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Nestled in the heart of the Lincolnshire Fens, Vine House Farm has become a benchmark for balancing profitable arable farming with thriving biodiversity, thanks to the tireless efforts of Nicholas Watts, crowned Arable Farmer of the Year 2024 at the British Farming Awards.

Farmland birds

Once a typical 160-hectare (395-acre) intensively-managed fenland farm, Vine House Farm underwent a remarkable transformation in the early 1990s when Nicholas began noticing a sharp decline in farmland birds. In a bid to reverse this trend, he started laying feed in the farmyards. 

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The influx of birds was so impressive, he invited the local community to witness the spectacle, sparking not only an interest in bird conservation, but an unexpected new venture.

That simple gesture grew into a successful bird seed business, now selling 2,500 tonnes of seed via mail order annually, sourced directly from Vine House Farm and three other farms which Nicholas also manages spanning a combined 1,400 hectares (3,460 acres). Vine House Farm now cultivates sunflowers, millets, canary seed, oats, wheat and more, devoting 200ha (495 acres) solely to bird seed production.

The farm has also evolved into a bustling rural destination, complete with a 100-seater cafe and farm shop, which draws in nature lovers and foodies alike from far and wide.

Wildlife

The judges praised Nicholas's decades-long commitment to wildlife, his proactive response to market challenges and his ability to blend conservation with commercial success. 

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"He has been at the forefront of arable farming for decades," they said, making him a clear and deserving winner.

But Nicholas's achievements do not stop at seeds and skylarks. Vine House Farm is a model of renewable energy use, boasting 10 wind turbines, extensive solar panels, a biomass boiler and even a waste oil heater that powers the bird seed factory. 

Sustainability

This sustainability focus ensures that every aspect of the business supports the environment it so cherishes.

Nicholas also grows potatoes, sugar beet and other conventional fenland crops while managing the three additional farms he was invited to oversee due to his respectful approach to farming alongside wildlife. 

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With 25 years of organic farming experience, he has proven that working with nature is not just ethical, it is productive and profitable. 

Reflecting on his win, Nicholas said: "I never thought I would be awarded this, and I am so pleased that I have been recognised for what I have done for 50 years."