Demo plots help farmers attract wildlife

Posted 17 August 2010

Watch the video on our YouTube channel.

Harper Adams University College is hosting more than 80 arable demonstration plots to help farmers and landowners attract farmland birds and boost habitat for insects.
 
The plots are maintained on behalf of Natural England, which hopes the project will promote Environmental Stewardship. This is a scheme that provides funding to farmers and other land managers in England to deliver effective environmental management of their land.

Wild bird seed mixes, flower-rich grass margins, pollen and nectar plots are all being investigated, as well as different fertiliser rates and cutting/mowing regimes. Examples include quinoa, kale, fodder radish, clover and phacelia.

Geoff Howe, Team Leader for the Staffordshire Natural England Land Management Team, said: “It’s an opportunity for learning – being able to identify the components of the mixtures and seeing how these perform.

“We have three levels of our Environmental Stewardship scheme – entry level, organic entry level and higher level. The higher level can deliver from hedge restoration and grass margins through to the creation of wetlands for wading birds.”

As the plots need regular maintenance, staff from the Crop and Environment Research Centre (CERC), at Harper Adams, have been helping Natural England to manage the project.

Each square of mix lasts around 12-18 months and is monitored throughout the seasons. It is hoped that the demonstration will continue for several years.

Geoff, who studied at the University College from 1993-97, added: “Harper Adams is a premier location for rural and agricultural work so it’s been a great place to host this demonstration.

“Not only does it have CERC, but it also has more than 2,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students. It’s vital that we train the next generation of farmers and landowners to understand the importance of Environmental Stewardship, and where it fits into the food chain.”

Farm walks around the site regularly take place, where visitors can examine the merits of the different mixes, discuss their establishment and plan their agronomy. The next event takes place on September 9, 2010. Contact farmevents@naturalengland.org.uk 0300 060 1695 for more details.