Request to Argyll: VOTE for Mull farm in RSPB’s Nature of Farming Awards 2011

It would be a great feather (pun intended) in the cap of Argyll and of Scotland if Mull’s Treshnish Farn were to win the RSBB’s 2011 Nature of Farming Award.

Treshnish Farm is between Calgary and Ulva Ferry in west Mull. It is one of four finalists in the Award and the only one form Scotland It is up against farms from much more heavily populated areas – from the south of the UK – Shropshire, Wiltshire and Hertfordshire.

The closing date is 31st August 2011. VOTE HERE – NOW – PLEASE. A couple of minutes will do it.

Wherever you live in Argyll and Bute, let’s set out to do this together:

• from Cardross to Helensburgh to Luss to Gareloch, to the Rosneath peninsula to Tarbet to Arrochar to Inveruglas to Ardlui;
• from Toward to Innellan to Dunoon to Hunter’s Quay to Sandbank to Tighnabruaich to Kames to Kilfinan to Colintraive to Glendaruel to Kilmun to  Strone to Blairmore to Ardentinny to Strachur to St Catherine’s to Cairndow;
• from Rothesay to Ettrick bay to Mount Stuart to Kingarth to Kilchattan to Port Bannatyne to Rhubodach;
• from Inveraray to Furnace, to Minard to Lochgair to Lochgilphead to Achahoish to Ardrishaig to Cairnbaan to Tayvallich to Achnamara to Kilmartin to Ardfern to Ford to Ederline to Dalavich to Kilchrenan to Eredine to Portsonachan;
• from Southend to Campbeltown to Machrihanish to Muasdale to Glenbarr to Tayoinloan to Gigha to Clachan to Carradale to Skipness to Tarbert to Killberry;
• from Kilmelford to Cullipool to Easdale to Balvicar to Kilninver to Kilmore to Oban to Dunstaffnage to Dunbeg to Connell, to Taynuilt, to Loch Awe to Stronmilchan to Dalmally to Bridge of Orchy;
• from North Connell to Ardchattan to Benderloch to Barcaldine to South Shian to Appin to Duror;
• from Port Ellen to Bowmore to Bridgend, to Port Charlotte, to Portnahaven, to Sanaigmore to Ballygrant to Kiells to Port Askaig;
• from Feolin to Craighouse to Inverlussa to Ardlussa;
• from Craignure to Salen to Tobermory to Dervaig to Calgary to Ulva to Gruline to Pennyghael to Bunessan to Fionnphort to Iona to Lochbuie to Lochdonhead to Duart;
• from Scalasaig to Oronsay to Port Mor to Kiloran;
• from Scarinish to Crossapol to Balemartine to Barrapol to Balevullin to Caoles;
• from Arinagour to Acha to Arileod to Arnabost to Bousd…

Let’s do it – and find where all these places are and remind ourselves what a mindboggling place Argyll is – how many of these have you been to?

Let’s see Mull’s Treshnish farm  on the map of the RSPB’s UK-wide Nature of Farming Awards 2011.

Somerset and Carolyne Charrington are well known across Argyll and the Islands for Somerset’s solo  epic Cycle for Schools journey around Argyll’s primary schools threatened with closure, carrying messages from one to the next. He sort of knitted Argyll together in thread he drew between places that, before then, often knew little of each other. No longer.

What he and Carolyne are doing at Treshnish farm is some more knitting – joining sustainability to profitability and, in the process, restoring habitats long destroyed.

This initiative deserves Argyll’s support. It would be a fantastic encouragement for so many important developments in Argyll – and get people paying attention to farms and farming again – the most necessary Cinderella of the lot.

This is what the award citation for Treshnish Farm says:

‘This 750ha upland livestock farm on the Isle of Mull is managed with sustainability and profitability at its heart. Alongside careful grazing and through agri-environment schemes, Somerset and Carolyne have created and restored key habitats including native woodland, wetland, peat bog and moorland.

‘The wildlife on the farm includes field gentians, corncrakes, otters, more than 300 species of moth and butterfly, and 10 species of dragonfly.

‘Somerset and Carolyne promote their ethos through events and their Treshnish and Haunn website – see link on the right of this page. Here you can read about the awards they have won.’

By voting for them – and asking others to do the same – each voter has a chance to win for themselves a luxury break for two people, in the RSPB Prize Draw.

And farmers are making a massive contribution  to the environment, Support them and support Treshnish Farm on Mull.

The closing date is 31st August 2011. VOTE HERE – NOW – PLEASE. A couple of minutes will do it.