Celebrating UK Farming Excellence
UK Farming Innovators Recognized for Excellence at Annual Farmers Weekly Awards
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Key Points
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Alastair has led the 320-hectare Allerton Project since 2001; its work has included developing flower-rich field margins and the Hedgerow Carbon Code, alongside research into agri-environment schemes and natural-capital accounting.
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Yester Farm Dairies began selling its own branded milk in 2003 and converted an old farm building into a soft-cheese factory in 2015. After food-service demand disappeared during the pandemic, the couple adapted their business; it now also has export markets, particularly in Europe.
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The McCreerys have recently contracted four other dairy farms to supply their business, creating a new local outlet for producers and strengthening the regional dairy supply chain.
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Burgess says Shetland’s distance from the mainland can limit farmers’ access to opportunities; the islands’ dairy sector has also contracted from 12 farms when she was born to just two today. She pursued study at Harper Adams to bring knowledge back to her family’s business.
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Hughes’s grazing operation works with about 30 landowners, and last winter 7,500 sheep grazed across Hampshire and into Dorset. He and his under-shepherd also use three mobile handling systems to manage the flock and improve efficiency.
The Farmers Weekly Awards 2026 celebrated four agricultural innovators who are reshaping British farming through research, diversification, and community-focused practices. Farmers Weekly recognized achievements that blend productivity with environmental stewardship, turning family farms into thriving regional businesses, and mentoring the next generation of farmers across diverse landscapes.
Alastair Woodward's Decades Shaping Sustainable Farming Policy
Alastair Woodward, director of policy for the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, won the Lifetime Achievement Award for his leadership of the 320-hectare Allerton Project since 2001. Farmers Weekly noted that Woodward's research has bridged productive farming and biodiversity protection. His work includes developing flower-rich field margins, launching the Hedgerow Carbon Code, and conducting research into agri-environment schemes and natural-capital accounting—practical innovations that shaped countryside policy across the UK.
The McCreerys Turn Dairy Into a Premium Value-Added Business
Simon and Jackie McCreery of Yester Farm Dairies in East Lothian won Diversification Farmer of the Year for transforming a traditional dairy into a profitable value-added producer. The couple began selling branded milk in 2003 and opened a soft-cheese factory in a converted farm building in 2015. When food-service demand collapsed during the pandemic, they pivoted again, developing new export markets across Europe and now producing branded dairy foods.
The McCreerys recently contracted four additional dairy farms to supply their business, creating a local market outlet for regional producers and strengthening the East Lothian dairy supply chain. Farmers Weekly noted their plans to expand cottage-cheese production further, positioning the business as a regional hub for value-added dairy.
Emma Burgess Brings Harper Adams Training Back to Shetland
Emma Burgess, a Harper Adams graduate and Shetland farmer, was named Ag Student of the Year for pursuing advanced agricultural education to strengthen her family's sheep, dairy, and creamery business. Shetland's isolation from the mainland limits access to opportunities and professional networks. The islands' dairy sector has shrunk dramatically—from 12 farms when Burgess was born to just two today—making knowledge transfer critical for survival.
Burgess studied specifically to bring skills and practices back to her family enterprise and to create pathways for young people considering agriculture in the islands. Farmers Weekly highlighted how her commitment addresses the generational challenge facing remote farming communities.
Ben Hughes Scales Sheep Flock Using Grazing Agreements
Ben Hughes won Sheep Farmer of the Year for growing a small flock into a large forage-based enterprise using innovative grazing partnerships. Hughes works with about 30 landowners across Hampshire and Dorset, managing approximately 7,500 sheep across their land during winter months. This model lets landowners benefit from natural grazing while Hughes avoids the capital cost of owning land outright.
Hughes and his under-shepherd operate three mobile handling systems to manage the large flock efficiently and finish lambs to a market premium. Farmers Weekly noted the grazing operation demonstrates how land partnerships and mobile infrastructure enable scalable, sustainable sheep production across southern England.
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