Two Midland farmers have won the UK's most prestigious farm conservation award for attracting an abundance of wildlife to their farm.
James and Stuart Russell, of Toft Farm in Kites Hardwick near Rugby, Warwickshire, received £1,000 and a trophy after scooping the Farmcare FWAG Silver Lapwing trophy.
Their 358-hectare arable farm supports a wide range of lowland habitats and species, building on natural features including the River Leam.
Toft Farm had previously been named as the English Silver Lapwing winner and was shortlisted for the overall award along with Strathmore Farming Company and Cefn Cledan, the finalists from Scotland and Wales. Mark Thomasin-Foster, chairman of the Silver Lapwing judges and a farmer himself, said: "We were impressed by the very sound and sensitive stewardship under which Toft Farm has flourished over many years.
"These benefits were most apparent in the way commercial farming has been professionally integrated with the abundant wildlife and the sporting potential on the farm.
"Further interesting conservation and diversification projects are well planned in the longer term vision for the farm.
The awards are managed by the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group, which provides conservation advice.
