farming for a living landscape

Farming forA Living Landscape

Protecting Wildlife for the Future

Ten examples of wildlife-friendly farming schemes from around The Wildlife Trusts

Abbotts Hall Farm, Essex

Conservation Grazing

Lincolnshire’s Coastal Grazing Marsh

Lower Smite Farm, Worcestershire

Avon’s Wildf lower Grasslands

Gowy and Mersey Washlands, Cheshire

Mendip Hills, Somerset

Pastures New, Dorset

The Meres and Mosses of the Marches

Vine House Farm, Lincolnshire

Cover image: Brown hare (c) Bertie Gregory / 2020VISION

Farming for

A Living Landscape


Abbotts Hall Farm lies close to the Blackwater Estuary on the Essex coast – an area of international wildlife importance. Essex Wildlife Trust purchased the 283 hectare arable farm in 1999 and manages it using modern agronomic practices, whilst also farming very much with wildlife in mind.

The farm also shows how sustainable approaches to coastal management can lead to the creation of coastal marshes that are vital natural flood defences, benefitting both wildlife and people.

Essex Wildlife Trust has introduced gradual changes to the cropping practices of the farm to increase the benefits to wildlife whilst maintaining farm profitability. The original cropping pattern was retained from 1999 until 2003 in order to establish baseline data, allowing the impact of any changes to be fully assessed.

A crop rotation scheme is used to maintain soil fertility and prevent the build up of diseases, and wherever possible crop varieties with high

resistance to pests and diseases are chosen. The main crops are wheat, barley and oats, together with oil seed rape and beans. Every effort is made to reduce the need for spraying but when pesticides are used, they are applied very selectively and at times least likely to damage scarce species.

Although autumn-sown crops are generally more successful than spring-sown ones, some fields are sown in the spring to achieve a more open sward and

benefit ground nesting birds such as skylark. This also means that stubble can be left over the winter to provide an important food source for birds. Patches are left undrilled in autumn-sown crops to provide nesting habitat for skylark.

As a member of the Guild of Conservation Grade producers, the Trust has to leave 10% of the farm’s land as wildlife habitats. Higher Level Stewardship has helped to achieve this and is an important framework for nature conservation on the farm.

Abbotts Hall Farm, Essex

Wildlife friendly cropping

Farming for wildlife on the Essex coast

Abbotts Hall Farm is also the Trust’s headquarters

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Whitethroat singing from a hedgerow

Six metre field margin at Abbotts Hall

Sheep graze the farm’s grassland

Coastal wetland restoration The costal marshes of Essex are disappearing rapidly, posing a major problem for coastal wildlife but also for people as building higher and stronger flood defences becomes prohibitively expensive. In partnership with the Environment Agency, the 3.5 km sea wall along the farm’s southern boundary was breached in five places in 2002, an approach called managed retreat or coastal realignment. This allowed the tide in and out and has encouraged coastal marshes to develop on the strip of arable land behind the sea wall. These marshes developed quickly, giving immediate benefit to wildlife and forming a natural sea defence. Intensive monitoring of water movements, water quality and wildlife in the estuary is underway. This sustainable approach will benefit the estuary as a whole, including the people who use it, live by it and enjoy its great interest and beauty.

Managing field margins for wildlife

Field margins are managed in a variety of ways to support biodiversity. Some are sown with specially formulated grass mix and left to regenerate naturally, whereas cultivated margins are ploughed each year to allow annual plants to grow. For the six metre margins, the outer two metres are cut every two to three years so that tussocky grass forms, providing habitats for beetles, spiders and nesting birds. The network of hedges and field margins across the whole farm forms a valuable wildlife corridor of connected habitats.

Grassland on the farm

The farm also supports a small (35 hectare) area of permanent grassland, some of which is let out for grazing for part of the year. This grazed area receives some fertiliser in the spring but is not sprayed. The remaining grassland is also fertilised, and is cut for hay in the late summer, benefitting wildlife. These fields are grazed in the autumn to improve the grass cover in the following year. In the winter the short grass is used by birds including wigeon, lapwing and starling.

