Skip to content
Man wearing a red shirt, blue gilet, and brown cap sitting outdoors.
Premium Fleece
Soft, durable & versatile
Shop now
Person wearing a navy blue jacket with a brand logo, standing in a rainy environment.
Outerwear
Protection from the elements
Shop now
Man wearing a navy fleece gilet by a lake with a boat in the background
The Oakham Fleece Gilet
An icon of the British countryside
Shop now
Man rowing a boat wearing a two-tone sweatshirt with a brand logo.
SWEATSHIRTS & HOODIES
Refined styles for changing seasons
Shop now
Person wearing a green jacket and brown trousers sitting on a boat.
Pants & Shorts
Great fit and all-day comfort
Shop now
Close-up of a person wearing a checked shirt, brown chinos, and a brown belt with a gold buckle.
Accessories
Something for everyone
Shop now
Woman wearing a dark green fleece and hat by a lake
Premium Fleece
Made to be lived in
Shop now
Person wearing a raincoat with a hood in a rainy outdoor setting
Jackets
Stylish performance
Shop now
Close-up of a brown zipper on a dark green fleece gilet with a blurred background
The Lyndon Fleece Gilet
A truly iconic style
Shop now
Person wearing a patterned scarf over a textured knitted jumper and white frill collar shirt.
KNITS
From smart to casual
Shop now
Person wearing blue trousers and green boots walking through water in a natural setting
Pants & Shorts
Find the perfect fit
Shop now
Person wearing a brown pinafore dress with a blurred background
Skirts & Dresses
Effortless elegance
Shop now
Person wearing a striped scarf tied around their waist over denim jeans and white shirt.
Accessories
Finish the look
Shop now
Finalists unveiled for the Schöffel Countryside Awards
  1. Finalists unveiled for the Schöffel Countryside Awards
Will Pocklington
Head of Content
Back to articles

Finalists unveiled for the Schöffel Countryside Awards

Schöffel Country and the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) are thrilled to announce the finalists for the inaugural Schöffel Countryside Awards, which recognise those who are improving the health of the British countryside and delivering for nature. 

More than 80 nominations were received earlier this year, from which 24 finalists have been shortlisted across six categories. These countryside heroes include individuals, farms and estates from across the country. 

The panel of 28 judges have spent the spring and summer visiting each finalist to observe their conservation work in action. 

At a moment in time when the need to produce food and deliver biodiversity recovery has never been more crucial, these awards, run in partnership with the GWCT, aim to shine a light on the finest examples of ‘working conservation’ and progressive land management across the UK. 

The winner of each category will be announced at an evening awards ceremony on Monday 3 November.

The finalists are as diverse as they are well spread across the country, creating and managing many habitat types between them.

Schöffel Country’s executive director Marcus Janssen, who is also a judge, says: “We’re excited to unveil our finalists, chosen from a very strong field of entries across all six award categories.  

“These are exactly the sort of people and projects we set out to find when we launched the awards in January. The passion and dedication we have seen during our judging visits has been truly remarkable. 

“We now look forward to sharing our finalists’ stories, and highlighting their achievements, with a wider audience.” 

Megan Lock, judge and senior farm environment advisor for GWCT, says: “I have been incredibly impressed with the commitment and dedication I have seen on all my judging visits, where individuals and groups have gone above and beyond to deliver benefits for the environment. 

“These awards are a great way to showcase and appreciate those making a difference who generally go unrecognised.” 

Schöffel Country Awards logoSchöffel Country Awards logo

The finalists 

The Nature-Friendly Farm/Estate Award 

Sponsored by Oakbank Game & Conservation 

To celebrate farms and estates that have excelled in implementing practices that promote biodiversity and species recovery. 

  • Nedging Hall Estate, Suffolk  
  • Courteenhall Farms, Northamptonshire 
  • Cruglas Farm, Ceredigion 
  • Gordon Castle Estate Co Ltd, Moray 
  • J & J Beary Farming Ltd, Cumbria 
  • Vine House Farm, Lincolnshire  
  • Ragley Estate, Warwickshire  
  • EJ Barker & Sons, Suffolk 
Emily and Alex Crawley of Grazing Management Ltd, a finalist in the Innovation in Conservation category, were early adopters of no-fence livestock collars.

