The RSPB Scotland has nominated the GWCT’s Balgonie Biodiversity Project for the 2023 Nature of Scotland Awards.
It is one of four projects shortlisted in the Food and Farming category for its excellent work at the arable demonstration farm near Glenrothes in eastern Scotland.
The 500ha site produces barley, wheat, oats and oilseed rape along with potatoes, while also being part of the GWCT’s PARTRIDGE project, which aims to enhance the population of the partridges and other wildlife on the farm.
Fiona Torrance, Scottish PARTRIDGE Project Manager at the GWCT, said: “To be recognised in this way for the work we have been undertaking at Balgonie over the last nine years, initially though the Interreg PARTRIDGE project and laterally through the PepsiCo Quaker FAB project, is absolutely fantastic.
“It is a credit to the work undertaken by GWCT, Kingdom Farming, Kings Crops and Scottish Agronomy that we have managed to achieve as much as we have, which has only been possible by working together.
“We hope that being shortlisted helps to build on our many achievements so far, and highlights some of the incredible work that farmers and other land managers are undertaking across the country for biodiversity.”
The awards ceremony, sponsored by NatureScot, will be held at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre on 22 November.
Partners on the Balgonie project include:
- Kingdom Farming – Contract farmer who grows the various crops and manages the measures for biodiversity.
- Scottish Agronomy – Agronomist advice service that undertakes crop trials at various sites including Balgonie.
- Kings – A UK-wide seed merchant, which we worked with to design the Scottish PARTRIDGE mix.
- GWCT – Undertakes the monitoring and events, and provides advice to the farmer.