A TEESDALE couple came third in a national farm conservation award.

Maurice and Cath Toward of Herdship Farm received a cheque for £250 and a miniature replica of the Silver Lapwing Trophy from the Princess Royal in London on Tuesday.

"The outstanding conservation work at Herdship Farm is an example of what can be achieved with passion, insight and careful planning," said Alan Dodsworth, regional manager of Northern FWAG. The award is organised by FWAG and sponsored by Farmcare, part of the Co-operative Group.

The award recognises exceptional management in encouraging wildlife and enriching the countryside while farming on a strictly commercial basis.

Mr Toward's family has run the 574-acre Herdship Farm as a beef and sheep unit since 1967. It has 400 breeding ewes and 125 followers, plus a small herd of Limousin cross cows.

The farm is in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and much of it is designated as of special scientific interest.

Its species-rich grassland includes such rare plants as globe flower, melancholy thistle, cuckoo flower and the very rare Teesdale gentian; its upland birds include black grouse, lapwing, snipe, redshank and yellow wagtail.

Mr and Mrs Toward signed up to an Environmentally Sensitive Area agreement when the scheme started 15 years ago.

Various schemes are in place with partners including English Nature and the RSPB to encourage wildlife and conserve existing populations. The farm is now used to demonstrate what can be achieved through partnership.

Visitors and tourists are welcomed on organised farm walks, and leaflets and interpretation boards add to the public's enjoyment and understanding.

Mr Toward's biggest pleasure over the years has been in the development of the bird population, about which he is passionate.

For Mrs Toward it is the reaction of visitors. "Seeing things at first hand really alters their perception of farming," she said, "I think that many people find it difficult to make any connection between the food they eat and the farm where it is produced. To me, there is no point in doing conservation work and keeping it hidden.

"I am all for opening up public access providing it is well managed - and it can be a source of rural employment."

New farm buildings use local traditional building materials including old stone from the farm where possible, and the family has made strenuous efforts to save the old buildings at Lady Rake lead mines on the farm, now a scheduled ancient monument.

The Silver Lapwing Award and £1,000 first prize went to Partridge Hill Farm, near Doncaster, and second place to Mere Down Farm, near Warminster, Wiltshire.