Leaf chairman recognised in 2024 New Year Honours list

Philip Wynn, chairman of sustainable farming group Linking Environment and Farming (Leaf), has been made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2024 New Year Honours list for services to farming and the environment.

With a career spanning over 50 years, Mr Wynn took over as Leaf chairman in 2017, having managed and advised businesses in nearly every sector of agriculture, including running the Nevile Estate in Lincolnshire – one of Leaf’s first demonstration farms.

See also: How teenagers can get their kicks from agriculture

He has also been a director of Dyson Farming since it was formed in 2013, and has a number of other directorships across the food and farming sector.

Commenting on the award, Leaf chief executive David Webster described Mr Wynn as “an inspirational thinker”.

“He is a person who cares deeply about people and has dedicated his long and distinguished career to the pursuit of more sustainable global farming and food systems, as well as educating future generations,” he said.  

“This honour reflects the exceptional contribution Philip has made, and he is richly deserving of this recognition.”

Tenanted sector 

Another notable recipient of an award was Dennis Matheson, chairman of TFA Cymru, who was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to the tenanted agricultural sector in Wales.

TFA chief executive George Dunn said he was “over the moon” about this recognition for Mr Matheson, who has chaired the organisation in Wales since 2012.

“The extent to which the issues impacting tenant farmers are front and centre in the minds of policymakers is in very large part due to the sacrifice and dedication of Dennis in ensuring that the needs of the sector are both articulated and understood,” said Mr Dunn.

Mr Matheson said he was “delighted and astounded” to have received the award, and praised the work of the TFA team.

Other recipients of MBEs include:

• Andrew Arbuckle, a key fundraiser for the Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution, for services to farming and the community in Fife
• Catherine Baxter, former Harper Adams University secretary, for services to higher education
• Melinda Raker, founder and patron of Norfolk-based Yana (You Are Not Alone), for services to rural mental health and wellbeing
• John Simpson for services to agriculture and the community of Lewes, East Sussex
• Helen Keys of Queen’s University Belfast for services to entrepreneurship and innovation in farming

Adam Watson, a dairy farmer from Coleraine, County Londonderry, was awarded a British Empire Medal for services to mental health in the farming community in Northern Ireland.

Paul Heygate, joint managing director of Northamptonshire-based flour and animal feed manufacturer Heygates Mills, which purchases grain from farmers, received an OBE for services to the food industry and charity.