HAMPSHIRE & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust’s principal farm advisor and Herriard villager, Alison Cross, has won the title of Arable Farm Advisor of the Year in the 2019 Farmers Weekly Awards.

The trust said the latest State of Nature report, published on the same day as the award, shows there has been “no let-up in loss of nature” – with “41 per cent of species declining in the last fifty years” – and the speed of change is increasing.

“Alison’s success shows that there is growing recognition that farming must play an essential role in addressing the ecological and climate emergency,” the trust added. “The winners were decided by an expert panel consisting of previous winners and industry experts.”

Alison said: “I’m thrilled to have won this award, it is such an honour.”