Ronald and Carol Alderton farm sheep and grow trees in partnership with their son David and his partner Paula on two farms covering 580ha at Waitahuna, near Lawrence.
The farm's contour is rolling to steep, and since buying the first property in 1979, Ronald and Carol Alderton have worked to reduce weed infestation, planting trees in weed-prone gullies and areas less suited to livestock.
They have 40ha of forestry but aim to plant trees on 10% of the two farms.
Judges said they were impressed with the well-planned and continuous tree planting and also the pride the family had in farm development, which has had an emphasis on running sheep to reduce soil damage and enhance water quality.
A field day will be held in November.
• Elliot and Janine King, who farm at Waimea Valley near Balfour, won the 2010 Southland Ballance Farm Environment Award announced earlier this week.
Four generations of the King family have farmed the 300ha Pahiwi, a sheep, beef and deer property in the Hokonui Hills, which judges described as "a magnificently presented farm with park-like shelter and habitat".
