Discussion Forum

Hedgerow rejuvenation experimental sites

Hedgerows — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:11:49 GMT

Hi,
I'm setting up a DEFRA-funded trial comparing the effects of hedgerow restoration techniques on biodiversity and resources for overwintering birds. We're looking for experimental hedges on which we'll apply a range of rejuvenation techniques (laying, coppicing, wildlife hedging etc). We need about 700 - 800m in total (this can be on 2 or 3 smaller sections) of tall hedge (4 or more metres) in good condition (with few gaps). If you have a hedge that meet these criteria and might be interested in participating please get in touch.
Thanks for your help.
All the best,
Jo Staley
Centre for Ecology and Hydrology

chicory in wild bird mixtures

Matthew — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 07:46:59 GMT

Has anyone got any useful comments regarding chicory in wild bird seed mixtures ? I was on a farm yesterday where the guy uses chicory in his game mixes and the plant seemed atttractive to bumblebees. He also said the small seed pods attract 'clouds' of linnets and reed buntings in the winter ! Has anyone else seen many birds using chicory ?

Cheers,

Tree sparrow nest boxes

JoulesH — Thu, 07 May 2009 09:39:38 GMT

We have tree sparrows on our mixed farm (not sure where they currently nest) and have 6 nest boxes to put up for them - any advice please on siting, height etc? We have some mature hedgerow trees (mainly ash) plus a few stream corridors with old but recently pollarded willow, mature ash, field maple etc and a few small oak spinneys. We could also put some poles/fence posts in the ground to attach them too if this is a better option.

Marek Nowakowski's tips on establishing grass and flower margins

farm-advice — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 15:24:07 GMT

Marek Nowakowski has written a feature in Farmers Weekly on establishing grass and flower mixes, and it is also available on-line here: http://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2010/08/11/122762/Tips-on-establishing-grass-and-flower-margins.htm

He suggests that August and early September is the ideal time for establishment. Broadcasting is the best sowing technique as light is needed to break seed dormancy. The main challenge is tackling the vigorous grass growth resulting from high phosphate levels on arable soils. Regular mowing in the first year is key.

Pond Conservation Summer newsletter

farm-advice — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 13:30:54 GMT

Attached Pond Conservation Summer newsletter.

NB This attachment is 3MB in size!

In this issue:
• What to look out for in your pond in August/September
• Spotlight on mammals – bats and water shrews
• Million Ponds Project Update

August CFE newsletter

farm-advice — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 14:22:27 GMT

Attached the August newsletter for the Campaign for the Farmed Environment.

GWCT/CLA to run training days to save grey partridge

farm-advice — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 09:01:07 GMT

Wild grey partridges should be widespread across the British countryside, but according to recent Defra figures, the population of this cherished farmland bird, which has fallen a further 20 per cent, is now suffering local extinctions in many areas of the country. In an effort to boost dwindling numbers, the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust and the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) are spearheading an inspiring joint initiative to save this iconic species.

Dr Nicholas Aebischer, from the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust said, “The simple reason for this shocking decline is that we have suffered two really appalling wet summers in 2007 and 2008. Young partridge chicks, when they first hatch can die rapidly from hyperthermia when it is constantly wet. But that was then. Partridges have now benefited from two good summers and where the right conditions are being provided our monitoring shows that they can bounce back.”

The partridge population has suffered a catastrophic 86 per cent decline over the past 40 years, but the dry weather has helped this iconic bird make an astonishing 26 per cent come-back on shooting estates, which are creating the right wildlife habitats by providing food and protecting this vulnerable ground-nesting bird from generalist predators.

But to ripple this positive effect to more areas of land and save this bird from more local extinctions, the Trust and the CLA are holding countrywide regional grey partridge awareness meetings in various areas of the country this autumn, including: Perrystone Estate, near Ross on Wye; Brackenburgh Estate near Penrith; Bilton Farm near Alnwick in Northumberland and Calmsden Manor Estate, near Cirencester. The aim of these partridge group meetings is to provide expert advice and inspire landowners and farmers to ‘save the grey’ by becoming actively involved in partridge conservation.

CLA President William Worsley said: “Landowners are very aware of the pressure on our indigenous partridge population and the need for urgent action to encourage and manage habitat where grey partridge can thrive. Seeing how other sporting estates and farms manage their land successfully to conserve this threatened bird helps to spread the word and this management counts towards the Campaign for the Farmed Environment. We hope these events will attract widespread interest and, most importantly, inspire action.”

The Trust is also keen to enlist more people onto its Partridge Count Scheme (PCS). This free scheme provides extensive advice to landowners interested in boosting their threatened partridge population. The PCS, which is one of the largest farmer-led monitoring schemes in Europe also provides a detailed account of how the partridge population is faring in areas managed by its count scheme members.

Grey partridges, which were once common across the country, have specific management requirements, Dr Aebischer explains, “The Trust has been researching the issues facing grey partridges for the past 40 years. No other farmland bird has had such a vast amount of money and research dedicated to its survival. We now have the expertise and science to target their specific needs but if we are to restore the fortunes of this once familiar farmland bird then a much larger community of farmers, landowners and conservationists needs to be mobilised.”

