A FATHER and daughter partnership who have transformed their family farm into a wildlife haven have won an award for their environmentally-friendly efforts.

Tenant farmers John Harrison and Ruth Russell, who run Duggleby High Barn Farm, near Malton, have been short-listed for the national final of the Natural England competition.

Since they joined forces three-years-ago, their 329 acre mixed-arable business just outside the village of Duggleby has become a refuge for a variety of animal, bird and plant species through their traditional farming methods.

As part of their commitment to the environment, they even invite local primary schoolchildren to their farm, which they rent from Settrington Estate, to learn about the harmony between nature and agriculture.

John, who took over the farm from his father, Stanley, in 1989, said: “Our farm is like a little oasis. We are surrounded by large farming operations, which is the direction agriculture is traveling. By running a mixed arable farm, livestock encourages the insects which attract all the other bird, plant and wildlife species.”

The 65-year-old added: “We are delighted with the award and we hope it will encourage others to follow our lead.”

The pair will now go through to the next round of judging which will decide the national winner of the ‘Future of Farming Awards 2008’.

Natural England’s Regional Director Peter Nottage said: “In Yorkshire and the Humber we are blessed with some of the most wonderful countryside England has to offer. People come from far and wide to enjoy our countryside and the wildlife found here. This surely makes our natural environment one of the most valuable assets we have in the region. We owe a great debt of thanks to our farmers and landowners, who play a vital role in maintaining it and these awards help to recognise this.”

“We are delighted to have won this award, it’s nice to know that our hard work has been recognised. I’m very proud of what we have achieved here.

“The range of wildlife habitats we have created has encouraged a wide variety of plant and animal species onto the farm. We have used these to educate children and adults about farming and the natural environment”.