Broome Farm, home of the Ross-on-Wye Cider and Perry Company, has won the prestigious Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Farming Award.

Councillor Phil Cutter, the Wye Valley AONB chairman, presented the award to Mike Johnson of Broome Farm at the Monmouthshire Show on August 25th.

As well as the trophy, Councillor Cutter handed over the first prize of £400 and the winner’s certificate. The 55-acre farm at Peterstow is well known for producing a wide range of award winning cider and perrys.

Broome Farm produces mainly fruit, having been shaped by the planting of orchards over the last 30 years, from its beginnings as a dairy, and more recently sheep, farm. There are now over 100 varieties of apples and pears, from which Mike and his team make an extensive range of cider and perrys, sold in their cider shop, the Yew Tree Pub and further afield. The pub is a recent addition to the business and plans are in place to encourage the wider use of its facilities by local groups.

Conservation on the farm is important to Mike, with a policy of minimal spraying which encourages biodiversity. 100 bird boxes have also been installed in the orchards, which act to encourage pest predation in a natural way.

The judges were impressed by the amount of community work taking place at the farm, including working with and fundraising for charities. Music and social events are also organised at the farm, the centrepiece of which is the Cider Festival which takes place at the end of the summer. Camping is available and facilities are currently being upgraded. Visitors from around the world are drawn to Broome Farm to speak with Mike about cider making and to taste the produce, always leaving with a good impression.

Square Farm near Mitchel Troy, was selected for the Highly Commended Award and received a cheque for £200. Run by Rob and Ryan Whittall, they farm organically over 180 acres, focussing on traditional farming methods, as well as running a farm shop open three days a week selling home grown organically produced food as well as produce from other local suppliers.

The Wye Valley AONB Farming Awards are now in their ninth year. Shortlisted farms were visited and judged by an experienced panel including Andrew Blake Wye Valley AONB Manager, David Price NFU Wales and Caroline Hanks farming and conservation consultant.

Andrew Blake said:?“The judges were really impressed by the quality of the entrants for the 2016 AONB Farming Awards. All the shortlisted farms are making an outstanding contribution to conserving and enhancing the natural beauty of the Wye Valley. But the judges were particularly impressed with the environmental and community work that Mike carries out at Broome Farm.

“With farmland covering 65% of the Wye Valley AONB the Farming Awards are a great opportunity to promote the good work that farmers do in keeping the Wye Valley such a special place for so many people.