[ARCHIVED CONTENT] Defra, UK - Farming - Wildlife and plants

Farming: wildlife and plants

Conservation

Conservation of landscape, wildlife and historic features is a key focus for the Government. This focus, coupled with the redirection of farm support payments away from production into supporting environmental stewardship activities, make conservation an important area of development on UK farms.

The following sections provide guidance on some of the key areas:

Environmental Stewardship scheme
Woodland Grant scheme
Biodiversity Action Plan
hedgerows and field boundaries
farmland birds
conservation advice

Environmental Stewardship Scheme

The Environmental Stewardship scheme is designed to provide funding for farmers and land managers to support effective environmental management of land.

It builds on the Environmental Sensitive Areas scheme and the Countryside Stewardship Scheme which it replaces. Its primary objectives are to:

conserve wildlife (biodiversity)
maintain and enhance landscape quality and character, including soil management
protect the historic environment and natural resources
promote public access and understanding of the countryside
natural resource protection

There are three elements to the Environmental Stewardship scheme:

Entry Level Stewardship (ELS) - ELS is a ‘whole farm’ scheme open to all farmers who farm their land conventionally.
Organic Entry Level Stewardship (OELS) - OELS is a ‘whole farm’ scheme similar to ELS, open to farmers who manage all or part of their land organically.
Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) - HLS ties in with ELS or OELS options, but it aims to deliver significant environmental benefits in high priority situations and areas.

English Woodland Grant Scheme (EWGS)

Grants are available to private landowners to encourage the creation of new woodlands and to assist with the management of existing woodlands. Woodland areas are very valuable to wildlife and as a leisure facility.

You can obtain full details of the English Woodland Grant Scheme from the Forestry Commission website.

Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP)

Agriculture and biodiversityare inextricably linked: almost 77% of the UK land surface is farmed and the influence of agriculture on biodiversity goes far beyond farmed land itself. Defra is a major player in the delivery of the UK Biodiversity Action Plan.

The UK Biodiversity Action Plan contains 391 Species Action Plans, 45 Habitat Action Plans and 162 Local Biodiversity Action Plans with targeted actions. Plans can be viewed at the UK BAP website.

Hedgerows and Field Boundaries

Hedgerows are often seen as defining features of English landscape character. They are important for wildlife and provide valuable evidence of historic development. In addition they can help to prevent soil erosion and water run-off, shelter and control livestock, and protect crops from wind.

Other field boundaries e.g. field margins can be established to provide a species-rich flora and fauna habitat. They can act as a buffer to water courses and can offer an invaluable source of food and shelter for farmland birds.

For further details on the management and conservation see the advice page on hedgerows.

Farmland Birds

Defra is committed to improving and enhancing the biodiversity of our farmland in our Public Service Agreement to reverse the long-term decline in the number of farmland birds by 2020.

The farmland bird indicator is calculated on the breeding populations of 20 species. Collectively, these populations have declined by 40% since the mid-1970s, though the rate of decline has slowed in recent years.

For further details on management and conservation of bird habitats see the advice page on wild birds.

Conservation advice

To encourage the adoption of agricultural practices and techniques which promote conservation, Defra provides free of charge, initial on-farm conservation advice to farmers and other land managers.

This service is delivered on behalf of Defra by ADAS Consulting Ltd and the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) and all farmers in England are eligible.

If you are a farmer or land manager and are interested in receiving this conservation advice, please contact your local ADAS or FWAG office direct.

Support and information specifically related to birds can be obtained from Natural England or the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).