Targeting their specific requirement means providing ‘round the year’ management of farmland for partridges by creating nesting, brood-rearing and winter and spring cover as well as providing extra over-winter food and predator control during the nesting period. To inspire action to “Save the Grey”, events will be held on :

Wednesday 22 September from 2.30 to 5pm at Perrystone Estate, Nr Ross on Wye, Herefordshire
Wednesday 22 September – Cumbria & North Lancashire group at Brackenburgh Estate near Penrith (by kind permission of John Harris)
Thursday 23 September – Northumberland group at Bilton Farm near Alnwick (by kind permission of Ian Tulip)
Thursday 30 September from 3.45 to 7.30 at Calmsden Manor, Calmsden, Cirencester, by kind permission of Mark Tufnell
For further information on these grey partridge meetings, please phone Lynda Ferguson on 01425 651013 or email: advisory@gwct.org.uk or visit the Trust’s website: www.gwct.org.uk/courses

CFE July Newsletter

farm-advice — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 10:20:18 GMT

Attached the July newsletter for the Campaign for the Farmed Environment

Vote for the most wildlife-friendly farmer

farm-advice — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 10:09:29 GMT

The RSPB promotes wildlife-friendly farming to the public through the Nature of Farming Award. four of the Regional Winners are selected as finalists for the national prize, and the public vote determines the winner.

Visit www.rspb.org.uk/farmvote to vote for your favourite, and the chance to win a luxury break at Luton Hoo Hotel, Golf and Spa. The link takes you to breif descriptions of each of the four finalists, with more detailed information available as a downloadable report.

The closing date is Friday 27 August.

The Farmland bird package for arable farmland in England: a baseline

farm-advice — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 09:01:25 GMT

Soon we will find out how well the first tranche of ELS renewals have been influenced by the Campaign for the Farmed Environment (CFE). The June 09 ES option uptake figures (used for the CFE baseline) can be used to estimate how much of the RSPB/NE/FWAG/GWCT/WFC ELS farmland bird package was met nationally, before the CFE started.

The Farmland Bird Package per 100ha of arable land is:

1. Wild Bird Seed Mixture on 2 hectares or ELS Over-wintered Stubble on 5 hectares

2. 20 skylark plots in winter cereals, or a fallow plot or extended winter stubble (new options coming into ELS in 2010) on 1 hectare

3. 1 hectare used to create a network of insect-rich habitats across the farm

Firstly, looking at ELS alone, and working on the principle that there are roughly 6.2m ha of arable land in England, there were:

- 4895ha of wild bird seed mixtures and 63830ha of stubbles on arable land, which in total constitutes 24.5% of the target amount of seed food required

- 6419ha of flower-rich margins, which constitutes 10.4% of the target amount of insect-rich habitat required

- 15069 skylark plots, which is 1.2% of the target for in-field nesting habitat

The contribution of HLS, adds:

- 2328ha of seed mixtures and 4980ha of stubble, which in total constitutes 3.5% of the target amount of seed food required

- 4526ha of flower-rich margins, which constitutes 7.3% of the target amount of insect-rich habitat required

- 2661ha of fallow plots for ground-nesting birds plus 2743 skylark plots, which in total is 4.5% of the target for in-field nesting habitat

The combined % met are then 28.0% for seed food, 17.7% for insect food and 5.7% for in-field nesting habitat

Bumble bee decline

FarmerTom — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 22:29:37 GMT

A lot has been said in the media about the decline in bees most of it with no scientific evidence to back it up. So to see the Insect Pollinator Initiative, which has £10m funding over 5 years to research the health and lifespan of pollinators is to be welcomed.
One aspect of the research that seems to be missing is the affect of badgers on bumble bee populations.
In our area the badger population is gradually increasing as is the number of bumble bee and wasp nests that are dug up and destroyed.

Reseeding species rich grassland on an organic meadow

Gallinago — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 12:23:03 GMT

Does anyone have experience of green hay spreading to create species rich grassland on flood meadows in an organic system?

We are looking to spread green hay on several large fields which have been in long term pasture for many years. Being organic means we cannot use sprays, so are concerned about getting succesful establishment.

Environmental Stewardship update July 2010

farm-advice — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 13:31:21 GMT

Attached the July 2010 update from Nartural England. It includes:
- proposed changes to the way in which farmers are paid
- scheme uptake stats
- an update on the availability of capital works
- news on progress of the new UELS

New - Fen management handbook

Nick Droy — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 11:44:21 GMT

RSPB, SEPA, SNH, NIEA, CCW, NE and EA, have jointly collaborated on the production of this new practical handbook, aimed at landowners, advisors, and others interested in fen conservation. It is available to download for FREE from the SNH website who are hosting the book.

To view or download a copy please visit; http://www.snh.gov.uk/about-scotlands-nature/habitats-and-ecosystems/lochs-rivers-and-wetlands/fen/