Have you heard of the Nature of Farming award? Every year the RSPB invite entries from wildlife-friendly farmers across the country for this competition. It’s the UKs biggest farm wildlife award and is all about doing positive work for wildlife.
Farmland covers over 75% of the UK and here in Lincolnshire a large amount of our land is used for agriculture. Many UK species are dependent on farmland and so managing farms with wildlife in mind can really make a difference. Farmers who are stepping up for nature deserve to be recognised as making a farming business both a commercial success and great for wildlife takes time and dedication.
Arable farming in Lincolnshire (Andy Hay, rspb-images.com)
This year we have 8 finalists and one of them is from Lincolnshire!! Mr Nicholas Watts from Vine House Farm near Spalding is our regional winner and now could be the National winner but he needs your support. Since 1982 Mr Watts has been recording the wildlife on his farm tracking both positive and negative changes. This has allowed him to manage his land to get the best results for wildlife and his farm includes insect-rich meadows and nectar flower mixtures, arable plants flourishing in cultivated strips and seed rich habitats from sacrificial cereal crops for birds.
Voting for this award closes on August 31st so please show your support for our local wildlife friendly farmer by visiting the website and voting. Here is a link below where you can find out more about Mr Watts and cast your vote!
http://www.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/farming/natureoffarming/finalists/nicholas-watts.aspx
Let’s support wildlife friendly farming!