Farmland wildlife

Farmland is an amazing place for wildlife Makes up 75% of Britain’s landscape. We have been farming for thousands of years. Wildlife has adapted to farmed landscapes (e.g. Hedgerows, field margins, arable weeds etc)

There are many animals and plants that rely specifically on farmland Such as the grey partridge, which nests and forages in arable farmland. They don’t travel far from where they hatched and live in family groups on farmland.

Nature plays a role in helping farmland to flourish Pollination (worth 400 million £ a year, runner beans, field beans, tomatoes, peppers, raspberries and strawberries ), absorbing chemicals before they reach water, trees protect sensitive crops from the wind.

But farmland nature has been struggling recently 90% 68% 91% 64% 90% 96%

But farmland nature has been struggling recently Cornflowers down 99%, arable plants fastest declining group of plants in uk, bumblebees – 2 spp extinct, all have decreased in ranger or number and 6 spp down over 80% 2/3 of all wildlife on farms is in decline

Farming has changed drastically over the last 50 years

Policy encourages farmers to farm as productively as possible 1939 Britain’s agricultural output was valued at £2.5million and in 1951 output was worth over £100million.

There are schemes that help protect farmland nature But less than 1/3 of agricultural funding

Nature-friendly farmers work hard for the benefit of both people and wildlife

Nature friendly farms can be as productive as any other

The best way to help farmland birds is to provide “the big three” Summer food Safe nesting habitat Winter food

A group of nature-friendly farmers have come together to form the Ouse Washes Nature-Friendly Zone

This area was chosen as it’s a hotspot for farmland birds

Through this project I have been able to spread the message

Now is the time to speak up for nature friendly farming

What can we do at home?

Thank you for listening!