The latest Wild Isles episode demonstrated the rich nature and amazing species that grassland habitats can support. Many of the species that we now associate with farmland would have been historically found in natural or semi-natural grasslands. Many of these habitats are now farmed or grazed intensively. Over 70% of the UK is farmland, which means that how we manage this land has a big impact on nature. In this blog, Andy Evans, Head of the RSPB’s Global Species Recovery team, and Chair of the RSPB’s Farmland Nature Recovery Group, takes us into the world of farmland conservation and talks about some of the ways that we’re helping the nature of farmed habitats.
My first job at the RSPB after completing my PhD brought with it my first experience of working to save a grassland species now dependent on farmland. I began working on Cirl Bunting conservation.
When I started the job, I had never seen a Cirl Bunting, which in itself was a strong indication of the trouble that this species was in. Cirl Buntings were once found across southern England – draw a line from the Severn to the Thames estuaries and Cirl Buntings would once have been found south of that line.
At that time, which was in the late 1980s, Cirl Bunting numbers had dwindled to just 100 pairs and were found in a small area of south Devon. The challenge was to find out why Cirl Bunting numbers had collapsed. We discovered that the way farmland was managed was preventing Cirl Buntings from getting the food that adults and chicks needed to survive. We’ll return to Cirl Buntings later in this blog and talk about the progress we’ve made for the species since then.
In the late 1980s, Cirl Bunting numbers dwindled to just 100 pairs and were restricted to a small area of southern Devon. Ben Andrew (rspb-images.com).
Following my work on Cirl Bunting, I remained involved in researching farmland bird populations before moving into work focussed on delivery of species recovery. Fast forward to the present day and I now head up our Global Species Recovery team, which works on recovering the populations of many species in trouble both in the UK and overseas. I also chair the RSPB’s Farmland Nature Recovery Group. This group brings together farmland conservation experts from across the RSPB and keeps track of our efforts to secure a future for threatened species that call farmland habitats home, including birds such as Cirl Bunting, Chough and Kestrel, as well as threatened plants such as the Small-flowered Catchfly and invertebrates like the Great Yellow Bumblebee.
Farmed habitats are important for many species, including the Great Yellow Bumblebee. © Colin Campbell (rspb-images.com).
Most of what we now think of as ‘farmland wildlife’ are really grassland species that have been able to adapt to human-modified landscapes over millennia. Indeed, as we gradually replaced our woodlands and forests with farmed land, some of these adaptable species will have become much more abundant than they ever were during our pre-agriculture history. However, even many of these adaptable plants and animals have struggled with the scale and pace of change to our farmed landscapes over the last hundred years.
The mechanisation of farming, widespread use of inorganic fertilisers and ‘pest’ control chemicals, driven by government policies to maximise production, have altered our farmed landscapes fundamentally. This has had huge impacts on the wildlife that lives here. But over the course of my career I’ve been in the privileged position to see how colleagues across the RSPB have been working alongside farmers and other partners to support threatened farmland wildlife. Here are just a few examples of our work to secure a future for nature on farmland.
Corncrake-friendly management on farms Corncrakes are remarkable long-distance migratory birds that spend what we call ‘winter’ in the forests and woodlands of Central Africa. They migrate north in spring to breed in grasslands across northern and central Europe and across most of Asia. In the British Isles, the ‘Land-rail’ used to be widespread, its nocturnal monotonous rasping ‘crex-crex’ call a frequent irritant to rural-dwelling humans trying to sleep. But now they are mainly restricted to islands and coastal areas of northern and western Scotland and Ireland, as well as in small numbers in Northern Ireland. We know that their disappearance from most of our isles is entirely due to changes in how grasslands are farmed. Corncrakes nest in tall vegetation, including grass fields, from their arrival in early April to departure in October. Earlier and earlier cutting of more productive grass crops destroyed more and more nests. And their chicks that did hatch were unable to escape the ever larger and ever faster grass cutting machines. They, literally, could not keep up with the pace of agricultural change.
RSPB research tells us that to help Corncrakes, we need to create larger areas of early and late tall vegetation adjacent to grazed and mowed grassland, delay mowing until the end of July at the earliest, and use wildlife-friendly mowing techniques that allow flightless Corncrake chicks to safely escape when the field is mown. Colleagues in Scotland are working to do just this. Our Corncrake Calling project works with farmers and other landowners to help support them to introduce Corncrake-friendly management on their farms. Find out more: https://www.rspb.org.uk/our-work/conservation/projects/corncrake-calling/
The rasping ‘crex crex’ call of the Corncrake is a tell-tale sign that this secretive migratory bird is in the area. Corncrakes nest in tall vegetation, including grass fields where they can be hard to spot. © Andy Hay (rspb-images.com).
Nature Friendly Farming NetworkFarming needs nature as much as nature needs farmland – bees and other pollinators are so crucial for pollinating crops and soil invertebrates are needed for good soil health. Its therefore inspiring to see the Nature Friendly Farming Network (NFFN) grow and grow.
