The Silver Lapwing Awards 2026

A family farm in Gloucestershire has been awarded the prestigious ‘Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group National Silver Lapwing Award’ from a shortlist of five exceptional finalists. Peter Clifford of Frampton Court Estate was chosen by the team of four judges for his focus on providing a wide range of habitats across the farm from species-rich ancient hay meadows to restoring ghost ponds.

The Silver Lapwing Award recognises farmers who go that extra mile to protect and enhance the countryside in which they farm, demonstrating how high-quality food production exists hand-in-hand with sound environmental management.

The award is generously sponsored by Frontier Agriculture, an industry leader in the provision of conservation, green cover and forage seed mixes, and Land App, a digital mapping platform empowering land managers to unlock the full potential of their land through tailored mapping technology, strategic partnerships, and collaborative solutions. The FWAG Association is very grateful to have the support of these organisations.

Judges Chris Butler, Rebecca Inman, Jim Egan and Martin Hole talked through the five finalists, highlighting the breadth of work being carried out across all the farms to support wildlife alongside their commercial farming activities. “It’s such a privilege to visit each of the finalists and see for ourselves what amazing work they are doing to integrate wildlife into their daily farming operations. Each farm was uniquely brilliant in how they had evolved to be resilient businesses whilst still making space for nature, and it just goes to show what can be achieved’” explained Martin.

Located on the banks of the River Severn in Gloucestershire, Frampton Court Estate has long worked to balance productive farming, conservation and recreation within a thriving village community. The estate covers a diverse range of land uses and habitats including 408 acres of arable rotation, 120 acres of species-rich grassland, 90 acres of woodland and 100 acres managed for creation of wood pasture, alongside 100 acres of lakes.

“I’m totally taken aback, I never expected we’d win”

Peter Clifford, Winner of the Silver Lapwing Award 2026: “For the last three years we’ve been working with neighbouring dairy farmer Ed Spencer. He’s been key to the transition we’ve made from an intensive arable system to fully extensive. We teamed up to focus on soil health and profitability in the arable rotation through minimal soil disturbance and maximising available muck and slurry from his farm”. Collecting the trophy alongside Peter, Ed added “ these awards are great, it’s fantastic to have some positivity in farming and we’re delighted to have won”.

The celebration for the 47th Silver Lapwing Award took place on Tuesday 23rd June at Finches Farm in Hertfordshire, the home of Andrew Bott and his family, who received the award in 2025. Andrew is a long-standing member of FWAG East and a previous winner of their annual Conservation Award.

Following the awards presentation and lunch, guests were taken on a tractor and trailer tour of the farm. The 80 guests learnt about Andrew’s management of chalk grassland field margins teeming with insects, the restoration of 15 ponds across the farm which are all now home to Great Crested Newt and the home -made Johnson-Sue bioreactor used to create the farms own biology. John Place, Head of Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier at Defra commented on the diversity of farms amongst this year’s finalists. “It’s great to see such amazing farms delivering for both the environment and food production and these awards just highlight what’s possible”.

About the FWAG Silver Lapwing Award

To win this prestigious and longstanding award, a farm has to demonstrate a real commitment to species and habitat conservation and be able to show how they integrate their environmental management in their overall farm business. Understanding and conserving historic aspects of the farm is also important. In addition, consideration is given to the farm’s approach to conserving natural resources; this includes good soil management, the protection of water quality and efficient use of water and energy. These are all areas that the judges consider on their tour of the competition finalists.

About the Silver Lapwing Competition Judges

Chris Butler has a 1500 acre family arable farm, near Halstead, North Essex. Chris is keen on regenerative farming, minimum cultivation (less than 50mm) for over 8 years and third of the farm is direct drilled. Part of a stewardship schemes for 30 years, currently in mid-tier which includes AB8, AB9, AB15, AB12, SW1, SW3, SW4, hedge coppicing and hedge management. Started diversifying in 2007 with the conversion of a thatch 17th century barn into Café/Restaurant, Post Office, and Farm Shop. The farm yard now also includes a pre school nursery, forestry school, hair dresser, dog groomer, animal feed retail outlet, beautician, ceramic and pottery studio and small events barn. The majority of which are heated by a 200kw biomass burner supplied by the farm’s hedges and woodland. Chris has been involved with FWAG since the early 80s, has been Essex Chairman, and a natural trustee and is currently National Chairman of the FWAG Association. The farm was the Essex LEAF demonstration farm from 1997 to 2012. Chris is married to Tania and has three children, 2 daughters and a son and 2 grandchildren. His son David, is now back on the farm and pushing to get Dad into an old people’s home! Chris is a keen tennis player and game shot.

Jim Egan works for Frontier Agriculture as a Sustainable Farming Consultant. For over 20 years, Jim has worked closely with Defra on the development and delivery of agri-environment schemes in England. Prior to this, Jim worked as a Technical Adviser at Kings, and before that with the Game and Wildlife Trust’s Allerton Project as head of training and development, where he also helped to establish the Big Farmland Bird Count. Earlier in his career Jim worked as technical director for the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group.

Rebecca Inman is a Farm Environment Adviser for FWAG East with 27 yrs experience giving on-farm advice. She previously worked on a range of farm enterprises including sheep, dairy, beef and arable farms. She has extensive experience preparing agri-environment scheme applications, managing agreements, habitat and species management plans, catchment management projects, assurance scheme plans, UK Hab and BNG audits and plans. She has a degree in Ecology.

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