THIS year's farming awards for the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), which includes Herefordshire, was a closely fought competition.

The awards are much sought after by Wye Valley farmers in recognition of the work they do to conserve and enhance the landscape.

This year's winner was Severndale Farm in Tidenham and farmers Lyndon and Maria Edwards were presented Wye Valley AONB Farming Awards trophy at the Monmouthshire Show by Lucie Taylor, from the Community Land Advisory Service in Wales (CLAS Cymru) which sponsor the competition.

Lyndon Edwards' family has been farming Severndale for three generations since the farm was first built in 1952.

Second place went to well known farmer John Childs from Cowshill Farm, Hewelsfield with his farming enterprise which includes producing meat from rare breed pedigree animals.

The Community Land Advisory Service in Wales (CLAS Cymru) aims to help bring more land into productive use for communities by helping landowners and community growers work together for mutual benefit.

The five-year project, funded by a £600,000 grant from the Big Lottery’s Climate Change Programme, works alongside government, local authorities, landowners and community organisations to overcome barriers to community growing, such as access to land.