An award-winning dairy farmer from Gomersal is urging fellow farmers to take up conservation and leave a legacy for future generations.

Malcolm Fewster, 57, of 100-acre Listing Mill Farm, off Listing Lane, says it would also be an ideal way to celebrate the Millennium and could help those struggling to maintain their livelihoods.

Father-of-four Mr Fewster, who has been running the farm for 27 years, said: "Future generations will remember you for planting trees."

He has planted 10,000 ash, oak, alder, poplar and field maple trees on his land and created hundreds of hedgerows over the past 15 years. A further 2,000 trees are currently being planted.

Other work has included repairing dry stone walls and stiles along the route of four public footpaths.

And a pond created on part of the farm has become a haven for wild ducks, herons, dragonflies, toads and frogs. The farm is also home to bats, owls, partridges, foxes and grey squirrels.

Mr Fewster, who won a Kirklees Council Environment Award two years ago for his work, said: "Most farmers have unproductive land, such as steep banking where machinery can't be used, which can be used for conservation.

"Not only does it help wildlife but also makes the land look neater, more picturesque and can increase the value of a farm. Hedgerows act as a barrier to stop cattle breaking out.

"We've had other spin-offs. A chap from Liversedge uses one of the copses for bee hives and gives us pots of honey, and another asked if he could study a rare dragonfly in the pond.

"The coppicing of the trees provides us with enough fuel for winter.''

Mr Fewster is chairman of the West Riding branch of the Farming Wildlife Advisory Group charity, which gives farmers advice about obtaining funding and what varieties of trees to plant, and draws up long-term conservation plans.

He added: "Some farmers may be deterred from carrying out conservation work because they think it is expensive and time consuming.

"But grants are available from the Countryside Stewardship Scheme and the European Union is redirecting money into conservation work because of surplus food. Environmental groups will provide volunteers to help carry out the work.''

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