The Innovation in Conservation Award 

Sponsored by B-hive Innovations 

To champion individuals or groups who have developed innovative solutions, technologies or methods that advance agriculture and the natural environment. 

  • Grazing Management Ltd, Gloucestershire 
  • Geoff Eyre, Abney Moor, Derbyshire 
A few members of the Central Chilterns Farmer Cluster – which brings together 18 farms across 6,500 acres, and is a finalist in the Farm-Environment Partnership category – meet to share ideas.

The Farm-Environment Partnership Award 

Sponsored by The Crown Estate  

To recognise farms that have formed successful partnerships with others, showcasing the positive outcomes of collaboration. 

  • The Central Chilterns Farmer Cluster, Buckinghamshire 
  • Wellshead Estate & Wellshead Natural Capital, Somerset 
  • Wiston Estate, Sussex 
Norton Marshes on the Raveningham Estate in Norfolk, a finalist in the Wetland & Watercourse Conservation category, saw bittern breed successfully for the first time this year.

The Wetland & Watercourse Conservation Award 

Sponsored by The Atlantic Salmon Trust 

To showcase efforts and achievements in creating and restoring wetland habitats and watercourses to the benefit of biodiversity and ecosystem services. 

  • Norton Marshes, Raveningham Estate, Norfolk 
  • Shenton Estate, Warwickshire 
  • Bisterne Estate, Hampshire
Emily Graham is a finalist in the Rising Star category. She has dedicated herself to the North Pennines landscape and its wildlife and is determined to do whatever it takes to defend it. 

The Rising Star Award 

Sponsored by Pressendye 

To shine a light on a young individual who is demonstrating an outstanding approach to conservation. 

  • Emily Graham, County Durham 
  • Rosie Morton, Edinburgh 
  • Thomas Hilder, Hampshire 
  • Timothy Smith, Kent 
Rupert Brewer from Bisterne Estate in Hampshire, a finalist in the Working Conservationist category.

The Working Conservationist Award 

Sponsored by Harrison Spinks 

To celebrate an individual who has dedicated much of their life to the conservation of flora and fauna in the British countryside. 

  • John Hitchcock, South Yorkshire 
  • Rupert Brewer – Bisterne Estate, Ringwood 
  • Graham Denny – Brewery Farm, Suffolk 
  • James Allsop – Monk Wood Shoot, Derbyshire  

The panel of judges is made up of GWCT ecologists and advisors and external experts in relevant fields, including ‘Cheerful Charlie’ Ireland from Clarkson’s Farm, Holkham Estate general manager of conservation Jake Fiennes, CEO of B-hive Innovations Vidyanath Gururajan, and numerous others. 

The GWCT has been at the forefront of research and advice in the realm of nature-friendly farming for almost a century.

Why have we partnered with the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust? 

For nearly 100 years the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust has been a champion for wildlife through an evidence-led approach to conservation. From waders to woodland birds, game management to farmland ecology, wild salmon to pollinators and black grouse to moorland conservation – the breadth of research carried out by the GWCT makes it unique. 

Through sound advice and support the GWCT helps farmers, land managers and conservationists across the UK succeed in their mission to enhance the British countryside. 

As an independent wildlife conservation charity, the GWCT has carried out scientific research into Britain’s game and wildlife since the 1930s and employs more than 60 post-doctoral scientists and other research staff with expertise in areas such as birds, insects, mammals, farming, fish and statistics. 

The trust undertakes its own research as well as projects funded by contract and grant-aid from government and private bodies. 

At Schöffel Country, we’re huge advocates of the GWCT’s work. Over the years we have raised funds for the trust through giveback campaigns, and we’re now delighted to be working with it to recognise people, farms and estates who are doing remarkable things in the British countryside. 

Learn more about the Schöffel Countryside Awards here.  

Why not read the article or watch the video, about the first finalist to be profiled? 

Not in United States? Choose where to ship to: