Nominate your New Forest champions

PUBLISHED ON: 9 MAY 2022

The New Forest National Park Authority and Country Land and Business Association (CLA) have launched their annual awards to celebrate rural successes and achievements in the New Forest.

Nominations are now open for the ninth New Forest Awards, which are supported by Moore Barlow and the New Forest Agricultural Show Society.

The awards celebrate the best local food and drink producers, young environmental champions, diversified rural businesses, land managers, young farmers and commoners, and sustainability champions who support the New Forest’s landscape and economy.

The winners will be crowned at a ceremony and drinks reception at the New Forest and Hampshire County Show on 27 July.

Individuals, businesses and organisations can nominate themselves or be nominated by others, but must be living, working or practising within the New Forest Awards area (see map here). Nominations close on 19 June 2022 with application forms available at www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/newforestawards.

Tim Bamford, Regional Director of CLA South East, which represents landowners, farmers and rural businesses said: ‘The CLA is once again proud to be supporting these awards, which highlight the hugely important role played by farmers and other rural businesses in managing the landscape and helping our communities prosper in the New Forest and across Hampshire.

‘We’re delighted that the awards are returning this year to honour even more rural success stories, and we look forward to crowning the winners at the show in July.’

Alison Barnes, Chief Executive of the New Forest National Park Authority said: ‘Enabling a living, working Forest to thrive into the future relies on great partnerships. In the last few months, the term “Team New Forest” has really come to the fore, with an increasing diversity of people working together to help the National Park to remain a beautiful, thriving haven for wildlife and people.

‘These awards champion local people whose dedication to a sustainable New Forest really shines through – especially in the face of the climate and nature emergencies and the pandemic. We’re thrilled that the awards, and the New Forest Show, are back up and running again in 2022.’

Nominations are invited for the following categories:

Young Farmer/Commoner of the Year (aged 40 and under)
Best Supporter of Local Produce
Sustainability Champion
Young Environmental Champion (aged 25 and under)
Rural Diversification
Land Management.

For full details of criteria and how to apply, visit www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/newforestawards.

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NOTES TO EDITORS:

About the CLA South East

The CLA South East has around 5,000 members across Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.

As a membership organisation, the CLA supports landowners by advising them on how best to protect and maximise their asset: the land. We are dedicated to supporting landowners and their businesses. Our success is measured by how effectively we do that. We have a team of experts in London and professional advisers based regionally to give support to members.

We have been looking after the interests of our members, as well as promoting the positive aspects of land ownership, land management and rural business activities for the past 111 years. CLA members own or manage approximately half the rural land in England and Wales, and the resulting expertise puts us in a unique position to formulate policies and lobby effectively.

For more information visit cla.org.uk/your-area/south-east/regional-news or follow @CLASouthEast on Twitter.

About the New Forest National Park Authority

Protect – Enjoy – Prosper

The New Forest National Park Authority’s statutory purposes are to:
– Conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the Park – Protect.
– Promote opportunities for understanding and enjoyment of its special qualities – Enjoy.

We also have a duty to:
Seek to foster the social and economic well-being of local communities within the Park – Prosper.

The New Forest National Park was designated in March 2005. Its unique landscape has been shaped over the centuries by grazing ponies, cattle and pigs which roam free. Majestic woodlands, rare heathland and a spectacular coastline provide fabulous opportunities for quiet recreation, enjoyment and discovery.

Photo: Craig Hobbs Photography