adjacent to the hedgerow and there are several areas of wild bird cover crops.  A pair of barn owls has successfully reared chicks in one of the barn owl boxes and skylarks are a frequent visitor to the farm.    Mary Combe and Jillie Dale of Cornwall FWAG advised the Lobbs on their recent Higher Level Stewardship agreement.

The Lobbs host many regular visits to their farm by local schools and colleges and Kestle Farm is also a LEAF demonstration farm.    

Charles Beaumont, head judge of the Silver Lapwing Award said "The judging this year was extremely close but Richard Lobb and his team impressed us with their ability to recognise the environmental potential of their farm and to market their achievements to the wider public".

Richard and Terry Lobb were presented with the Silver Lapwing trophy, a decanter and a cheque for £1,000 by Valentine Warner, countryman, chef and presenter of the BBC cookery programme "What to Eat Now".    The ceremony was held on 20 November 2008 at the House of Commons and hosted by Richard Benyon MP.

Other finalists of the 2008 award are:

Second prize: Mr Ian Waller, Hampden Bottom Farm, Great Missenden, Bucks
Third prize: Mr Robin Battle, FG Battle & Sons, Potterhanworth, Lincolnshire
Runner up: Mrs Rowan Downing, Isnage Farm, Bentley, Hampshire