Purdey awards show how farming and wildlife gain

With more than 100 applicants, the awards aim to promote outstanding game and habitat conservation work carried out by shoots. 

Hainey Farm Shoot in Cambridgeshire won the Gold Award, acknowledging the significant investment, expertise and scale of the operation. The Silver Award went to Smith & Pearman family shoot in Hertfordshire and Bronze to by Ganton Hall in North Yorkshire. Flea Barn in Suffolk was given a highly commended award. 

Conservationist Richard Negus, who has worked at Hainey Farm and nominated Flea Barn for the award, said: “Charles Shropshire and Stewart McIntyre at Hainey have highlighted that, through their organic status and innovation, it is possible to achieve large biodiversity gain in conjunction with intensive farming, and a successful shoot.” 

“Ed Nesling at Flea Barn does not employ a full-time gamekeeper, yet he has demonstrated that adhering to the three-legged stool of conservation and doing the basics very well works for wildlife. In doing so he has provided a template for other farmers to follow.”