JIMMY SINCLAIR, of Crookston Farm, Galashiels, has been named as the winner of the 2017 Tweed Forum River Champion Award, in recognition of his efforts to integrate farming, forestry and conservation, and for his enthusiasm for land and water management education.

Alongside his son Graeme, Jimmy raises sheep and suckler cows on the 815 hectare tenanted farm on the Armet Water, a tributary of the Gala Water. Nearby Stow and Galashiels have seen damaging flooding events in recent years and the Sinclairs are among a number of land managers who have been introducing natural flood management techniques to slow the flow of surface water from the catchment above these residential areas.

With the endorsement of his landowner, Lord Borthwick, Jim has planted over 52 hectares of native woodland on the floodplain and hill-slopes of the Gala Water, trees that will help to reduce water run-off rates. Four ponds have been created and 2200m of fencing erected, with the resulting mosaic of wetlands and woodlands also providing the ideal habitat for wildlife species including otter, brown trout, lamprey, reed bunting and the great crested newt.

The work will also enhance streams that are recognised as powerhouses for the area’s salmon production, which is worth £24 million a year to the Borders economy and supports over 500 jobs.

Crookston Farm has now become a demonstration site that welcomes organised visits through Tweed Forum for local farmers, university and college students, and land and water managers from as far away as Ireland, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Spain and Italy.

Speaking as he presented Jimmy with a specially commissioned glass trophy, Tweed Forum chairman James Hepburne Scott said: “Jim has made a truly outstanding contribution to flood prevention and biodiversity initiatives and his commitment to helping to educate others about this work has also been exemplary. The protection and conservation of the Tweed and the area surrounding it relies on the dedication and foresight of a host of people and organisations and we’d like to thank Jim, and others like him who work so hard for all our benefit.”

Jimmy commented: “I’m surprised and delighted to be receiving this award. As a farming business, we’re always looking at ways to do things better and we know that the work we’ve undertaken has benefitted both our livestock management and the farm environment, as well as helping to reduce potentially damaging flood waters further downstream.

"We recognize that this is just one small element in the management of the river catchment, but we’re proud of the work we’ve done and hope it encourages others to think about how they can better manage the land and waterways in and around the Tweed for current and future generations.”