Pioneering project boosts farmland birds

A pioneering conservation project celebrating its 10th anniversary has boosted farmland bird numbers by 177%.

The RSPB‘s 10-year-long project at Hope Farm in the Cambridgeshire countryside has been a bigger success than expected, says the charity.

The organisation embarked on the project in 2000 in an attempt to show that a commercially-run farm could make a profit and provide habitats for wildlife.

In that time farmland bird numbers at the farm arm have soared by 177%, with particular successes in skylark, linnet and yellowhammer populations.

The 181ha farm is celebrating its 10th birthday on Thursday (1 July) by hosting a reception for politicians, farmers, agricultural leaders and conservationists.

“We have learnt so much from our 10 years of farming in the Cambridgeshire countryside,” said RSPB conservation director Mark Avery.

“We really didn’t know whether this project would be a success when it started all those years ago, but the results have been better than we ever imagined.”

Farmland birds have declined by 50% since 1970 – a figure described by Dr Avery as a truly shocking statistic.

“At Hope Farm, and in other small corners of the country, real efforts are being made to do something about this before it is too late.

The farm increased bird populations by putting roughly 7.5% of its land into environmental management.

On a national basis, the RSPB claims the 50% decline in farmland birds could be reversed by managing about 4% of arable land specifically for wildlife.

The current level is probably around 2%, said Dr Avery.

“But as well as increasing the area covered by wildlife friendly measures, we need to ensure we put the right options in the right places.

“We have shown that with careful consideration we can make efficient use of our farmed countryside to provide both a home for wildlife and food for our tables.”

Over the past 10 years the RSPB has used Hope Farm to spread its message about farmland bird numbers.

It also developed measures like skylark plots which are now included as an official option in the Entry Level Stewardship scheme for farmers.

Farmer Robert Law, who recently hosted the Cereals 2010 event on his Hertfordshire farm, is one of the visitors invited to Hope Farm.

“It’s not just large conservation charities that can achieve these results – I have achieved real results on my land,” he said.

“A recent survey of wild birds on my land found 38 species of birds including seven pairs of corn buntings, 13 skylark pairs and two grey partridge pairs.”

Other farmers implementing similar measures could help ensure the success of the Campaign for the Farmed Environment, said Mr Law.

The campaign is aimed at staving off a compulsory set-aside replacement by encouraging growers to undertake voluntary environmental management.