A FARM in the south of the county has been recognised for its outstanding contribution to conserving and enhancing the landscape of the Wye Valley AONB.

Ballingham Court Farm near to Hoarwithy won the Wye Valley Area Outstanding Natural Beauty Farming Awards 2018

Wye Valley AONB chairman Phil Cutter presented the award to Esther and Henry Rudge in the Countryside Ring at Monmouth Show.

The Rudge family farm balances two elements - empathy with their surroundings and profitability to enable the farm continues through the generations.

Esther is the fourth generation of her family at the farm and son Monty has now been added to the partnership following his return from Harper Adams University.

The 550 acre farm includes 240 beef cattle with 70 Hereford cross calves sold to Waitrose, 200 Aberfield cross Romney ewes, 20 acres of apple orchard (Jonogold sold to Copella for apple juice), eight acres of organic conference pear orchard, 120 acres arable, 70 pedigree Herefords and 20 acres of woodland.

Twenty years of environmental schemes has seen the Rudges restore hedgerows, create buffer strips and bird cover and plant woodland, as well as open up 4km of permissive bridleway.

The farm has invested in renewable energy, including biomass boilers and an anaerobic digester.

Visitors are welcome to the farm, and the family allow groups to camp by the river, such as Duke of Edinburgh, Scouts and church groups while on canoeing trips.

The judges were particularly taken by the wide range of diversification, the sustainability of the enterprise with the next generation coming through and the wide range of management with conservation in mind.

The other 2018 finalists were Gwent Wildlife Trust, Gadr Farm, Llangovan and Humble by Nature at Meend Farm, Penallt.

Within the AONB a 58 mile stretch of the River Wye winds down the valley through limestone gorge scenery and dense ravine woodlands.

Designated in 1971, this unique landscape straddles the border between England and Wales and includes areas within Gloucestershire, Forest of Dean, Herefordshire and Monmouthshire.