2022 saw some great pledges from Farmers

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  Winners Jo and Tim Budden, Higher Hacknell Organic Farm 

• Our farm is a registered organic farm and has a countryside stewardship agreement in place. 
• Has held several meetings for the Taw Valley Facilitation Group walks Holds walks and talks for farmers to see organic farming and what they are doing for the environment.  
• Has solar panels and a biomass boiler to heat office and house. Uses fallen wood from work on the farm to avoid fossil fuels. Uses natural water to avoid mains - use the wells and natural springs to feed the animals.  
• Would like to have a borehole if possible when funds allow. 
• Has signed the Nature recovery Declaration Knowledge Base: Sign Nature Recovery Declaration - North Devon Biosphere

Card and main image of Higher Hacknell Farm Photo Credit: Matt Austin

Please follow the link to to a short film about Tim and Jo's Pledge for Nature ‍

https://youtu.be/Yj0Mad7eXKY

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Other commendable pledges

Brian Nicolas, Woodhouse Organic Farm 

• Previous winner and also entered lottery player  
• Created a pond/scrape primarily for reptiles especially the Common Toad which are becoming increasingly threatened by development/global warming which results in their spawning beds in the slack waters of the River Mole being eroded in summer. 
• Putting up a kestrel box
• Orchard regeneration intend to plant about 30 trees and reintroduce mistletoe. 
• Have ordered 150 trees mainly aspens to plant on various hedges 
• plant-create-a-wildflower-meadow

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‍Tony and Charlotte, Smytham Holiday Park   

• Creating wildflower patches/ meadows will add up to just under an acre. 
• Have put up 4 bug hotels and restore our large bug hotel 
• Replacing trees that have needed to be felled due to disease and trees that have fallen in storms.  
• Planting new trees around the park