Three north Tipperary farm initiatives shortlisted for sustainability awards

The RDS, Ballsbridge in Dublin will host Finding Common Ground, a festival on biodiversity and sustainability on Thursday and Friday, May 2 and 3.

As part of the two-day event, the RDS Sustainability Awards, which celebrate the work of individuals, farm families and organisations who are enhancing the economic, environmental and social development of Irish agriculture and rural communities, will also take place. 

Field Exchange at Brookfield Farm, Nenagh has been shortlisted for a Rural Social Impact Award; Fuschia Lane Farm, Nenagh has been shortlisted for a Sustainable Rural Innovation Award; and Larkin’s Hill Farm, Puckane has been shortlisted for a Sustainable Farming Award.

Field Exchange combines farmers, artists, agroforestry practice and drystone skills, with two festive agricultural gatherings on Brookfield Farm, encouraging creative approaches to agriculture and climate challenges through site-specific artworks and exchanges in the field.

Field Exchange blends knowledge, creativity and community, empowering farmers to imagine and co-create a resilient rural future. The RDS Rural Social Impact Award recognises not for profit or voluntary rural groups and organisations that are promoting or supporting the sustainable economic and/or societal development of their local community.

Fuchsia Lane Farm is a sustainable rural retreat, offering guests an authentic experience of life on a sixth generation family farm. Guests stay in restored and repurposed farm buildings and whitewashed self-catering cottages, all in the vernacular style, and enjoy farm walks, the sauna, bikes and much more.

The recently launched Haybarn Hub offers a group space for workshops, gatherings and recreation. With over 30 years experience in the hospitality business, Niall and Inez Heenan offer guests a "get away" destination where the calm of the countryside refreshes and invigorates. The RDS Sustainable Rural Innovation Award recognises individuals and organisations who have applied science and technology to help deliver the principles of climate-smart agriculture.

Larkin’s Hill Farm is located near the village of Puckane, a very picturesque village on the shores of Lough Derg, county Tipperary. This 125-acre farm has been in the Hogan family for generations and is a mixed farm enterprise now but in Dan’s father's time was best known for award-winning malting barley.

Currently the farm supports a suckler beef herd, tillage and over the last number of years they have developed a very productive vegetable enterprise on the holding. Fortunately the land is really good quality and supports the growth of highly nutritious food. Their approach to farming is to be able to make a good living for their family with this amazing asset they have but doing so using traditional horticulture methods, chemical and pesticide-free and growing with care for animals the environment soil and nature as a whole.

The RDS Sustainable Farming Award celebrates the efforts made by an individual or farm family who are sustainably developing their on-farm activities through entrepreneurship, new product development, marketing and improved efficiencies.