Humberts Rural Offices in the south east are delighted to support the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust’s initiative to conserve the habitat of the wild grey partridge, one of Britain’s most threatened farmland birds. Within the regional area of Kent, Surrey and Sussex, Humberts has sponsored the Grey Partridge Award which is presented to the farm or estate that has made the largest contribution to grey partridge conservation in 2007.

As principal sponsors of the GWCT’s award in the region, Tom French of Humberts Challock office in Kent presented the prestigious trophy to Stuart Batchelor of farm management company Velcourt who have focussed much of their conservation efforts in creating an ideal habitat for grey partridges on St Nicholas Court Farms in north-east Kent. At the event, Tom French said: Humberts is delighted to sponsor the Game Conservancy's grey partridge project in the south eastern area. Our rural teams nationwide are keen to promote efficient land management combined with conservation practices. I congratulate this year's winners for the excellent contribution they have made to the Game Conservancy's grey partridge restoration project in the south east".

Hadlow Place Farm was the overall winner in the BASF Championship Trophy.

Many congratulations go to all the staff at Hadlow Place Farm for this excellent result.

Brief history: the farm has been owned by the Teacher family for many years and Velcourt has been involved in running the farm for nine years.  The 80 hectares of fruit  grown on the farm is sent to Adrian Scripps for packing.  A replanting programme is in place to ensure that orchards are replaced to maintain an age structure capable of growing quality fruit.  All dessert fruit has trickle irrigation.

The remaining 1374 hectares of the farm is in arable production.

Each year Velcourt holds a competition between all farms.  Robin Malim and James Townshend (Velcourt Chairman and CEO respectively) visit all farms over a three week period and make an assessment of the physical and financial performance of the farms and select a short list of six farms which are then judged by an external judge. They take into account each units approach to conservation and “custodianship” of the land and how the farms relate to the local and wider farming community.   The 2007 competition was judged by The Lord Stafford DL, ARAgS, who kindly gave valuable time to judge six farms in two days!

Robin and James asked Lord Stafford to visit the following farms:-

• Eaubrink Farms
• Fonthill Estate
• Greenwell Farms
• J Goodley & Son (Farms)
• Percy Farm
• Wintringham

Lord Stafford awarded prizes as follows:-

1^st Place            Wintringham

2^nd Place            Percy Farms

3^rd Place             Fonthill Estate

Congratulations are due to Andrew Welch who manages the winning farm and also to Dan Matthews and John Harper who were placed second and third respectively.

The Andrew Waite Trophy

This award is given to the Farm Manager who in the opinion of the judges has again produced excellent physical and financial results in his or her first two years as a Farm Manager.  Robin and James awarded prizes as follows:

1^st Place             Ted Vipond           E W Bowser

2nd Place           Nick Shorter S W Cross

3rd Place            Peter Lord            Hartpury

Well done to all the above.  Starting a career on a new business is hugely challenging.

Chairman’s Prize

Awarded to the Farm Manager who has developed an existing business, and made the most progress during the last twelve months.

1^st Place              Stephen Walker   George Farm Unit

More than 200 farmers and growers visited Velcourt farms in the S.W. in the week commencing 18th of June. Three separate events at Hinchwick Manor,Fonthill Estate and Sherborne Castle Estate were well attended and as usual created a platform for lively debate. These farm walks are now a regular feature on the farming calendar and allow “doors to be opened “to Velcourt managed farms.

Under discussion were prospect for wheat price as well as the negative effect the increasing price on livestock farms. Price predictions varied from £100 per tonne to £200 per tonne! As ever somewhere between the two we suspect, but all prices a “far cry” from 12 months ago. Commodity prices also prompted discussion on rotations and what mix of crops would be profitable and sustainable. Also, under scrutiny were weed control and the perennial challenge of effective cultivations. Evenings were concluded with an excellent supper and local beer and wine.

We are absolutely delighted to report that Iain Robertson was “crowned” Farm Sprayer Operator of The Year for 2007.  Ian carries out all the spraying at Drax Farm, Charborough Park, Nr Wareham in Dorset as well as a large area of liquid fertiliser applications.  Drax Farm has been managed by Velcourt since 1991 and comprises 1600 Ha of land and 400 cows in two herds.

Ian joined the team at Drax Farm in 2006 and has approached his work in a very positive and professional manner.  FSOOTY is an award that is held in the highest regard and is important in raising standards of operator competence as consumers demand more say in how food is produced.

Andrew Myatt who carries out all the spraying at Stowell Park in Gloucestershire was among the finalist for the award.