Hedgerows for wildlife at Abbotts Hall

Hedgerows have been restored by coppicing trees to the ground and planting saplings in any gaps. This ensures that there are always hedges of different heights providing song posts for bullfinch and whitethroat, as well as low hedges for grey partridge. Road and trackside hedges are trimmed with a hedge flail to allow access but some 2-year-old wood is left to flower, providing pollen for insects and fruit for birds. Mature trees have been left in hedgerows to support bats and owls and the farm also supports woodland habitats, which are home to a wide range of insects, small mammals, and birds.

The Wildlife TrustsThe Kiln, WatersideMather RoadNewarkNottinghamshireNG24 1WT

Tel: 01636 677711

A Living Landscape is a recovery plan for nature championed by The Wildlife Trusts to help create a resilient and healthy environment rich in wildlife and provide ecological security for people. To find out what advice and support is available from a Wildlife Trust near you, visit wildlifetrusts.org/farming

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Farming for

A Living Landscape


This project demonstrates how value can be added to agri-environment schemes through ongoing liaison with landowners and the engagement of volunteers in practical conservation work in the wider countryside.

A spatial approach is being used to target work on land that contributes to core habitat areas and develop the surrounding network to provide links across the landscape.

Since the project began in 2008, Avon Wildlife Trust has surveyed more than 2,000 ha of land on 162 farms. This activity identified 820 ha of species-rich grassland, 146 ha of which was not recorded before the project started. A further 642 ha of semi-improved grassland was identified as having restoration potential.

Traditional management of species-rich grasslands involves cutting for hay and/or grazing with livestock.

Animals that graze on a mixed diet of grasses and broadleaved species are often healthier, with the lower input costs giving an economic benefit to the landowner as well as a positive benefit for ecosystem services. Combining gains for wildlife with potential commercial benefits for landowners is a high priority for the project.In most instances, Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) is the preferred route for funding grassland management and restoration work.

The project team has so far secured 14 HLS agreements covering more than 600 ha. The project’s grassland survey results and recommendations have led to a further 5 HLS agreements.Where there is land that is not suitable for an agri-environment scheme, the Trust provides some funding for work such as scrub management, fencing to re-introduce grazing and green hay or wildflower seeding to increase species diversity.

Avon’s Wildflower Grasslands

Identifying and managing wildflower grasslands

Achieving landscape-scale change

Volunteers help with tasks like fencing

Surveying grassland in the project area

Landowner workshops proved popular

Grassland ecosystem services

Wildflower grasslands carry out important functions across the agricultural landscape. The insects they support are crucial for the pollination of agricultural crops and this habitat provides food for all stages of their life cycle, as well as areas for breeding, egg-laying and pupation.

Invertebrates in wildflower grasslands play an important role in dung removal and soil creation.

Wildflower meadows provide food and breeding areas for predator species such as beetles, spiders and parasitic wasps, which in turn carry out natural pest control of insects in arable crops.

Grassland soils are a major carbon sink and many wildflower species sustainably fix atmospheric nitrogen.

Making connections

Working with Natural England, the project has combined its grassland survey results with agri-environment options data and habitat layers to carry out a simple spatial analysis. The results show the level of connectivity, how HLS is contributing to this and where HLS could be targeted to fill any gaps. Landowner relationships are vital to this process and a “connectivity” map of people willing to undertake habitat restoration work has also been produced. The Trust holds workshops for landowners to look at connectivity and how their landholdings contribute towards the bigger picture.

Landowner advice and support

HLS provides a financial incentive for landowners but is not always able to provide the ongoing support required to achieve the desired results. Project staff produce survey reports and offer management advice to those landowners with wildflower grassland. They also undertake site visits to discuss management options and provide follow-up advisory service and assistance with specific tasks that are difficult to achieve within the normal farm schedule. This service is not restricted to landowners in HLS.

Adding value

The project is able to bring additional investment to all landowners committed to habitat conservation, whether or not they are in an agri-environment scheme. For example, Avon Wildlife Trust is able to bring in volunteers to control bramble, remove invasive hawthorn and blackthorn, help out with hay-making and pull ragwort. Many of the fields in the project area are small and on slopes, making it difficult for farmers to use machinery. So, following consultation with the landowner, supervised, trained and well equipped volunteers are making a big difference. The Trust has also developed a “Landscape Explorers” education programme, linking schools with local landowners and getting them involved in community activities.


