For thirteen years, the British Farming Awards has shone a light on the best in British Farming. During this annual event, Britain's farming industry comes together to celebrate the achievements of its contemporaries.
The 2025 Diversification (Small/Medium) of the Year finalists have been selected because of their ability to thrive through farm businesses that no longer operate behind a closed gate, looking to add value to their enterprise regardless of the size and scale of their business. Whether they are operating within Agri-tourism, food and drink production, leisure, retail or events, these finalists have demonstrated their ability to add value to the core business. These smaller scale diversification endeavours all help support the longevity and success of their respective farming futures.
Proudly introducing the 2025 Diversification of the Year (Small/Medium) Finalists - Sponsored by NFU Mutual
Nest - Co Durham鈥�
Nest, based at Red Hurworth Farm in County Durham, is redefining what rural diversification can achieve. The family-run 450-hectare farm, already home to an innovative regenerative arable and poultry enterprise with 124,000 laying hens, has expanded into luxury rural tourism with striking results.
In August 2023, Nest opened four bespoke holiday properties, two elevated treehouses and two waterside lodges, on 21 acres of previously unproductive land overlooking a reservoir. Designed as peaceful, nature-connected retreats, the accommodation has quickly gained national attention, earning a place in The Times "Top 20 Best Treehouses in the UK" and featuring on BBC's Robson Green's Weekend Escapes.
The diversification, led by co-owner and manager of Nest, has already surpassed occupancy targets and is forecast to achieve £190,000 turnover in its second year. With sustainability at its core, the development incorporates air source heat pumps, green roofs and low-impact design, while delivering a premium guest experience.
The project has created 11 jobs and secured a vital secondary income stream for the farm, ensuring long-term stability for the family business. With plans to expand into wellness retreats, intimate weddings and a café, Nest is firmly positioned as a leader in sustainable, experience-led rural tourism.
READ NOW: Introducing the finalists for the British Farming Awards Diversification (Large) of the Year 2025
Cotton Eye Sew - Cumbria鈥�
From a spare room in Cumbria's Upper Eden Valley to multiple sites serving customers nationwide, Cotton Eye Sew has stitched together a remarkable diversification story.
Run alongside the family's 120-hectare tenant dairy, beef, sheep and arable farm, the business began in 2020 when Claire and Colin combined their creative skills with a passion for farming. What started as printing and embroidery for friends has grown into a thriving enterprise supplying personalised clothing, workwear and merchandise to local businesses, national companies and leading agricultural influencers. Today, their client list includes well-known farming YouTubers such as Tom Pemberton, Olly Harrison and Hannah Jackson.
Now operating from a converted farm outbuilding and two industrial units, the business boasts three high-spec embroidery machines, expanded printing capacity, and a new laser engraving service. Their online platform, The Branding Iron, has added fulfilment and e-commerce, creating a 'one stop ag shop' for branded clothing and merchandise.
Employing six regular staff, Cotton Eye Sew has become a valuable second income stream, easing pressure on the farm and keeping the family rooted in agriculture. With a growing customer base, strong social media following and ambitious future plans, Cotton Eye Sew is proving small beginnings can lead to big opportunities.
REGISTER NOW: FREE webinar: Diversifying farm income - How to sell direct to customers
Eden Yard鈥� - Cumbria鈥�
Nestled in the Eden Valley, Cumbria, Eden Yard is proving how farming innovation and local food production can go hand in hand. Run by husband-and-wife team Jannike and Ben Taylor, alongside Ben's father Alan, the 260-hectare mixed arable and sheep farm has taken a bold regenerative path while building a thriving diversification.
Three years ago, Eden Yard became Cumbria's first producer of cold-pressed extra virgin rapeseed oil. What began with a passion for local, homegrown produce has blossomed into a celebrated food brand supplying over 75 retailers and many of the county's Michelin-starred restaurants, including Simon Rogan's three-starred L'Enclume. Alongside award-winning oils, the range now includes flavoured dressings, mayonnaises, rapeseed honey and Cumbrian flour, developed in partnership with an artisan bakery using the farm's wheat and heritage grains.
