Beef farmers and vineyard owners scooped two top Suffolk conservation awards at a prestigious awards night.

Farm conservation body Suffolk FWAG - which held its annual ceremony at Trinity Park, near Ipswich, on November 8 - singled out two of its farmer members for their "outstanding" efforts to encourage wildlife and run sustainable businesses.

Brother and sister James and Cat Scarff, of Scarff Farm and Burnt House Vineyard, of Combs, near Stowmarket, took the Tim Sloane award for their "innovative" vineyard and events venue, as well as for their strategic business management approach "driven by data analysis and meticulous planning".

Suffolk Food Hall co-owner Oliver Farm, of Lodge Farm at Freston on the Shotley Peninsula won the Peewit Award for his "outstanding" management of the supply chain and environmentally conscious farming practices.

Fourth generation farmers James Scarff and sister Catherine - along with parents Stuart and Jill - planted their 22-acre vineyard in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Oliver Paul receiving the Peewit award from Jeanette Dennis of Ashtons Legal (Image: Sarah Kilshaw Photography) Their parents were there to accept the award on their behalf along with Suffolk FWAG senior adviser Sven Wrenn.

They gave a presentation on the highs and lows involved in of creating a whole new crop and farming system on an already regeneratively-leaning system and were honest about the costs involved.

"The preparation of the family and the utilising of the various skills they all possess to achieve such a successful enterprise mean that they are worthy winners of this year's award," said Sven.

Peewit award winner Oliver Paul - who runs a highly successful farm shop operation on the outskirts of Ipswich at Wherstead - outlined his approach to various schemes available such as the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) pilot project and the opportunities he now uses to get the most out of every action he takes on farm.

"Of particular interest is how he cultivated the relationship with the Suffolk Food Hall butchers to ensure that no beef products go to waste while also ensuring that the cattle on farm are healthy, happy and profitable," said Suffolk FWAG chief executive Anna Beames.

"It was a pleasure to see images of the wildlife on the farm and hear how these practices are helping the wellbeing of man and beast on farm and in the community."

She added that the farmers "secure high value public goods on which we depend - biodiversity and carbon budgets".  "This is the business of environmental agriculture,” she said.

Jeanette Dennis of sponsors Ashtons Legal - who updated awards-goers on the latest developments following the Budget - presented the awards.

Adele Jones of the Sustainable Food Trust discussed the Global Farm Metric and a common framework for discussing environmental agriculture.

She explained the significance of evidence-based approaches in supporting regenerative principles on farms.