Alan recognises that although farming in these special environmental areas can be challenging, he’s adamant that he plays his role by doing the best he can to protect it and educate his boys to do the same.

In winter, the wetland habitats surrounding the lake are home to ducks such as wigeon and teal and wading birds including lapwing and curlew. A flock of Greenland-white fronted geese migrate from their breeding grounds in Greenland to Alan’s farm every year. They enjoy foraging on the grasslands adjacent to the lake, sharing the fields with Alan’s cows and their calves. Flocks of whooper swans from Iceland also use these same fields to feed over the winter months.

These wildfowl are left to feed and roost with minimal disturbance from farming activities. Alan leaves significant areas of land untouched to support biodiversity, using very little fertiliser to avoid excessive chemicals on the land.

Alan and wife Vivian host groups of birdwatchers and school children each year and have even installed a special bird hide build near the lake to view the birds without disturbing them.