On-farm investment in pressing, bottling and filtering equipment has ensured zero food miles and complete control of quality. Later this year, the Taylors will open a new farm shop showcasing their products and other Cumbrian producers.
Balancing farming with food production, Eden Yard champions short supply chains, sustainability, and community engagement. With school visits, food bank donations, and a clear "Field, Farm, Fork" ethos, they are securing a resilient future for both their farm and the region's food culture.
Herdwick Experience - Cumbria鈥�
At Yew Tree Farm in Cumbria, The Herdwick Experience is redefining what farm diversification can mean. Tenants John and his family manage 291 hectares of Lake District fell land, home to over 800 pure-bred Herdwick sheep and 60 Belted Galloway cattle. While the farm produces high-quality Herdwick Hogget through its Heritage Meats brand, sold direct, online, and even to Michelin-starred restaurants, it is the visitor experience that has captured hearts.
Founded nine years ago from a deeply personal place, The Herdwick Experience began when John, who has ADHD, discovered the calming effect of simply sitting with his sheep. Word spread, and the idea grew into a two-and-a-half-hour immersive session. Visitors now enjoy a guided talk on fell farming, history, and Herdwick traits before heading into the fields to spend time among the sheep, feeding, chatting, reflecting, and often finding a sense of peace.
With upgraded facilities, risk assessments, and accessibility improvements, the experience now attracts a wide audience, from tourists and home educators to military leaders studying rural sustainability. It also builds bridges between farming and food: many visitors become long-term customers of the farm's meat business.
Blending tradition with wellbeing, The Herdwick Experience is creating a sustainable, purpose-driven future for upland farming.
READ NOW: Introducing the finalists for the British Farming Awards Dairy Farmer of the Year 2025
Annagh Social Farm CIC - Co Fermanagh鈥� 鈥�
On the banks of the Erne Waterway in Co. Fermanagh, Simon and Jennifer of Annagh Social Farm CIC have transformed their 76.5-hectare suckler enterprise into a lifeline for families affected by disability. With a docile Hereford-cross herd and carefully managed pastures, their farm provides the foundation for something far greater: a safe, purposeful environment for people with learning disabilities.
Inspired by their own experience as parents of two sons with autism, the family launched their first social farming project in 2011. By 2016, Annagh Social Farm was established as a Community Interest Company, offering structured day opportunities three days a week. Participants learn animal care, horticulture, conservation, and creative skills while enjoying the rhythm of farm life. Each activity is tailored to abilities, with progress carefully reviewed by occupational therapists and carers.
The impact is profound. Families describe the farm as 'life-brightening', while independent analysis shows every £1 invested generates more than £3 in social and economic value. Beyond the therapeutic benefits, the initiative has enhanced biodiversity and brought new vitality to unused farm buildings.
With plans to expand into supported living at historic Annagh House, the farm is pioneering a model where agriculture, heritage, and social care work hand in hand.
Full Circle Farms Sussex - Sussex鈥�
On just three hectares of tenanted land in West Sussex, Tom Morphew has built Full Circle Farms Sussex into a pioneering hub for regenerative agriculture and community engagement. Founded in 2019, the farm produces food without chemicals, instead restoring soil health through compost, livestock integration and circular systems that turn waste into fertility.
At its heart is a bold model: urban restaurants and businesses can lease their own plots, growing bespoke produce with the farm's support. Michelin-trained chefs influence crop selection, creating direct links between soil and plate. Alongside this, the farm transforms food waste, collected from partners such as Brighton & Hove Albion's stadium, into compost, closing the loop between community and farm.
Diversification runs deep. The Garden Army, the farm's not-for-profit arm, offers horticultural therapy prescribed by GPs as an alternative to medication. Urban regeneration projects convert rooftops and wastelands into productive plots, while a Veg Box scheme launched in 2024 delivers fresh produce to local homes. Corporate away days add another revenue stream, connecting businesses to sustainability in action.
Employing three people, Full Circle Farms measures success in wellbeing as much as turnover. With ambitions to secure a larger, long-term home, the enterprise is redefining what small-scale farming can achieve.
Taking place on 16 October at VOX in Birmingham, the event will welcome industry professionals from across the country to celebrate British agriculture and the successes it has had this year.
