Praise for a farm’s green techniques came from a government minister.

Jonathan Shaw, rural affairs minister, was visiting Bank Farm at Aldington as part of Open Farm Sunday

He was there to see how green farming techniques have brought a variety of wildlife back to the area.

The Government-funded agri-environment scheme provides financial support to farmers to create habitats for wildlife and to protect the English landscape.

Bank Farm, which has been in Doug Wanstall’s family since 1918, has two agri-environment agreements.

Lapwings nest on the summer fallow land and there is a thriving colony of water voles on the River Stour, as well as barn owls, kingfishers and various types of insects.

Mr Shaw, who is also MP for Chatham and Aylesford, said: “Three-quarters of our land is managed by farmers and landowners, and they are a vital part of continuing to enhance the beauty of the English landscape and conserve and protect our much-loved native wildlife.

“Farms like Bank Farm are a fantastic example of the real benefits that agri-environment schemes can bring.”