Tel: 01636 677711


For more information on this project, please contact Charlotte Owen ([email protected])

Farming for

A Living Landscape


The introduction of grazing is often the most cost effective and sustainable conservation method available to land managers.

Habitats including calcareous grassland, lowland heathland, wood pasture and coastal marshes are part of cultural landscapes created by humans, often as a by-product of subsistence farming. These habitats are dependent on grazing to maintain the delicate balance of plants, insects, birds and other species which make them unique. As farming practices have changed over the years, there have often been negative consequences for these habitats as a result of either over- or under-grazing.

Grazing is the most natural form of management for certain habitats. Livestock can access areas that machinery can’t and the impacts of grazing are less instantaneous than other methods, such as burning or cutting, which means that less-mobile wildlife can thrive. Grazing also supports other beneficial farming activities, such as hay making, which secures active management for valuable meadow habitats.

Stocking densities for conservation

grazing are usually low and the timing and duration of grazing are carefully managed. Both over- and under-grazing will reduce the wildlife value of a habitat, soorganisations like The WildlifeTrusts produce management plansfor each grazed site, outlining thegrazing regime required to maintainor restore the habitats found there.

The Wildlife Trusts collectively own more than 7,500 grazing animals, including traditional and rare breed sheep and cattle,

native ponies, red deer and even water buffalo. We also use localgraziers to help manage sites.Hardy native breeds are ideal for conservation grazing because they don’t need high quality grass, happily eat coarse vegetation and cope well with living outdoors in winter.

Many Trusts have ‘flying flocks’ of animals that are moved between reserves and partner sites on rotation to allow them to graze for set periods depending on each site’s requirements.

Conservation grazing

Managing habitats for biodiversity

Why graze?

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Living lawnmowersGrazing animals eat selectively and often choose the more dominant plant species, which allows less competitive plants to become established and increases overall species diversity. As the animals graze across the landscape, they decide for themselves where to concentrate their efforts and this creates a mosaic of different sward lengths and micro-habitats. Lying, rolling and pushing also serve to increase the structural diversity of the sward. This is important for ground nesting birds like lapwing and snipe that need a varied sward structure to success-fully rear their young. Trampling creates areas of bare ground, which is beneficial in moderation. It creates nurseries for seedlings that might not otherwise survive and creates habitats and hunting grounds for open ground, warmth-loving invertebrates and reptiles.

Choosing the best animals for the job

The choice of livestock used for conservation grazing is very important. Differences in feeding preferences, physiology and behaviour mean that different animals and breeds are needed to manage different habitats:

Cattle use their tongues to wrap around and pull up tufts of vegetation, leaving uneven sward lengths and producing a tussocky field. They will eat longer, coarser grasses and push their way through scrub and bracken to create open spaces.

Sheep prefer to nibble shorter grasses but will also select flower heads, which can result in a decrease in species diversity if not properly managed. Many traditional and hill breeds have a strong browsing requirement to their diet, so are good for scrub control.

Ponies preferentially graze grasses and generally avoid eating flowering plants, allowing them to thrive and multiply.

Heavier animals break up the ground and create bare areas for seeds to germinate. Hooves also haphazardly push seeds into the ground.

Smaller breeds can access more difficult terrain, such as wet ground, where other breeds would cause damage or even get stuck.

Sustainable local food

A low intensity, conservation driven approach to managing livestock can also look after itself financially. The animals are crucial to the management of habitats like heathland and wildflower meadows but looking after them still incurs a cost. By providing conservation-grazed beef, lamb and dairy produce to the local community, some of those costs are recouped and reinvested in sustainable land management. The creation of local markets can help to rejuvenate rural economies and preserve traditional rural skills, as well as rare breeds, to protect our cultural heritage.


Tel: 01636 677711


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Farming for

A Living Landscape


Cheshire Wildlife Trust’s vision for the Gowy and Mersey Washlands is to restore, recreate and reconnect a network of wetland habitats, providing ecosystem services in conjunction with high quality nature conservation resources to benefit local people, the environment and the economy.

The Trust is undertaking landscape-scale wetland creation by working with landowners farming on the rivers’ floodplains. Many fields next to the rivers are so efficiently drained and farmed that they no longer resemble flood meadows; this project aims to reverse that trend without damaging an individual farm’s business.

