Member of Parliament for Eddisbury, Edward Timpson CBE QC, has nominated Stanthorne farmer, Philip Smallwood, for a national farming award.
To help celebrate the important role that farmers play in our rural communities, the National Farmers’ Union has called for MPs to nominate their Community Farming Heroes.
Farmers who have supported their community during hard times, raised funds for charities, provided services beyond farming, and helped people to enjoy the farmed landscape are eligible for this award.
Nominee Philip Smallwood runs a family dairy farm in the parish of Stanthorne in Cheshire, which is part of the Bostock Estate—itself a family-run concern for many generations since the early 1800s.
The farm uses its website—greenheyes.com—to show anyone who wants to learn more about farming what Phil and his family do there, and how they do it.
He is known by some locally as the 'chick man', as he takes his hatching chicks with him to events and schools as a realistic, visual and tactile way to encourage and enthuse children and members of the public to learn more about where their food comes from.
Phil is also Chairman of the National Farmers' Union Let's Talk Farming marquee at the Royal Cheshire County Show, which attracted over 16,000 people over its last two-day event.
Regional winners of the inaugural Community Farming Hero awards will be announced on Back British Farming Day in Westminster on 14th September.
Member of Parliament for Eddisbury, Edward Timpson CBE QC, said:
“’I’m proud of the fantastic farming and growing community we have here in Eddisbury and rural South Cheshire.
“When I heard about the superb job that Philip does to open his farm to the community and the world wide web to share the vital work that farmers do, I had no choice but to nominate him for this award.”
NFU Community Farming Award Nominee, Philip Smallwood, said:
“I’m chuffed to have been chosen by Edward to be Eddisbury’s Community Farming Hero, and excited to have been nominated for an NFU award.
“There’s a lot of pressure on farmers right now—whether it’s hot and dry weather, or reduced food security caused by the conflict in Ukraine—so it feels good to be recognised by my local MP for getting on with the job and keeping the future of farming in mind.”