This farmer-led initiative operates right across the UK, with over 2,500 farmers having already joined this rapidly growing movement. The farming practices and backgrounds of its members vary widely, but they all have one thing in common: a passion for ensuring the countryside is bursting with wildlife, as well as being productive. Together, they work to raise awareness of how they farm sustainably, sharing their insights and experiences, and encouraging others to get involved. They also hope to secure positive changes in government policy, and transform how farming is supported by the public. The RSPB works with the NFFN in many areas to support and champion these farmers. Find out more: https://www.nffn.org.uk/
Saving Cirl BuntingsNow let’s return to the Cirl Bunting’s tale. Our research told us that these birds needed seeds to feed on in the winter and grasshoppers in the summer. But changes to farming practices were making these food sources scarce - plant breeding produced crops that would survive over winter, meaning that after harvest in the summer, fields could be planted again almost immediately. This meant that the important stubbles that would have once remained over winter, and that provided Cirl Buntings with a good source of seeds, disappeared. Grasshoppers like a mix of grass heights and bare patches of ground to sunbathe on. But with the advent and use of inorganic fertilisers, grassy fields grew taller and were then grazed heavily so that the ideal conditions for grasshoppers were lost. These changes occurred across the Cirl Bunting’s range, with south Devon providing the last pocket of Cirl Bunting habitat where small traditionally-managed coastal farms persisted.
Having identified these issues, we worked with Natural England to develop a Countryside Stewardship Scheme (a Government-funded agri-environment scheme) 'special project' option for Cirl Buntings for farmers to provide low input spring barley crops which, after harvest, were left as weedy stubbles until the end of March, so providing important sources of winter seed food. This particular cropping option was recommended by the RSPB on the basis of its scientific findings and targeted in the right places on farms within the Cirl bunting's range, providing a lifeline for them (and other farmland birds) over winter. A Cirl Bunting project officer was employed to work with farmers in south Devon to help them to provide the habitats that Cirl Buntings need.
This work has continued and in 2016, the National Cirl Bunting survey recorded over 1,000 pairs – a huge increase on the 100 pairs that survived when I met my first Cirl Buntings. This story shows that when we can identify the problem and find solutions and work with willing and dedicated farmers, we can turn the fortunes of species around. Find out more: https://cirl-buntings-rspb.hub.arcgis.com/
We’ve worked with farmers and land managers to ensure Cirl Buntings have access to suitable feeding habitats. © Ben Andrew (rspb-images.com).
Looking to the futureI remember what farmland looked like in 1970s, when it was already degraded, yet numbers of farmland bird species were much higher. I’ve spent my whole career working to help species, including farmland species. We’ve carried out research into the threats affecting farmland species and developed solutions to help them and now it is time to see nature-friendly management rolled out across the countryside. Groups, such as the Nature Friendly Farming Network, give me hope that this can be done. And the growth in regenerative farming methods points to a more holistic way of managing land that sits in closer harmony with nature.
What can you do to help? If you are a farmer working hard for the wildlife on your land – thank you. Ultimately, you are the solution to saving the plants and animals that rely on farmland. If you know farmers that are helping nature then thank them. Support your local farmers who are supporting nature – buy their food and champion their amazing work.
Sign up to support the Nature Friendly Farming Network to show your support for those dedicated to supporting nature in farmed landscapes.
Visit the Fair to Nature website to find out more about farms and businesses that meet the highest sustainability standards and are committed to protecting and restoring nature. Fair to Nature is the only UK certification scheme with a focus on biodiversity and a proven approach to restoring the balance of nature in farming. Working with people across the supply chain, Fair to Nature helps to protect and restore nature on farmland while making it easier for people to recognise sustainable products and support businesses that are committed to making a genuine difference.
If you can, get out and appreciate the nature that calls farmland home – appreciate the features, such as hedgerows that provide homes for special farmland species. And if Wild Isles inspires you to do more, then find out about the local conservation groups operating near you. Find out whether they are actively involved in any projects supporting farmland wildlife and get involved. Visit an RSPB Reserve where you can see wildlife-friendly farming in action; you could find out about volunteering there, or even donate to support our activities.
Visit Save our Wild Isles to discover more ways to help nature.
Continue readingFind out more about the RSPB’s farmland work in our Wild Isles:
The Machair Wild Isles – Farming and conservation in England Want to see the species featured on Wild Isles Episode 3? Here's where you can find some in England! How farmers are leading the fight for nature Corncrake Calling Bringing Curlews back from the brink – join Conservation Officer Katie Gibb for a personal account of how the team and local farmers are bringing Curlew birds back from the brink in Northern Ireland Ysbyty Ifan & Hiraethog – curlew breeding season 2022The seeds of success - Farming for threatened seed-eating birds in Northern IrelandA crak-ing summer for corncrakes on Rathlin Island with four confirmed sightingsFarming together with nature
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