Provision of landowner advice is key to making a positive impact. Concentrating on areas adjacent to existing Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) agreements with the greatest potential for wetland habitat restoration and creation, Cheshire Wildlife Trust is providing on-the-ground hydrological and ecological evaluations to help farmers make their HLS agreements a success. HLS agreements in the area are restoring more than 120 ha

of floodplain grazing marsh, improving the condition of 19 ha of species rich meadows plus a range of other farm management practices to help wildlife. A further four farms began HLS agreements during 2013-14 which should restore or improve a further 50-100 ha of grazing marsh. In addition, local farmers are supporting the project by restoring ditches, creating ponds, fencing water courses where appropriate and granting access for surveys of key wetland species.

Close working with the Environment Agency has created opportunities to raise water levels and manage extensive ditch systems for key species such as lapwing and water vole. Water management structures such as sluices, ditches and bunding are key elements in making this landscape work for wildlife; by ensuring that they are adjustable, water can be controlled in both wet and dry periods to meet the needs of wildlife without compromising flood defence functions.

Gowy and Mersey Washlands, Cheshire

Maximising the value of Higher Level Stewardship agreements

Creating a resilient network of wetland habitats

Gowy and Mersey Washlands Living Landscape

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A sustainable source of local food

The Kubota digger in action

Marsh harriers are breeding in the area

Conservation grazingCheshire Wildlife Trust has been grazing wildlife sites and reserves throughout Cheshire since 2006. Today, the Trust manages one of the largest English Longhorn herds in the UK, as well as more than 300 Hebridean sheep and 80 Dexter cattle. The Trust’s conservation grazing herds now look after more than 500 hectares of land and have restored 266 ha of floodplain grazing marsh. At Wervin Meadows, Dexter cattle have transformed 35 ha of rough grazing into a key site for breeding lapwing, which increased from zero to 25 pairs in three years. Other landowners in the area are now using the Trust’s herds to help them achieve their agri-environment options. Monitoring is underway to assess the effect of different management prescriptions on the grass sward, which is so crucial to wading birds and associated terrestrial invertebrates.

Enhancing river corridors for wildlife

Major habitat restoration works have successfully reinstated the traditional course of the Gowy at the Trust’s Hockenhull Platts reserve, a key site within the Living Landscape area. New watercourses linking the Gowy with existing ponds and wet grasslands were created using a specially adapted Kubota digger with double-width tracks for a lighter tread on fragile areas. Overflow pipes allow the river to feed into the new wetland several times a year, providing a dynamic new habitat for otters, water voles and other wildlife.

The return of the marsh harrier

Efforts to create a mosaic of wetland habitats within the Living Landscape area proved a huge success when in 2010 the marsh harrier, one of the UK’s rarest birds of prey, bred successfully in Cheshire for the first time ever. With around 360 breeding pairs in the UK, they are usually confined to the east coast and the only other west-coast breeding has been in Lancashire and the Isles of Scilly. As a species reliant on high quality wetland habitats such as reedbeds, the arrival and success of these birds clearly demonstrates the quality of the new habitat that has been created.

Wild About Conservation MeatThe Trust’s grazing herds are also generating an income as part of the Wild About Conservation Meat project, which aims to establish a supply chain for Longhorn beef and Hebridean lamb and to broaden public understanding of sustainable farming and healthy living. All produce is reared and processed in Cheshire, using local abattoirs fully equipped for handling and processing traditional breeds of cattle. This helps ensure transportation distances or ‘food miles’ are kept to an absolute minimum and minimises stress to the animals.


Tel: 01636 677711


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Farming for

A Living Landscape


This partnership project is protecting and restoring grassland and wetland habitats in ways that provide income for farmers. It demonstrates the benefits of a targeted approach within a landscape-scale framework to lever funding from a variety of sources and promote both food production and other ecosystem goods and services provided by pastoral farming and biodiversity enhancement.

The project’s aims can only be achieved with the support of the farming community. Unfortunately, a combination of expiring classic schemes, market trends and potential budget cuts threatens to undo the achievements made to date.

Lincolnshire’s coastal landscape was once characterised by long, narrow fields separated by a network of water-filled ditches, which kept the land dry enough to produce a good crop of grass. These permanently wet ditches were very rich in wildlife and the fields provided ideal conditions for birds like lapwing and snipe to breed.

