Celebrating Countryside Conservation
- Ana Reynolds
- Sep 30
- 3 min read
We spend most of our time working away, alongside farmers, landowners and estate managers, helping to design and deliver habitats that improve biodiversity, resilience and long-term sustainability. Every so often, it’s important to pause and celebrate the inspiring work being done across the countryside. That’s why we’re delighted to support the Schöffel Countryside Awards this year, with our own Tim Furbank serving on the judging panel.
The Awards, launched by Schöffel Country and GWCT, shine a light on the individuals and estates who are proving that farming and conservation work hand in hand.
Tim’s judging role sits alongside his long-standing involvement with the Purdey Awards, which have recognised excellence in game and conservation management for more than 20 years. Together, these awards reflect Oakbank’s roots in the sporting estate world, while also embracing the broader conservation and land management agenda that matters so much to all of us today.
Why awards like these matter
Conservation can sometimes feel like a long, slow game - the hedge that takes years to establish, the setbacks of drought or wet weather, the game cover plot that looks bare in its first season but buzzes with finches two years later. Awards provide a platform to showcase these efforts, inspire others, and remind us of the bigger picture.
Research consistently shows that integrated management pays off. For example, hedgerows, often celebrated in award-winning projects, support breeding populations of many woodland and farmland bird species, especially when they are structurally diverse and well connected, and provide shelter for countless pollinators.
In Britain, five million pairs of farmland birds breed in hedgerows, with 20–30 bird species strongly associated with linear woody features such as hedges.
Oakbank's role in conservation
For Tim, the opportunity to visit and assess award entries is both a privilege and a learning process.
The most inspiring projects are those where conservation isn’t an afterthought, but a natural part of how the farm or estate runs day-to-day. Whether it’s a small family farm or a large estate, the common thread is long-term thinking and a genuine care for the land
These projects remind us how much can be achieved when farming, ecology and local communities pull in the same direction. They demonstrate that practical, on-the-ground conservation delivers results we can all learn from.
Our involvement with both the Schöffel Countryside Awards and the Purdey Awards is not about recognition for its own sake. It’s about aligning with initiatives that share our mission: to help land managers deliver resilient, productive and biodiverse landscapes.
Every Oakbank project, whether it’s designing a seed mix, planning a woodland, or advising on a whole-farm conservation strategy, reflects the same values these awards celebrate. Having been privileged to work with Purdey Award winning entries in the past, and with several of our client being finalists in this year’s Schöffel and Purdey Awards, our mission to help farms and estates balance productive agriculture with habitats that support birds, pollinators, soil health and wider biodiversity, appears to be gaining traction.
Finalists unveiled, looking forward to celebrations
As finalists for this year’s Schöffel Countryside Awards are unveiled, we’re proud to play a small part in recognising their efforts. We also look forward to the Purdey Awards which will be announced next February.
Celebrating conservation success is about sharing good practice, inspiring others, and proving that the countryside can thrive when people, farming and nature work together.
At Oakbank, we’ll continue to champion this message, not just in words but in the practical advice and support we provide to farmers and estates every day.
