Our wildlife is at risk

To deliver high yield crops modern farming methods push wildlife to the very edge of existence.  Yet it does not have to be like this.  As leaders in farmland conservation our team of 65 scientists have battled for decades to find ways of helping wildlife in the countryside. 

Our research track record is outstanding.  In the early 1980’s it was our science that informed the majority of current farmland environmental initiatives in use today.  It was our inventions, such as ‘beetle banks’ and ‘conservation headlands’, that showed everyone how to achieve an elegant balance of wildlife conservation and farmland productivity.

Beetle Banks

Now adopted by farms across Britain these built up strips of grassland provide the perfect habitat for the protein rich insects and bugs that many species of young bird chicks need to survive in the first few days of their lives.  Just taking a small amount of land out of crop production is economically efficient since the very same beetles will move out and eat aphids on the crop, significantly reducing the demand for chemicals.

Conservation Headlands

Bumble bees, honey bees and many species of solitary bees play a vital part by pollinating flowers.  However, the bee population is under threat due to climate change, disease and invasive farming.  Conservation headlands are formed when a farmer encourages non-competitive weeds in his crop by not spraying the outer 6-12 meters of a field.  When a reduced chemical spray regime is used wild flowers return and insect numbers, including bees, will increase.

Loddington Farm

We don’t just talk a good story we roll our sleeves up and use our scientific research to lead by example.  Our farm production levels are consistently above average but we also leave food and space for wildlife.  Over the last 10 years the farm has reversed a 30-year decline in the nine key farmland bird indicator species used to demonstrate a balanced, thriving countryside – a very real testament to the efficiency of the Trust’s unique conservation techniques.

We need to do even more to save Britain’s wildlife

All this early work helped slow the national decline in wildlife, however it is still falling.  Scientists at the farm, who understand the pressure farmers are under to produce more food for us, know that modern farming pressures will increase the decline further.  They are refusing to give up.  They know their work is now more vital than ever to halt the decline.  Future research includes: searching for the optimal mix of grass and wild flowers, to help the birds and bees; soil erosion to help fish and water voles.  These projects together with other bio-diversity work will help restore the balance of nature.

Future research includes:

• Searching for optimal wildflower mixes
• Establishing how to avoid soil erosion to help fish and water voles
• Establishing how to retain water in our fields to stem recent flooding calamities
• Ensuring that wild birds, bugs, fish and small mammals thrive
• Continue our bio-diversity work to help restore the balance of nature

How can you help?

The Trust knows it can do so much more to halt the wildlife decline for good.  More funds are urgently needed to compete this vital research over the next 3 years. 77% of the UK is farmland.  And by proving it on our own farm, all 311,000 farms could benefit through the best practice environmental stewardship schemes that are reviewed every 3 years. With your help we can then ensure the best possible practice message is spread to all farms at the next opportunity in 2011.

Please support this appeal today

We must make the commitment to finding the funding for this research which will help us to take another important step in restoring a balance for game and wildlife in our countryside.

Your help is vital. Thank you.