Philip crowned most wildlife friendly farmer in Province

Philip crowned most wildlife friendly farmer in Province

25 October 2017

BALLYNAHINCH’S Philip Bell has been crowned Northern Ireland’s most wildlife friendly farmer.

He was presented with the award at the last week’s Farming Life and Danske Bank Awards at the La Mon Hotel where he was presented with a welly boot trophy.

Philip is extremely passionate about wildlife and farming and is keen to demonstrate that they can both strive side by side. Since 2013, he has been working with conservation advisors from RSPB NI who have encouraged him to incorporate conservation measures into his farm management. 

On his farm, where he has a number of Irish Moiled cattle and a small suckler herd, the Ballynahinch man has planted exceptional wild bird cover, creating a vital food source that sustains farmland birds in winter. 

In addition, his hedgerows are well-managed and he has also planted a native woodland. One of the ongoing projects on the farm is reverting a rye grass field back to a species-rich meadow.

Last year, Philip was highly commended in the wildlife friendly farmer category and is delighted to have gone one better this year to take the award ahead of Tom and Patricia Gilbert from Ballylagan Organic Farm in Co. Antrim.

Claire Barnett, RSPB NI’s conservation team leader, said while all the farmers who applied do amazing things for nature, Philip goes the extra mile to help wildlife thrive on his land.

“I think I speak for all the judges when I say that we were incredibly impressed with Philip’s farm and that owned by the Gilberts and choosing the winner was extremely difficult,” she said.

“Philip is not only genuinely interested in wildlife, his work is representative of a huge number of farms across Northern Ireland. He is also a great advocate for producing space for wildlife on a working farm and we are looking forward to working even more closely with Northern Ireland’s farmers to ensure that nature has a home in our countryside.”

Since 2013, Philip has had two bird surveys undertaken by trained RSPB volunteers on his farm which have shown the presence of priority species such as reed buntings, linnets, grasshopper warblers and house sparrows. 

In three years, the number of species recorded on the farm has increased from 30 to 32, with an increase in the number of linnets and reed buntings making their home on the farm. 

One of 17 awards handed out at La Mon last week, the wildlife friendly farmer category recognises those farmers who engage in maintenance and restoration or creation of specific habitats on the farm, resulting in conservation measures which benefit wildlife. The farmers also demonstrate why farmland biodiversity is so important to them.