Exclusive by Alan Quick

A BICKLEIGH farmer says he is "over the moon" that he has been awarded an MBE in the New Year’s Honour’s list.

John William Greenslade, also known as "Farmer John" from his regular inputs to programmes on BBC Radio Devon, has been honoured for his services to agricultural education and conservation in the West Country.

Mr Greenslade (76), began taking an active role in the Devon Young Farmers’ Club, speaking at a number of events and promoting good Agricultural practice throughout Devon. He was chairman of Devon YFC in 1966.

He became involved in the Prosecution Service and served as a Magistrate on the bench for 20 years, mainly at Cullompton, leading to a keen interest in the well-being of young offenders.

He maintained an active interest in the Tiverton Agricultural Association and, with their support in 1994 re-started the show as the Mid Devon Town and Country Show, to which he became the President.

The Mid Devon Show has proved to be an extremely successful event attracting around 16,000 visitors each July.

He later opened up the woodland Byways Woods, at Way Farm at Thorverton, for anyone to enjoy at any time.

He organises walks in the woodland in aid of local charities, such as the Children’s Hospice South West, opening the woodland for people to see the bluebells for the past 20 years in aid of the charity.

Local schoolchildren visit the woodlands regularly to learn, in a very practical way about their environment. He has raised thousands of pounds for charity over many years giving guided walks.

Researching ways to leave his land in trust for future generations he discovered the Tanglewood Project several years ago and has been working with a group to develop a wonderful training base at his farm to inspire and educate children for many years to come.

The Tanglewood Project enables people of all ages and abilities to share traditional skills and knowledge.

The charity has worked with John and his wife, Jeanette, in helping to maintain the 80 acres of stunning woods and meadow land.

In recent years volunteer students from Petroc supported learning unit at Tiverton have enjoyed finding out about woodlands and helped to plant a variety of trees, including Lime, Hornbeam, Cherry, Whitebeam, Crab Apple and rare Wild Service (or Chequer) trees.

In July 2013 it was confirmed by the Forestry Commission that the award-winning woodland, Byway Woods at Bickleigh, had Ash Dieback, the first reported case in Devon.

Swift action was taken to burn ash saplings and it is hoped that this has helped kill off or suppress the disease from spreading.

Sections of the woodland have won first and second prizes in the woodland competitions at the Devon County Show.

The woodland was planted and nurtured by John and his family during the past 25 years. They started planting trees after the farm was struck by TB and cattle were destroyed.

As a result fertilisers were no longer needed on the land, so wild flowers which dislike rich soils made a welcome return.

This inspired John to enhance an environment which had much of the wildlife he remembered as a child, to be enjoyed by future generations.

The woodland is now a wildlife haven that consists of 80 acres of stunning wood and meadow land with a number of wildlife ponds.

It has been John and his family’s passion to share this amazing place with the wider community to allow us all to see the countryside in a “natural” state and learn about the diversity of wildlife we have in Devon.

At Byway Woods you can see everything from wild Orchids to Dormice or stunning ancient Oaks to newly planted saplings.

Previously John has also been a ploughing match judge and a few years ago he published his memoirs entitled: "Twas a Proper Job".

An avid reader of the "Crediton Courier", John said he was so shocked to receive the letter about the honour explaining: "I almost fell off my chair".

He added: "I just could not believe it.

"I didn’t know I deserved anything like this and I just never ever imagined or thought about it.

"It really is a big honour and I am literally over the moon.

"So many people have helped me along the way and I can’t thank them all enough for all their help and support.

"It was a lovely Christmas present to hear about the award but you could have knocked me down with a feather!"

Mr Greenslade is expected to attend a presentation ceremony to receive his award within the next seven months.