THE conservation efforts of a mother-and-son farming partnership have won official recognition.

Belinda Terry and her son, Will - above - farm 270-acres at Ravenscar, near Scarborough, and have just been presented with the North-East Biodiversity Award in the regional heats of the National Farmers' Union President's Awards.

Their farm is seen by thousands of visitors each year who walk on the numerous routes around and across it, including the Cleveland Way.

There are strong populations of roe deer, badgers and brown hares as well as a wide variety of birds, both migratory and indigenous.

The farm is classed as a Leaf - Linking Environment and Farming - demonstration farm and consists of a range of habitats, such as hedges, drystone walls, ditches, tracks, ponds and woodland.

Mrs Terry said: "We hold our many years of hard work up for all to see. One of the main aims of the farm is to leave the land in better heart than we started, so allowing for continued development in the future."

She and Will farm 470 ewes and 100 acres of arable crops and are continuously upgrading their farming practices alongside environmental improvements.

Land not suitable for cultivation has been planted with trees with the help of forestry grants.

The competition judges said: "This is a great example of integrating conservation and sound business practices at what is a prominent farm in the area."