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Time is running out to vote for the UK's most wildlife friendly farmerLast modified: 18 August 2009
While the Midland’s champion farming couple, George and Ann Eaton from Tingewick in Buckinghamshire are busy making the last hay, just two weeks remain for people to get their votes in for this year’s Nature of Farming Award winner for the UK. The award is backed by the RSPB, Butterfly Conservation, Plantlife and BBC Countryfile magazine and seeks to find the most wildlife friendly farmer in the UK. The original eight regional heat winners were whittled down to four finalists earlier in the competition and voting is now tight as the deadline looms on August 28. Voting slips have been handed out across the UK at some of the biggest shows in the countryside calendar and people have also been casting their votes online. Farming finalist from the Midlands region, George Eaton said: “As a farmer I’m passionate about growing healthy and tasty food, but we have always looked for ways to also help wildlife to flourish and for bringing school children onto the farm to learn about nature and farming. “Winning the regional part of the contest was a big pat on the shoulder, and I now hope we’ll get enough votes to get us all the way.” The voting is close so far and there’s everything to play for before the final ballots get counted and the winner is announced in September. “The competition is still very close, so it could all come down to the votes cast in the final few days,” said Darren Moorcroft, Head of Conservation Management at the RSPB. “We’re extremely proud to support this fantastic award and the finalists are all eager to get their name on the trophy. But whoever wins the final public vote, there are many success stories here which prove how farmers can make a real difference to nature by implementing all kinds of methods from planting hedgerows and creating wetlands to sowing wildflowers and managing riverbanks. To read more about George Eaton as well as the finalists, and to cast your vote before 28 August visit www.rspb.org.uk/farmvote What can I do?We're celebrating the work the UK's farmers do for wildlife |
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Curlew feeding in grassy field - Steve Round
Red admiral on Michaelmas daisy - Chris Gomersall (rspb-images.com)
Bird illustrations by Mike Langman (RSPB)