The RSPB has announced the beginning of a new three year partnership with Conservation Grade, which will allow the two organisations to work together on behalf of wildlife.
Conservation Grade is the accreditation scheme behind the Fair to Nature brand. The partnership between the two is helping to provide advice to farmers and promoting the benefits of the scheme to farm businesses.
For over 25 years Fair to Nature farmers have been setting high standards for nature-friendly farming, diligently creating homes and space for nature on at least 10% of their land, protecting hedges, soil and water, whilst producing the quality ingredients for Fair to Nature food brands.
Darren Moorcroft, Head of species and habitat conservation for the RSPB, said, “the recent State of Nature report, highlights the ongoing need for more wildlife-friendly farming if we are not to lose some of our countryside's iconic species. Fair to Nature includes a package of measures which have been shown to really deliver for nature. That’s why as one the biggest providers of on-farm conservation advice in the UK, the RSPB is happy to be in this partnership.”
Wild bird food habitat adjacent to a crop of barley on a Fair to Nature farm. Image: Peter Dean
Conservation Grade’s Technical Manager, Brin Hughes said, “We are delighted that the RSPB will be working with us to help our countryside’s wildlife.
This new collaboration with the RSPB will help us extend the great work that our members and so many of the UK’s farmers are already doing for the environment. In this way we can reverse the declines our wildlife has experienced and continue to lead the way on UK farm sustainability.”
Fair to Nature farmer Andrew Elms said, “Fair to Nature Farming has been hugely beneficial to farmland biodiversity. The introduction of pollen and nectar mixes, wild bird seed plots and overwintered stubbles has given a huge helping hand to nature rather than leaving nature fend for itself!"
Wildflower strip on Hope Farm. Image: Shelley Abbott
The RSPB’s own arable farm in Cambridgeshire is also producing Fair to Nature rape seed oil which is on sale at RSPB reserves and shops.