Scarborough Farmers Wins Top Environmental Award
An organic arable and grassland farm in the North York Moors National Park just
a few miles west of Scarborough has been selected as the best farm combining environmental
concerns and commercial management.
Mr Peter Hutchinson of Spikers Hill Farm, West Ayton, Scarborough has been named
as the North Yorkshire area winner of the prestigious Tye Trophy.
The award recognises the contribution of farmers in Yorkshire and the North East
to wildlife conservation and environmental protection and, for the first time, it
has been organised by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society and the region’s Farming
and Wildlife Advisory Groups (FWAG).
Mr Hutchinson, is one of the five area winners, and now goes forward to the finals
with the overall winner announced at this year’s Great Yorkshire Show at Harrogate.
In addition, all the area winners have the option of going forward to next year’s
prestigious Silver Lapwing Award. The five areas represented are North Yorkshire,
East Yorkshire, South & West Yorkshire, Northumberland and Tyne Tees.
The awards will be presented on the morning of Wednesday, July 11, by Mrs Alison
Saville, who gave the trophy in 1989 in memory of her grandfather Howard Tye,
founder of Tye Trailers, and also her father Kenneth Tye. She will be assisted
in the presentation ceremony by Michael Woodhouse FWAG Director for England.
When Mr Hutchinson took over the 500 acre farm eight years ago it was all arable,
now it is a mixed unit, with an extra 70 acres running down to the River Derwent
having been added. In planting grassland native seeds have been planted to create
hay meadows, an Ox Bow has been recreated and stone walls that had been “flattened”
re-built.
Countryside Stewardship grants have been used to enhance the appearance of the
farm and grassland margins planted around arable fields, and beetle banks established
across the farm. In addition ten acres of wild-bird seeds have been established
around the farm
Trees have been coppiced, whilst established forestry areas have seen the removal
of many of the conifers that were shadowing out native threes.
It was decided to convert to organic five years ago, and this has proved a great
success. Coupled with the establishment of what now amounts to an 80 cow suckler
herd of pedigree Salers, which are crossed with Aberdeen Angus sires. The cattle
are complimented by a flock of 220 Lleyn ewe lambs.
Competition judges praised the Hutchinson family’s “excellent all-round approach
to conservation, including Countryside Stewardship and management of ancient and
Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) woodland, as well as hosting farm walks.”
(l-r) Michael Woodhouse, FWAG, Mrs Alison Saville
& Mr Peter Hutchinson