Small & Farm Woodland of the Year Award 2024
Congratulations to Gold winner Hole Farm, formerly owned by the late Robin Carver, and to Silver winner Normanton Hall, owned by John Machin.
The Small & Farm Woodland of The Year 2024 recognises and rewards smaller woods which have been actively managed in the last ten years, and is aimed principally at the hands-on woodland owner, including farmers.
Gold winner: Hole Farm
"What is most impressive at Hole Farm is that the plantations have been superbly maintained and managed so that the property not only has a stabilised soil but also a transformed landscape and a potentially valuable timber resource. The standard of establishment on relatively poor forest sites was impressive and the maintenance had been carried out to a standard any forester would be proud of. "
Winning Gold for the FSC-sponsored Small & Farm Woodland of The Year was Hole Farm, whose owner, Robin Carver passed away this year. Robin purchased the farm with his wife, Rose in 1982, but decades of farming large fields, removal of hedges and poor ploughing practice meant the land and soils were in a desolate condition.
To remedy the situation, Robin planted 43,000 trees across 29 Ha, 10,000 shrubs, and 8.5 miles of hedges. The aim was to restore and safeguard the farmland and its soils. Thanks to ample energy, enthusiasm and a willingness to try new ideas, they transformed the landscape in a relatively short period of 40 years.
The woods played a key role in this by massively reducing the damage to the soils, creating some fabulous wildlife habitats and producing a diverse and healthy range of trees.
“I have had enormous pleasure from learning and working with Robin,” said Charles Inglis, who proudly accepted the award in Robin’s honour. “He also had the foresight to record everything he did to the woods and so I am in the position to continue learning from what he discovered worked for our forestry.
“The farm has won several conservation awards over the years but trees were Robin’s greatest love and so this RFS award is the one he would have valued over all others. We buried Robin with one of his silky saws as he never liked to be separated from it for too long! Robin wanted me to apply for this award before he died. He enjoyed showing people his woods and we had several RFS walks over the years. This award is a fantastic recognition of all his hard work over many years and I am delighted to receive it on his behalf.”
Silver winners: Normanton Hall
“These woods are already providing additional wildlife habitat and are laid out with rides to allow access for local walkers. They are also used by the local forest school with children involved with various woodland activities.”
Silver was awarded to Normanton Hall in the Small & Farm Woodland Woodland Award was. John Machin manages the 2.38 Ha of plantations in Nottinghamshire which the judges praised for the choice of species, standard of maintenance and for blending with the surrounding landscape.
“I am happy to receive the award because it represents a communal effort particularly on the part of Andy Martin and David Hare whose energy and dedication have been vital to the emergence and development of the plantations. It will also please the people in the community who walk there and enjoy the amenity, not least the school children who participate in the Forest school activities which take place there.”
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