LEAF member wins Farmer of the Year

The LEAF team are delighted to congratulate LEAF farmer member, Andrew Hughes of Trinley Estate, Andover, Hampshire, on being awarded Farmer of the Year at this year’s BBC Radio 4 Food and Farming Awards 2011, which celebrates the best of the UK’s chefs and food producers. The award ceremony took place at the BBC Good Food Show on Wednesday 23 November 2011 and is being broadcast today on Radio 4 at midday.

Andrew was recognized as an individual who has risen to the challenges of sustainable farming and who has been a source of encouragement and inspiration to others interested in food production and the countryside.

Andrew has been a member of LEAF for many years and is a great example of LEAF’s Integrated Farm Management in action, managing his farm sustainably and efficiently to produce high quality food with environmental care.

His commitment to soil management has seen an increase in worm activity, organic matter, soil structure, drainage, timeliness of crop establishment and crop yields, while also reducing labour costs, fuel usage, carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide emissions and wildlife impact. At Trinley Estate the hedges and field boundaries are maintained and protected; and woodland and ponds are preserved and restored in order to ensure the continued health of the countryside and improve the habitat for the wildlife that live in it.

Andrew is passionate about educating people of all ages about their food, how it is produced and the work that farmers do to look after the countryside and is a strong supporter of LEAF’s Open Farm Sunday.

For more information about LEAF and Integrated Farm Management, please visit www.leafuk.org.