KEEPING their remote upland farm readily accessible to the public has resulted in another accolade for a Teesdale couple already no strangers to awards.

Maurice and Kath Toward have farmed at Herdship Farm at Harwood since 1967. Their valuable conservation work has created a haven for black grouse, lapwing, yellow wagtail, redshank, snipe and golden plover. The rare Teesdale gentian also nestles in their meadows, protected within a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

They have won, and been short-listed for, many awards in the recent past, including the coveted Silver Lapwing award - the most respected farm conservation award - and the David Arnold-Forster Trust award.

However, since Mr Toward suffered a stroke a year ago, Mrs Toward has run the farm with the help of her son, who also works as an HGV driver, and in doing so has won a runner up place in the Yara/Farmers' Guardian Farming's Greatest Communicators competition.

She also has a part time job in the health service, as well as caring for her husband as he makes a slow but steady recovery.

Farm walks have been taking place at Herdship for 17 years; the couple feeling the need to show people who might know nothing about farming how food is produced and how earning a livelihood and maintaining the environment can work in tandem.

Although they now have a colour leaflet and a web site, they have never encouraged visitors for money and usually end up providing refreshments at their farmhouse following a walk.

Anyone wishing for further details about the farm walks can visit the Towards' web site at www.herdshipfarm.com or pick up a leaflet from tourist information centres in Teesdale.