A COUPLE who take special care of the wildlife on their Pennines farm have reached the national final of a conservation competition.

Maurice and Kath Toward's 574-acre Herdship Farm, at Harwood, in Upper Teesdale, County Durham, is one of six finalists in line for a £1,000 prize and silver trophy.

Three judges will visit them next Tuesday to give marks for the Silver Lapwing Award, which honours farmers who do most to encourage wildlife and enrich the countryside.

Mr and Mrs Toward have 400 breeding ewes and 125 other sheep, plus a small herd of Limousin cows.

Their land also has rare plants, such as melancholy thistle, cuckoo flower and Teesdale gentian, and birds, including black grouse, lapwing, snipe and redshank.

The couple organise walks on their land and have special leaflets and interpretation boards to help visitors understand the rugged surroundings.

James Money-Kyrle, chief executive of the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group which organises the competition, said "Herdship Farm is an excellent example of how good conservation practice can be successfully integrated with sound commercial farming."

Three farms will be chosen from the six during August, and the final placings will be announced in London on November 25.