A NORTH Yorkshire farm manager is celebrating a runners-up finish in the Farmer’s Weekly Awards.

Robin Asquith, from The Hayshed in Commondale, near Whitby, came second in the Farm Manager of the Year category at the national awards ceremony in London.

The Hayshed is part of Care Farming UK, which uses therapeutic practices to provide health and social care services to a wide range of vulnerable client groups.

Robin, who is farm operations manager, has boosted livestock productivity and trebled the number of care farming placements on this mixed hill farm.

He said: “Care Farming is a fantastic initiative and offers opportunities to many adults who would not otherwise have been given an opportunity.

“I believe care farming can become more widespread within the UK and hope that on the back of this nomination I can help promote the cause of care farms and help the industry prosper.

“Coming from a non-farming background I feel very privileged that I have achieved so much in the farming industry at such a young age.

"I feel it is an immense achievement from the all workers who I manage, without them none of this would have been possible.”