Yesterday's Nidderdale Show saw the Friends of Nidderdale's Areas of Natural Beauty (AONB) pay tribute to farmers Chris and Christine Ryder for their exceptional work in improving and diversifying their Scaife Hall Farm at Blubberhouses.

The awards help to congratulate and recognise farmers who make a special effort to conserve the landscape of the uplands of Nidderdale and in preserving the area of outstanding natural beauty that is the Yorkshire Dales.

The presentation was one of the many highlights of this year's Nidderdale Show, which welcomed back cattle for the first time since the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease last year.

The Ryders are participants in the Entry Level Farm Stewardship Scheme and entered the Higher Level Stewardship programme last year. They are also restoring more than 1,000 metres of drystone wall on their land and have connected two separate woodlands by planting 2.5 hectares of native trees to create a natural wildlife habitat.

Elsewhere the couple operate a successful B&B on their farm, serving guests with produce sourced directly from their farm.

Douglas Adamson, chairman of the Friends of Nidderdale AONB, said: "It is gratifying to see the lengths local farmers are going to enhance their farms in these challenging times in agriculture.

"It is great credit to their care of the land and enterprise and they deserve to be recognised."

Show president David Smith echoed his words in his assessment of the show.

"It has been much better this year having the livestock back and it is the first time we have had pigs in a lot of years,

"It has been a terrible summer for agriculture and fortunately it has just stopped tipping it down in the last week. We are on a natural flood plain here and it is only in the last few days that the standing water has gone away.

"I think attendance will be about average – we know if it's busy if there's problems with the car parking and this year we have been busy there."

The show got off to an emotional start with a visit from Mike Tomlinson, husband of the late Yorkshire fundraiser Jane.

The event also brought together people from across the country to revel in the celebration of rural life. Onlookers enjoyed drystone wall demonstrations and a Chariots of Fire demonstration in the main ring.

The sun may not have shone but the downpours which have blighted so many of the season's shows did not materialise.

Among the visitors was first- time attendee Elaine Taylor who came all the way from Liverpool. She said: "It is just such a lovely place. Just being able to get so close to the cows is amazing – they are so well behaved and they are beautiful animals.

"It is a really great atmosphere and a bit of an eye opener for a city girl like me."

Margaret Francis of Gladstone, North Yorkshire, said: "The environmental work that is done here is great and the amount of interesting and quality trade stalls is really good."

RESULTS

DAIRY CATTLE

Holstein: Champion – Neil Eastham, Ripon

Reserve – EJ Fort, Silsden

Jersey: Champion – G Barker, Ripon

Interbreed: Champion – N Eastham

Reserve G Barker

BEEF CATTLE

Interbreed: Champion – P&S Sellers, Kilburn

Reserve – A Hall, Darlington

Aberdeen Angus: Champion – J Swires, Willis

Reserve – T Slowen, Goole

Charolais: Champion – CH Mcdowell,

Reserve – MVAtkinson, Ripon

Limousine: Champion – G Rawson, Sutton on Forest

Reserve – JM and SP Cooper, Dacre

Beef Shorthorn: Champion – RW Hebdon, Thirsk

Reserve: RS and G Johnston, Huby

Any other beef: Champion – A Hall, Darlington

Reserve – K Jackson, Doncaster

Belgian Blue: Champion – CR Raine and Son, Barnard Castle

Reserve – Cr Raine and Son

Local Beef: Champion – JA Stoney, Bewerley

Reserve – CM Prince, Pateley Bridge

Highland: Champion – A Barugh, Bridlington

Reserve – R&W Phillip, Skipton

Commercial Beef: Champion – P and S Sellers, Kilburn

Reserve – Rice Family, Yeadon

SHEEP

Supreme Champion – KO and EA Stones, Richmond

Reserve - JK Foster, Leyburn

Swaledale: Champion - M Ewbank, Middlesmoor

Texel: Champion – J Garth and Son, Clapham, Lancashire

Reserve – R Atkinson, Harrogate

Beltex – Champion - A Hutchison, Kirby Wiske

Reserve – J Garth and Son

Suffolk – Champion - P Lupton, Galphay

Reserve - P Lupton

Jacob: Champion - S Bedell, Ripon

Reserve - J Atkinson, Thirsk

Blue Faced Leicester: Champion – A Fisher, Pateley Bridge

Reserve – M&S Sayers, Hawnby

Dalesbreed: Champion - J Bradley

J Kellsall, Clapham

Masham: Champion - M and B Allen, Saltburn

Reserve – M and B Allen