Donal Hickey: A salute to farmers working with nature

Making a shift from using every bit of land and ‘driving it hard’ to a work model where climate and nature guide every decision

Water quality is a major focus for Martin Crowe, Farming for Nature ambassador. He has installed three settling ponds to manage runoff from the yard and protect local watercourses. Alongside this, he has developed a 5–6-acre riparian buffer zone, fenced off from cattle and full of Devil’s-bit scabious, supporting pollinators and slowing nutrient flow to the Mulkear river. Pictures: Farming for Nature 

At a time when the relationship between farming and the environment is often portrayed in a negative light, farmers who actively work with nature are being honoured.

The Farming for Nature organisation has described its 12 ambassadors for 2025 as exemplary farmers who are showing what’s possible when people work with nature rather than against it.