Northern Farmer Awards 2024: Diversification Award

The winners across ten varied categories will be announced at a spectacular awards ceremony at Pavilions of Harrogate, the Great Yorkshire Showground.

Also to be revealed on the night will be the overall 2024 Northern Farmer of the Year, chosen by the panel of judges from the category winners.

Diversification Award, sponsored by H&H Group plc

Adrian and Ella Foord, Lawnsgate Farm, Lealholm

Aidan and Ella Foord run a campsite at the heart of the North York Moors from Lawnsgate Farm, Lealholm, a traditional working moorland farm with outstanding views down the Esk Valley.

They have transformed the farm into a haven for campers seeking tranquillity and a genuine connection with nature, with their dedication to creating a dog-friendly environment being complemented by a nearby welcoming pub in Lealholm.

This tranquil site is surrounded by the beautiful North York Moors National Park, and they have made every effort to run the site in harmony with these surroundings.

The Foord family has farmed here for four generations. Today Aidan farms Lawnsgate in partnership with his father on the neighbouring farm, Wild Slack, which was acquired by Aidan’s great-grandfather in the 1930s.

The farm hosts a commercial Charolais cross herd as well as a hardy herd of Galloways. They also have a small number of Scottish Blackface sheep and lambs, two pigs (and piglets) and a menagerie of geese, ducks and hens.

Aidan’s stewardship of the farm shows their commitment to preserving agricultural heritage. The addition of llamas to the landscape might not be traditional, but it epitomises their dedication to offering guests an unforgettable experience in which they can get to know the llamas before setting off for a walk around the farm.

Lawnsgate Farm aims to be a testament to responsible eco-tourism.

Ed Towers and family, Brades Farm, Farleton

The Towers family has farmed at Brades Farm in Farleton in Lancashire since 1960, and has been farmers for 14 generations. John Towers, whose son Ed now manages the family business, started processing milk on-farm in the 1980s.

The 400 acre farm is predominantly grass. The herd numbers have increased to 145 jerseys, 299 black and whites and 67 dry cows, with 64 Jersey cross Holstein being introduced to the herd as part of those numbers.

The cows are milked twice a day in a 24/48 swing over Westfalia parlour and are predominantly housed all year. 11,000 litres of milk is produced for sale each day plus an amount retained for feeding calves.

Shortly after returning from working on a coffee plantation project in Tanzania, Joe was approached by a coffee specialist about producing a specialised milk for use in the barista coffee business. This led Joe and Ed to develop a barista milk which is specifically designed to be poured into coffee, with a consistently high level of milk protein.

These days all milk from the farm is sold for the barista milk market, with the majority of it going into independent urban-based coffee shops.

The farm has become the first dairy farm globally to generate carbon credits from a reduction in methane of more than 30 per cent from the cows. Mootral and Brades Farm businesses started working together in 2016, beginning a trial. From this, the farm reduced their emissions in total by 30%. The feed is natural (a mix of stabilised garlic and citrus), and the emission reduction occurs after a very short time – between 24 and 48 hours after feeding.

Jamie and Nicola Wood, Prendwick Farm, Alnwick

Prendwick Farm, Alnwick, is run by Nicola and Jamie Wood, a second-generation farmer.

The farm covers 2,700 acres in the Cheviot Hills of North Northumberland, with part of their farmland lying in the Northumberland National Park and rising to 1,500ft.

Jamie and Nicola run a pedigree Aberdeen Angus herd, with the Australian Low Line breed, a smaller animal which is known for its hardiness in harsh conditions, being introduced to have less impact on the environment. A commercial flock of Suffolk cross sheep is also run along with a flock of Swiss Valais Black-nose sheep, a rare breed.

The Wood’s Huts on the Hill enterprise was set up five years ago and offers upmarket glamping, supplied with power from Baxi boilers and solar panels. Each exclusive shepherd’s hut offers visitors boutique accommodation in their own secluded area with spectacular views of Northumberland, an outdoor fire pit and an antique outdoor bath.

The location is remote but offers a wonderful escape from everyday life and a chance to be surrounded by nature and nothing else.

A shepherd’s hut is also maintained as 18-bunk accommodation used by Scouts and Duke of Edinburgh groups.

The farm demonstrates strong conservation measures. About 60ha of woodland was decimated by winds so new trees have been planted on steep north-facing hillsides.

Areas of wild bird mix have also been established, an area has been fenced off for heather regeneration and an upland area supports curlew, oyster catches and lapwings.