Awards for keeping skills alive (From Mid Devon Star)

Awards for keeping skills alive

6:21pm Sunday 25th November 2007

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A MAJOR award for those offering young people in Devon a chance to learn a traditional trade or skill has been launched.

The Prince of Wales Award, presented in partnership with the Devon County Agricultural Association, recognises those in the rural economy who offer young people the best opportunities to gain land-based rural skills.

Nominees could be farmers, landowners, institutions, in partnership or lone craftsmen and who are working as trainers and mentors to young people.

Mervyn Hosking, DCAA secretary, said: "The beneficiaries of such an opportunity are likely to be apprentices, trainees or other learner-practitioners of skills vital to the maintenance or improvements of the farmed landscape and thus the rural economy."

The award covers the whole range of rural land management, predominantly farming, forestry and horticulture but also where such skills are needed such as in national park and nature reserve.

It covers stonewalling, forestry, contract land-work, hedging, ditching, fencing, woodwork, water-related work and game-keeping.

"Nomination is a simple procedure - and only requires a one page form to be returned - so we urge the community to take up this award and recognise those outstanding individuals who are doing so much to keep our countryside alive and well," he added.

The award is now in its 28th year and the winner will be presented at the Devon County Show in May (May 15-17) with a framed certificate and a £1,000 cash prize donated by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales.

The 2007 Award was won by The Dartmoor Hill Farm Project, operated by the Moorskills Farming Partnership.

It is made up of six Dartmoor farmers who are collectively training four apprentices in hill farming skills to keep their way of life alive and preserve the moors for leisure use.

The judges were particularly impressed with the way the farmers worked together to encourage the skills of hill farming in order to ensure its future.

Layland Branfield, Chairman of Moorskills and who farms near Two Bridges said: "This project is securing a generation of people who know and understand the moors and are prepared to work with the farmers and the stock. Neither farmers nor the stock are easy!

"It's great to be working with these young apprentices - they're living up to all our expectations and are helping us to share good practice."

Application forms are available now from the DCAA and the closing date is Wednesday, February 26, 2008. Contact Christine Wood, telephone 01392 353710, email christinewood@westpoint-devonshow.co.uk

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