The 2018 Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Farming Awards competition is open to anyone managing land in the Wye Valley AONB.

Now in its eleventh year, the popular awards celebrate farmers and land managers who are doing outstanding work to conserve and enhance the landscape.

The AONB Unit is seeking nominations from farms, community groups, organisations and individuals that make an outstanding contribution, in any shape or form, to conserving and enhancing the natural beauty of the Wye Valley AONB.

Anyone carrying out work in or adjacent to the Wye Valley AONB is eligible to enter with the possibility of winning £400 for first place, plus cash prizes for runners-up.

The winner will also take home the prestigious Wye Valley AONB Farming Award Trophy, designed by Forest of Dean ironwork sculptor and blacksmith Steve Bluett which will be presented to the winner at the Monmouthshire Show on Saturday, July 7th.

Last year’s winners, the Coppett Hill Common Trust, who own and manage Coppett Hill near Goodrich in Herefordshire, demonstrated their outstanding contribution to the Wye Valley landscape through environmentally minded habitat management and wonderful community work.

Nick Critchley, Wye Valley AONB Development Officer said: “The AONB Farming Awards have been won by some amazing farmers and land managers, demonstrating outstanding contributions to the landscape of the Wye Valley AONB, but we know there are still more doing equally impressive work who we would like to recognise. The Awards let us celebrate the very finest examples of landscape management. Entries can be for all sorts of reasons.

“They may demonstrate excellent examples of field or hedgerow management, building restoration or conservation of drystone walls, care for wildlife habitats, conserve rare breeds or contribute to local community life.

“We want to hear about those great examples of land management practices that enhance the outstanding landscape of the AONB”.

“We want to celebrate those people doing the best they can, with the means available to them, who make an outstanding contribution to conserving and enhancing the AONB.”

Entries for this year’s awards need to be sent to the AONB Office by Monday, May 21st. Judging will take place on Friday, June 15th.

Nominations need to be written up on no more than a single side of A4 paper, explaining why you think you have made an outstanding contribution and including your name, address, telephone number and email details.

Please send entries to AONB Farming Awards, Wye Valley AONB, Hadnock Road, Monmouth, NP25 3NG.

Alternatively, you can email the details to: [email protected]