CONSERVATION TOP TIPS FOR WINTER

LATE WINTER IS THE BEST TIME FOR HEDGEROW MANAGEMENT

If possible, hedgerow work is best done in January or February, allowing birds to make use of the berry crop through the winter and avoiding disturbance to nesting thrushes which normally start nesting in March. Hedgerow trimming is best done on rotation, rather than annually. If done on a 2-3 year rotation so that only a fraction of the hedges 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.

CREATING A LAPWING NESTING PLOT

Do you have any fields where lapwings regularly nest? You can cultivate a plot (a minimum of 2 hectares is ideal) in February or early March. If they are put in the right place then they are highly likely to attract nesting birds. It is possible to create these plots under agri-environment schemes in England (it will be a new option in Entry Level Stewardship in England in February 2010) and Northern Ireland.

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. These stubbles may be funded by agri-environment schemes. Barley stubbles generally support more birds than wheat stubbles.

DO THE BIRDS NEED MORE GRAIN?

If you are putting out grain waste (or pure grain if tailings are not available) along a farm track through the winter then you may find that demand increases between December and February, especially in spells of cold weather. 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.

WINTER IS A GOOD TIME TO PUT UP NESTBOXES

Nestboxes can be used to accommodate nesting birds such as tree sparrows or barn owls. Tree sparrows can be accommodated by clusters of nestboxes around the farmyard and use nestboxes with a 28mm diameter entrance hole. Barn owls can 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.

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

If these management ideas pose any questions, then post them on the discussion forum on the new website at www.farmwildlife.info to get your answers.