August heralds the winding down of show season for us, and this year has been as busy as ever for the agriculture team. We’ve been all over the UK to talk about nature-friendly farming, and it’s a great way for us to catch up with friends in the farming world, hear about issues and successes and help find practical solutions.
A busy day at Cereals 2016. Image: Anna Broszkiewicz
One of our biggest shows is Cereals – Europe’s largest arable event - this year located at Chrishall Grange in Cambridgeshire. We spent two days discussing Countryside Stewardship and providing bespoke advice to farmers interested in seeing how they could maximise the environmental benefits on their own farm using our map software. We laid the foundations for some individual Countryside Stewardship agreements during these 1:1 sessions, but with the uncertainty surrounding the future structure of support following the UK’s decision to leave the EU, we will have to wait and see what the future holds. At the very least, we hope our conversations have helped to reinforce the requirements of farmland wildlife.
Using a map of his farm, RSPB Advisor Kirsty Brannan takes a farmer through which options could work best for wildlife under Countryside Stewardship. Image: Anna Broszkiewicz
These requirements are encapsulated in the new arable plan developed by the Farm Wildlife partnership, which was also a feature of the RSPB stand. More to come on this next week!
Talking through Farm Wildlife and the arable plan while waiting for a 1:1 slot to look at their own farm. Image: Anna Broszkiewicz
Over the course of the event, we spoke to over 700 farmers and land managers. Over 150 people entered our competition to win a bumper selection of wildlife goods, including bird and bat boxes, bird food and feeders, and a selection of reference materials. The lucky winners – Mrs Gillian Edwards of Pocklington, and Mr Graham Folkard of Southminster - have already received their gifts and we hope that you enjoy watching the wildlife they bring to your farmyards and gardens!
Visitors talk to Ian Dillon, RSPB Hope Farm Manager, at Cereals 2016. Image: Anna Broszkiewicz
Other shows where you may have bumped into the RSPB over the last couple of months include the Royal Highland Show in Edinburgh, and the Royal Welsh Show in Builth Wells. And if you’re at the BBC Countryfile Live event (4-7 August), we’ll be there too - make sure you pop bye to say hello.