The RSPB has presented two Fermanagh farmers with highly commended accolades in this year’s Nature of Farming Award.
This is the UK’s largest wildlife farming award and celebrates the vital work carried out by wildlife friendly farmers.
Maurice Law from Maguiresbridge and Patrick Reihill from Innisrooske, Lisnaskea have been recognised for the steps they have taken to protect and nurture wildlife on their farms.
Patrick’s farm supports lapwing, snipe and curlew – birds that are all in decline across the UK and Ireland. Patrick helps these birds by creating areas of suitable habitat which require careful grazing regimes.
He is one of the farmers in the RSPB’s Halting Environmental Loss Project (HELP), which aims to improve habitats for priority species that have undergone severe declines in number and range.
HELP project officer Giles Knight said: “It is fantastic to be able to present Patrick with a highly commended award this year as he really is doing great work for lapwing, snipe and curlew.
“He is one of the farmers within the Innisrooske area who is helping to protect the populations of these waders through careful habitat management.”
Maurice Law has also been highly commended in the Nature of Farming Award for implementing a range of measures, including sowing wild bird cover.
This spring sown crop provides a food source for threatened seed-eating farmland birds such as the linnet and tree sparrow. Maurice also designs bird feeders and houses which he has put in place around the farm.
Hayley Sherwin from the RSPB commented: “It is a pleasure to name Patrick and Maurice highly commended this year due to their efforts to give nature a home on their farms. Both are excellent representatives of the wildlife friendly farmers we have here in Northern Ireland and across the UK. “
Tim McClelland, an arable farmer from Tandragee, has been named Northern Ireland’s winner in this year’s Nature of Farming Award. He will now compete in the national stage of the competition along with seven other farmers from across the UK.
Hayley added: “As Tim is now up against other farmers from across the UK we need to get as many votes for him as possible. Last year Co Down farmer Jack Kelly came second in the competition and we hope to have a similar or better result this year.”
To vote for Tim please visit the RSPB website www.rspb.org.uk between 19 July and 31 August.
(Source – Farming Life – 04/07/2013)
Maurice Law and Patrick Reihill receive their award from the RSPB