Creating Wildlife Habitats on Farms : Practical Ways to Farm for Nature

Forncett Nature Matters recently welcomed Nathan Walker from the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) to talk to us about his role in helping farmers with the recent government-driven changes in agricultural policy.  Our Green County Councillor, Catherine Rowett and a local small-scale farmer kindly volunteered to join Nathan, forming a panel afterwards which kickstarted a lively Q and A session.

In his talk Nathan ran through the many reasons for the loss of biodiversity in recent history:

• Climate crisis -exacerbated by our use of fossil fuels
• Urbanisation - causing habitat loss and fragmentation
• Water management - wetlands drying out and disappearing
• Pollution - of air, soils, rivers and seas (eg chemicals/microplastics/waste management)

Government policy after WW2 encouraged agricultural intensification, with the aim of increasing yields to feed a rapidly growing population. Payments to farmers were linked to this policy.  Many farmers had to turn from hay meadows and hay making to uniform grass meadows for silage, and from mixed farming to monoculture. There was a switch from spring- to autumn-sown cereals, leaving few overwintered stubbles that birds and small mammals had relied on. Pesticides, herbicides and fungicides were employed, along with artificial fertilisers. Hedgerows were taken out to accommodate larger machinery, and prairie-sized fields destroyed connectivity of habitats for nature.

We now know that the unintended consequence of all this was a devastating loss of biodiversity, and, with this crisis in mind, Government policies for farming have now changed radically. Alongside the production of high quality food, care of the environment is also recognised as essential.  The Environment Act of 2021 laid out statutory targets for restoring biodiversity. It introduced Agri-Environment Schemes and Environmental Stewardship, which have now become Environmental Land Management Schemes (ELMS).  Payments to farmers are to be linked accordingly.  Our farmer panellist, who has taken advantage of the older Environment Schemes, told us the process with ELMS is quite a challenge and not always straightforward!

The Norfolk FWAG try to make sense of legislation for farmers. It is a charity created in 1969 and gives farmers help in managing their land with an environmental focus, and filling in paperwork to receive payment for it. Farmers look at the ways they can expand habitats for wildlife through buffer zones alongside their sown fields, maintaining, enhancing and restoring hedges and ditches, restoring ponds, fens, reedbeds and wetland and looking after sustainable, biodiverse woodland.

As Nathan said, the biggest asset on the farm is its soil. Well-managed soil produces good crops, retains water and reduces flooding in heavy rains. Healthy soil structure is good for roots, supports worms and other soil dwellers and has a rich microbiome of fungi and bacteria.  Habitats around the farm are vital homes for diverse species. They provide shelter, warmth and nectar, nesting places and food such as wild plant seeds and hedgerow berries. The better connected the habitats, the more effective they are, and they need protection from intensive agricultural activities.

  Field margin in Forncett Photo: Ally Rae

Many of our South Norfolk farmers already leave fallow plots for ground nesting birds such as skylarks and for the brown hare. Some are also supporting wildlife by adding networks of hedgerows and field margins for greater connectivity. Those on the old stewardship schemes have already got a head start. On awkwardly shaped bits of land winter bird seed mixes are appearing, and native wildflowers are sown. Margins and sometimes whole fields are being devoted to plants for pollinators, which often double as green manures to be incorporated later to help to improve soil structure.

Thank you to Nathan and the panel for a very stimulating and thought provoking meeting. Interesting discussions continued over refreshments. It made everyone aware of the importance of supporting our farmers as they come to terms with the changes the new legislation will bring.

What Can We do to Help?

• Be an informed consumer. Support your local farmers – short supply chains are best.
• Lobby your MP for sufficient financial support for conservation.
• Support the Norfolk Wildlife Trust and the Woodland Trust, all helping to support farmers in their task to restore biodiversity.
• Have a look at the work of Norfolk FWAG.

 

 

This event - a Talk and Q&A - will be an important one for farmers, other landowners, and gardeners wishing to keep up to date with environmental farming practices, so please put the date below in your diary (yes, it's Thursday for a change!) and share the information with anyone you know who would be interested, including those people who don't have access to technology and often miss out on publicity. 

Speaker Nathan Walker is the Farming Conservation Advisor for FWAG, (Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group.) 

The Association supports farmers in choosing some of the best ways to implement measures to enhance wildlife and landscape on farmland.

All are welcome - farmers especially; the rest of us will learn how to better understand and appreciate the life and work of the farmers who are at the heart of the communities of South Norfolk.

There will be a panel of down to earth people to discuss all your questions.

Free entry, but donations to cover costs are gratefully accepted.

Light refreshments will be served. Wine available.