Over the last fifty years, more and more of this pasture has been cultivated and now grows arable crops: 25% of the grassland was

ploughed between 1990 and 2000. Where grassland and water-filled ditches remain, the typical grazing marsh plants and animals are merely hanging on. The distinctive landscape, with its associated rich wildlife, is fast disappearing.

The Lincolnshire Coastal Grazing Marshes Project aims to reverse the decline in biodiversity in the grazing marshes, whilst encouraging the retention and re-establishment of viable pastoral farms and stimulating local

economic activity through tourism and marketing locally produced quality goods and services.

Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust and partners are working in four core areas covering more than 9,000 ha (Saltfleetby, Huttoft, Burgh Le Marsh and Croft).With the aid of agri-environment funding, remaining areas of grassland have been protected and extended and it has been possible to influence drainage without affecting neighbouring landowners.

Lincolnshire’s Coastal Grazing Marsh

Opportunities for people and wildlife

Restoring a productive pastoral landscape

Demonstration events are popular

Landowner advice is the key to success

Golden plover numbers have increased

Wildlife benefits

In the Burgh Le Marsh area, Bratoft Meadows SSSI is now surrounded by grassland in HLS and the Countryside Stewardship Scheme. Raising water levels as part of these schemes has produced rapid results. Three years after re-creating grazing marsh on 35 ha of arable land, breeding birds included 74 pairs of lapwing and the density of wading birds’ nests exceeded 3 per ha. Winter counts of wetland birds have increased, with more than 3,000 golden plover and 2,000 lapwing. These areas are beginning to rival the North Norfolk Coast for birdwatching and HLS agreements include all-ability access routes and hides. In addition to the valuable bird habitats supported by the extensive wet grasslands, the intersecting, permanently-wet ditches support water voles, eels, dragonflies and greater water-parsnip.

Continuing loss of wildlife-rich grassland

Despite the Project’s efforts, the future of Lincolnshire’s grazing marshes looks bleak. As classic agri-environment agreements expire, financial support for grassland conservation dries up and valuable habitats are put under the plough. The Project cannot achieve its aims without the ability to retain grassland and encourage more farmers to value livestock farming. The current uncertainties of CAP reform, coupled with market trends and potential cuts to Rural Development budgets, threaten to undermine efforts to create the very ecological networks that will support sustainable farming systems.

An uncertain future

In Lincolnshire, 116 Countryside Stewardship (CS) agreements will expire in 2013. Some had the option to transfer to HLS but, considering current market trends, the outlook is not good. A further 66 CS agreements will expire in 2014 but there is no contingency plan in place for these farmers, many of whom have commited heavily to the scheme and made major changes to their farming practices. The absence of proactive support for transition threatens to undo the good work that has been done in securing long term commitment from farmers to deliver environmental benefit.

Recognising the value of permanent grassland

Very urgent action is needed to find ways of making traditional pastoral systems financially viable to the farmer, so that valuable grassland habitats are as productive in terms of income as the areas converted to arable or biomass production. Incentive schemes must recognise the high-value, multiple benefits - for the environment and climate - of permanent grassland within a mosaic of arable land. To achieve this, farmers need continuity of adequate, competitive funding and confidence in long-term support to be able to be deliver biodiversity objectives that benefit everyone.


Tel: 01636 677711



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Farming for

A Living Landscape


Lower Smite Farm is a 68 hectare mixed-arable working farm, owned and managed by Worcestershire Wildlife Trust since 2001. The farm is an average size for Worcestershire and is a mix of conventional and organic arable, permanent pasture and woodland. The farm is in ELS, OELS, HLS and the EWGS (England Woodland Grant Scheme). The farm buildings also house the Trust’s HQ and Wildlife and Farming Centre, which hosts visits from more than 3, 500 school children each year. The farm is already of national importance for its existing assemblage of rare arable flora and in 2008 was the West Midlands runner-up in Natural England’s ‘Future of Farming’ Award.

Farming operations at Lower Smite aim to maximise biodiversity by enhancing soil health and providing year-round habitat and food supplies for farmland wildlife, whilst facilitating the Trust’s education programmes and achieving economically-viable returns from commercial farming enterprises which reflect the Trust’s values.

