Berkshire Farm Girl celebrates award win at National Arable and Grassland Awards 2023

Eleanor Gilbert, fondly known as the 'Berkshire Farm Girl', has picked up an award at this year's National Arable and Grassland Awards.

Eleanor was presented with the award for oil seed rape grower of the year at a prestigious ceremony at the London Hilton Bankside Hotel on Wednesday.

"It was a really lovely evening," said Eleanor, who also writes a column for the NWN's Out & About magazine.

"We had so much fun and there were so many amazing people there.

Eleanor attended with her stepfather, Dan Willis, from Rookery Farm, Curridge – which harvests 200 hectares in a rotation of every seven years.

Eleanor explained the farm uses different environmentally-friendly methods of growing and harvesting its crop.

"We grow a conventional variety of crop with a mix of a hybrid variety," she said.

"We have different heights of crops, which means more canopy capture to aid photosynthesis.

"We can plant any time from the end of the July to the start of September."

The NAGA recognises and celebrates achievements across the British crop production industry.

The award-winning young farmer confirms she has other upcoming projects planned, including more school visits. Further details to follow soon.