CONSERVATION TOP TIPS FOR AUTUMN

UNDERTAKE MANAGEMENT OF FIELD BOUNDARIES AND MARGINS ON ROTATIONS

Hedgerow trimming, ditch clearance and cutting of field margins are all best done on rotations, rather than annually. All are best done between September and February, when birds are not nesting. If they are done on long rotations (e.g. at least 2 years for hedge trimming, 3 years for cutting margins and 5 years for ditch clearance) so that only a fraction of the areas are managed in any one winter then this will boost survival of beneficial insect populations and food resources for birds. This policy should also save money. If possible, hedgerow work is best done in January or February, allowing birds to make use of the berry crop through the winter.

LEAVE UNDRILLED PATCHES IN WINTER CEREALS FOR SKYLARKS

Consider leaving small (at least 4m x 4m or 3m x 6m) undrilled patches in the field at a rate of 2 per hectare to boost skylark nesting success next summer. Alternatively, these can be sprayed out before January. These can be funded by Entry Level Stewardship in England.

RETAIN AREAS OF WINTER STUBBLE

Winter stubbles provide seed food for birds in the form of spilt grain and seeds of weeds that germinated with the preceding crop. The best stubbles for birds are ones with no pre-harvest or post-harvest herbicides, which can be left untouched until at least mid-February.

PUT OUT GRAIN WASTE FOR FARMLAND BIRDS

Putting out grain waste (or pure grain if tailings are not available) along a farm track through the winter provides important seed food for some declining farmland birds, such as yellowhammer and tree sparrow. Move site along the track to benefit birds rather than the less mobile rodents. This measure could help redress the loss of traditional food sources such as weedy stubbles, spilt grain, winter fodder for livestock and access to grain stores. It can also create a winter wildlife spectacle for the enjoyment of farmers and visitors to the farm.

CREATE ROUGH GRASS MARGINS AND BEETLE BANKS

September is generally the best month to successfully establish new grass margins and beetle banks around arable fields. They are best established by sowing a native grass mix or by natural regeneration.

AVOID PLOUGHING UNDER THE CANOPY OF TREES

The lifespan of in-field and hedgerow trees can be boosted by the policy of leaving the area under the canopy uncultivated. Create wide field margins along hedges with trees, or take areas out of production around in-field trees using agri-environment scheme funding.

NESTBOXES CAN PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE NESTING HABITAT FOR BIRDS EXCLUDED FROM FARM BUILDINGS

Improved hygiene regulations can mean fewer nesting places for familiar farmland birds such as sparrows and swallows. Sparrows can be accommodated by clusters of nestboxes around the farmyard, and swallows can adopt nesting ledges put up within other farm buildings not used for food storage. Barn owls can also be attracted to nest on farmland where there is plenty of rough grassland, such as field margins for them to hunt for small mammals. A large wooden box on its side in the roof space of an open farm building, or a barn owl nest box erected in a hedgerow tree may be used if there are no other available nest sites.

STUBBLE TURNIPS CAN ACT AS AN IDEAL WINTER FOOD SOURCE FOR BIRDS

RSPB research has shown that root fodder crops, especially those not treated with herbicides and strip-grazed through the winter, provide excellent winter bird food. The birds gain access to weed seeds under the canopy of the crop as it is grazed off, so new feeding areas are exposed regularly through the winter.

AVOID TREE PLANTING OR POND CREATION ON AREAS WITH EXISTING WILDLIFE INTEREST

Tree planting and pond creation can significantly boost the wildlife on a farm holding, but it is important to check that the site does not already have important wildlife that would be lost if converted to woodland or open water. Habitats that are worth retaining include grassland rich in wild flowering plants, wet areas that occasionally hold standing water, and open fields used by breeding waders such as lapwings or curlews. It is best to consult a conservation adviser if you are in doubt about appropriate sites for tree planting or pond creation

CREATING A LAPWING NESTING PLOT

The best time to create a nesting plot for lapwings is between the beginning of February and mid-March. However, if you are unable to cultivate land at this time, then ploughing a 2 ha plot in the autumn and allowing the surface to weather down through the winter can also provide the ideal nesting habitat. They can be created using agri-environment scheme funding.

Plots are best located on large fields away from woods and tall hedges. If you know areas of fields where lapwings have nested in the past, then these should work well.


If these management ideas pose any questions, then post them on the discussion forum on the Farm Wildlife website to get your answers.