THE sustainable and innovative farming on Dartmoor by Mat Cole from Yelverton has seen him scoop gold in the British Farming Awards.

Mat, who is director of Dartmoor Farmers’ Association (DFA), won gold in the ‘sheep innovator’ category at the awards’ event held at the National Conference Centre, Birmingham.

The awards, celebrating the achievements of British farmers across the agricultural industry, attracted more than 700 farmers and industry professionals and covered a range of categories including technology, innovation, agricultural student of the year and farming heroes.

Competition in the sheep category was fierce with more than 34,000 people employed on sheep farms and another 111,405 in allied industries. Judges praised Mat for leading the DFA, bringing farmers together and effectively marketing lamb.

Mat said: I am very proud to receive this award which I accept on behalf of the DFA who work so hard to supply our niche product. In uncertain times innovation is even more critical. We are a group of farmers looking to add value to a natural quality product and we have the vehicle now to continue driving it forward.’

Mat was instrumental in establishing the DFA in 2007, a co-operative of farmers which is supported by Dartmoor National Park Authority, HRH, the Prince of Wales and the Duchy of Cornwall and the Dartmoor Hill Farm Project. The Prince of Wales continues to endorse the Dartmoor Farmers Association brand and takes a keen interest in the co-operative’s development.

In partnership with his brother Neil, Mat farms 809 enclosed hectares (2,000 acres) on Dartmoor grazing sheep, cattle and ponies on five different shared commons. They run a traditional system using hardy, native breeds selected and bred to thrive among the tors of Dartmoor.

Dartmoor National Park Authority’s director of conservation and communities Ally Kohler said: ‘We are delighted for Mat and the DFA to receive this award after years of hard work. Promoting the link between the landscape, environment and livestock is important and allows our visitors to understand the role farming plays in shaping our national park.’