OUTSTANDING contributors to Dartmoor?s environmental upkeep were honoured in a special award ceremony organised by Defra.

The ceremony marked the tenth anniversary of Dartmoor?s inclusion in the government?s Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) scheme and recognised individuals in the ESA who have made particular impact in the fields of landscape, wildlife and historical buildings.

Yelverton farmer Barry Landick, tenant at Eggworthy Farm on the Maristow estate in Sampford Spiney, received an award for conservation work, including maintaining traditional hedgerows and sensitive restoration to the original farm.

Roborough Down has been recognised for the agreement, through commons association secretary Peter Tarling, to become the first major common in the ESA scheme.

Since 1996 half the annual management payment for the down has been spent on conservation work, including maintenance of the moorland to sustain the Dartmoor pony population, the High Brown Fritillary butterfly, birds such as the Dartford warbler and areas of South Western heathland.

The awards, carved oak plaques, were presented by Nature Conservation minister Ben Bradshaw in a ceremony at Brimpts Farm, Dartmeet.