Offaly farmer wins Farming for Nature Ambassador Award for 2025

DAINGEAN farmer Margaret Edgill has been named one of twelve new Farming for Nature Ambassadors for 2025. The award celebrates farmers across Ireland who are leading the way in nature-friendly farming.

Margaret Edgill manages Mount Briscoe, a 46-hectare organic farm in Daingean. By blending livestock production, biodiversity, and agritourism she has diversified the farm since returning in 2014.

She has developed a diverse, nature-friendly system with pedigree Irish Moiled and Shorthorn cattle, heritage orchards, woodlands and vibrant hedgerows while producing grass-fed organic cattle. The farm hosts glamping, farm-to-fork events, and artisan products, creating immersive experiences that connect people to the land.

Through careful habitat management, tree planting, and ecological monitoring, Margaret demonstrates that sustainable farming, wildlife conservation, and rural enterprise can thrive together.

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In total, 18 nominees were put forward by a panel of agri-environmental organisations, government bodies, and the wider Ambassador network for their commitment to biodiversity, community, and producing good food.

Each farmer was interviewed and their farm visited by members of the Executive Committee of Farming for Nature before being chosen for the Ambassador Award.

“Wanting to leave the land in a better place for the next generation was a common theme among this year’s nominees,” said Sarah Coonan, spokesperson for Farming for Nature. “It reminds us that preparations for climate change need to start today, to ensure Irish farming continues for generations to come.”

One of twelve new ambassadors, Margaret joins a growing network of land stewards across Ireland who are building a healthier, more nature-friendly countryside. The Ambassador Network now comprises 115 farmers, representing every county and farming system in Ireland. This network is committed to learning from each other, sharing knowledge, and showing that farming for nature is a source of pride and purpose.

Farming For Nature was set up in 2018 as a non-profit project. Its mission is to support and inspire farmers who farm, or who wish to farm, in a way that will improve the natural health of our countryside. T

he Farming for Nature Ambassador Awards are an annual celebration of farmers across Ireland who are leading the way in nature-friendly practices.

Nominated by their peers, these farmers demonstrate that protecting nature and running a viable farm business can go hand in hand. These awards are funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

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