Countryside Management Scheme award

Ian Campbell, a Limavady farmer, has been a participant in DARD's Countryside Management Scheme (CMS) since 2003. Recently he won two prestigious 'Green Apple Environment Awards'. He was made National Gold Winner in the farming category and overall National Runner up in all categories. The awards were presented at a ceremony in the House of Commons in London, which Ian attended with his wife Joan.

The Green Apple Awards are part of an annual national campaign led by The Green Organisation, with support from the Environmental Agency, the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health and the Institution of Wastes Management. The campaign aims to recognise, reward and promote environmental best practice around the world. Entries are received from commerce, communities, countries, organisations and individuals. Ian is now a 5 star member of the Green Organisation and details of his environmental work are to be published in the organisation's work of reference - 'The Green Book'.

Ian has been involved in environmental improvements for many years and is a past winner of the Ulster Grassland Society/Fermanagh Grassland Club Countryside Management competition. Speaking after the awards ceremony, Ian said,

"Looking after the countryside is a lifetime commitment and I never stop learning and grasping opportunities to promote the need to retain, enhance and protect our natural heritage".

Over the years he has planted over 3000m of hawthorn hedges, which are interplanted with beech, hazel, cherry, rowan and blackthorn. In addition, 12ha of native hardwood trees have been planted around the farm. Ian has also carried out a variety of repairs to traditional farm buildings and constructed a number of traditional stone pillars, which are located around the farm.

The CMS provides annual payments for all types of land, and Ian receives payments for managing existing habitats on his land such as the woodland areas. The Scheme also provides for the considerable amount of hedge restoration such as laying and coppicing of existing hedges and planting of mixed species hedges that have been undertaken as part of his scheme agreement.

Over the next few years, he plans to restore traditional features around the farm, such as stone pillars and gates, and he hopes to renovate the loft of a traditional farm building. Ian plans to recreate a traditional apple orchard incorporating approved varieties of apples originating from the locality.

The CMS is presently open until the 11 March 2005 for applications. If you would like more information about the benefits of joining the Scheme, or would like an application form, contact Countryside Management Staff at your local DARD office.

Ian Campbell demonstrates the phenomenal growth he has seen over eight years since establishing this hedgerow on his Limavady farm.