A KIND and caring manager of a children’s charitable farm has been nominated by her proud husband for the Farming Hero of the Year Award in this year’s Three Counties Farming Awards.

Kelly Broadfield has dedicated 14 years to running Dodford Children’s Farm in Dodford, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, for disabled and under privileged children.

She is much-loved by regular visitors, makes sure individual needs are met and that visits are enjoyable and memorable.

Her husband, Scott Broadfield, said families have even said that going to the farm feels like visiting family.

He added: “To some parents who have stayed at the farm, it has really had a huge, positive affect on their family life and Kelly is always there with a warm smile and a sympathetic ear.”

Kelly also cares for the animals at the petting farm “like they are her own”and offers others the chance to work with the animals through placements.

Publicity for the charity has seen Kelly riding a bicycle dressed as Santa and talking about goats on BBC Radio Guernsey.

And as well as working at the farm full time Kelly is a busy mum to two children and finds time to volunteer for the Blue Cross charity; going into schools to talk to children about how to care for dogs and small pets so fewer end up in rescue centres.

Nominations are invited for other farming heroes across the three counties and in categories including fruit, hop and cattle, sheep, pig, poultry, arable and conservation, family run farm, young farmer and farming contractor. Visit www.herefordtimes.com/awards/tcf