FWAG SouthWest’s Farming & Wildlife annual awards recognise commercial farms that have successfully combined food production with sustainability, environmental protection and wildlife gains. The competitions are a highlight of our calendar, and an opportunity to build strong relationships between farmers and the wider community, showcasing the wonderful conservation work many farmers carry out across the south west.
Due to current uncertainties, normal proceedings have been on hold this year, to keep our farmers and judges safe. However, in its place for 2021, we are holding a different kind of conservation competition; ‘A Photo From Your Farm’.
The 2021 competition is now open for entries, and farmers and landowners in the south west are invited to enter! Entrants simply need to send one or two photos taken on your farm and answer a few simple questions. It only takes about 5-10 minutes to enter.
Gary Rumbold, FWAG SouthWest General Manager, stated: ‘Our annual Conservation Competitions are a fantastic way of celebrating the hard work of farmers across the south west – not only for striving to better their farm businesses, but in their tireless and inspirational care for wildlife and the environment, protecting it for future generations. Although we haven’t been able to host our competitions in the usual format this year, I hope this region-wide photo competition will keep that spark alive and give us another reason to celebrate farming in the south west this summer’.
In September a judging panel will pick the winners and we will display the winning photos in the upcoming FWAG SW printed members newsletter, which is posted to over 1000 members, friends and partners. One overall regional winner will be crowned and offered the opportunity to host a farm walk later this year (organised by FWAG SW) or a virtual tour depending on government guidance at the time. The winner will also win a £100 Mole Valley voucher!
‘A Photo From Your Farm’ is open to all landowners and farmers in the south west and you don’t need to be a FWAG SW member to enter. The competition this year is not affiliated with our standard competitions, so any of our previous competition winners are also welcome to enter. The competition will close on 31st August 2021. Full information and a link to enter here: https://www.fwagsw.org.uk/2021-conservation-competition