A LLANSANFFRAID farmer has been named by the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) Cymru as the winner of the Mid Wales, FWAG Cymru- National Grid 2010 Silver Lapwing Farm Conservation Award, which is supported and sponsored by the National Grid.
The long-standing competition, which has been staged annually for more than 30 years, recognises the blend between commercial farming and environmental conservation best practices and is open to farmers throughout Wales.
There are three regional awards, one each for north, mid (Powys and Ceredigion) and south Wales; and an overall Wales winner. Each regional winner has received a cheque for £200 together with a FWAG Cymru - National Grid Silver Lapwing farm gate plaque.
Robert Jones-Perrott of Bronhyddon, Llansantffraid was presented with his plaque at the Llanfyllin Agricultural Show by Gwylfa Jones, this year's show president.
Mr Jones-Perrott, together with his son James, runs a mixed farm at Bronhyddon, comprising beef, sheep and arable enterprises. Beef cattle are reared from calves, and mainly finished on-farm with the sheep including 150 early lambers supplying lambs for the Easter trade.
Lambs are sold via Waitrose. Cereals are grown to feed the stock, and these, together with the silage grown, ensure that the enterprise is fairly self-sufficient in animal feeds.
Mr Jones- Perrott has been undertaking conservation projects for more than 30 years. The judges were impressed by the Jones-Perrott's long term planning and the scale of woodland management in particular, but also the integration of high standards of commercial farming with the environmental management.
Woodlands, ponds and hedges have been created and managed, with sympathetic grassland management to encourage farmland birds.
Mr Jones-Perrott said "I'm delighted to win this award. I farm with the environment in mind, and we aim to leave the farm in a better state for the next generation, in terms of both agriculture and conservation".