Society Awards Nuffield Scholarship
A study to research sustainable options which could help secure the future of
Britain’s hill farmers has won a coveted Nuffield Farming Scholarship for a South
Yorkshire land restoration expert.
Nuffield Farming Scholarships are prestigious awards recognised around the globe.
They promote leadership and the implementation of innovative agricultural practices
through worldwide study.
The scholarship awarded to Miss Chloe Palmer, Northern & West Midlands Regional
Director for the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group, is sponsored by the Yorkshire
Agricultural Society. The Society, best known as the organiser the Great Yorkshire
Show, works year round to promote and sustain the agricultural community in the
North of England.
The study will see Chloe, who is based in the Hope Valley, near Sheffield and
the Peak District, travelling to Bulgaria, France and Switzerland over the next
18 months as part of her studies. She will also undertake a number of visits around
the UK and Ireland before presenting a report to the Trust’s annual conference
in November 2009.
Nigel Pulling, the Society’s Chief Executive, said Chloe was a worthy recipient.
“The challenges faced by the farming industry seem to grow constantly. Chloe’s
research will prove extremely valuable in identifying potential solutions to the
problems our farmers have to deal with, and the Society is delighted to support
her.”
“Hill farming in the UK is under greater pressure than ever before,” said Chloe.
“I’m very concerned about the future of upland farming – so many factors work
against it, such as the low prices paid for animals and increasing environmental
regulations.
“I decided I would like to know more about how other countries address these
issues, whether what they do could work for us. It will also be nice to get back
to why I came into the job in the first place – I don’t get the chance to be really
‘hands-on’ these days.”
She added: “I’m really grateful to the Yorkshire Agricultural Society for sponsoring
me – without this support, it wouldn’t have happened. It is a fantastic opportunity,
and I’m very much looking forward to it.”
Chloe’s work begins with researching the support currently available to hill
farmers in the UK. She will visit Ireland in June, and plans to travel to Bulgaria
in the autumn. Visits to France and Switzerland are scheduled for next summer.
“Bulgaria will be a very interesting case study, given the market changes and
farming developments they have seen there. I’m very much looking forward to it
all.”
YAS Chief Executive, Nigel Pulling with Chloe Palmer