With around 75% of terrestrial wildlife living in the soil, a thriving soil food web is vital to the recovery of the majority of farmland wildlife,

most of which continues to suffer ongoing declines. A healthy soil is also fundamental to establishing a resilient cropping system.

Since the post-war drive to intensify farming, the soil at Smite had steadily declined in terms of humus content, organic matter and soil wildlife, particularly earthworms. As a result, the soil had become almost totally reliant on artificial inputs to grow arable crops and this was associated with costly heavy cultivations to create seedbeds.

Enhancing soil health is therefore a priority. By 2015 the Trust aims to increase soil organic matter by 3% (after 3 years it had increased on average by 0.5%) and earthworms by 30%.

To help achieve this, a wide range of ‘green manure’ mixes have been planted, including red and white clovers, cocksfoot, yellow trefoil and phacaelia. These mixes ‘feed’ the soil and encourage microbial activity. They also provide good forage for sheep and cattle.

Lower Smite Farm, Worcestershire

The importance of healthy soil

Farming for wildlife

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Herefords arriving at Lower Smite

Barn owls hunt over field margins

Sunflowers - food for farmland birds

Education and demonstrationSince the Lower Smite Farming and Wildlife Centre opened in 2005, the Trust’s People and Wildlife team has received on average 3,500 school children visitors each year. The education buildings are purpose-designed and there is a full range of teaching resources and fieldwork equipment. Full use is made of the farm to investigate life cycles and of the restored 17th Century granary to look at building materials. Various livestock are present at different times of year. The farm’s copse and the pond feature heavily in ‘mini beast’ habitat days with Reception children through to ecological techniques with ‘A’ level students. There is also a substantial flower and raised-bed vegetable garden adjacent to the main building, which is managed by volunteers.

Organic farming at Smite

Half the farmland at Lower Smite is now managed organically and as the Trust explores new directions, a diverse range of crop types are grown including traditional varieties of strawberries, blackcurrants, orchard trees, spring wheat and forage crops. Forage is fed to livestock on the farm and also traded for farm yard manure and operations. Household compost is imported. A neighbouring farming family rents the remaining arable land and under the auspices of the Trust grows cereal and forage for their dairy herd as well as carrying out operations for the Trust on the organic land.

Wildlife friendly farming standardsWorcestershire Wildlife Trust has developed a ‘wildlife friendly’ farm audit, which assesses the entire land holding including species records, cropped and un-cropped habitats and connectivity within and throughout the landscape. The aim is to recognise existing efforts to maximise biodiversity and agree on actions which will further enhance nature’s ecosystem services, whose benefits include pollination, insect pest control, predation and natural erosion control.

Adding value to conservation grazing

Worcestershire Wildlife Trust is working in partnership with local farming enterprise Old Yarr Estates and its sister farm, Treberfedd Farm in Wales, whose traditional Herefordshire breed cattle graze the Trust’s meadows (after the hay cut) and temporary clover and chicory leys. Grazing is key to preserving the structure and diversity of these valuable grassland habitats and cattle dung also houses numerous invertebrates, which in turn are fodder for other wildlife. All three land holdings have been audited and Old Yarr Estates’ wildlife friendly Beef Box is the first product to be marketed through this approach. We are now looking at sheep, pigs and poultry.


Tel: 01636 677711


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Farming for

A Living Landscape


The Mendip Hills are home to some of the most valuable grassland wildlife habitats in Somerset. Somerset Wildlife Trust manages more than 600 hectares of grassland on the hills but the Living Landscape covers 26,000 hectares, much of which is more intensively grazed for commercial beef and dairy production.

The small, isolated patches of species-rich grassland contained within Trust nature reserves will not be viable in the long term. The challenge is to create ecological networks by reconnecting these core areas of grassland habitat so that wildlife can disperse and adapt to future changes in the landscape.

In order to build coherent and resilient grassland ecological networks, we first need to understand their current state. The Mendip Living Landscape team has been completing habitat surveys across the landscape since 2006 and are fortunate to have the entire landscape mapped using Aerial Photo Interpretation (API).

With this data we have been able to model grassland networks across the Mendip Hills Living Landscape.

These grassland networks are in places highly fragmented and in order to build their resilience we’ve been working with the two industries that have the most significant impact upon the landscape of the Mendip Hills: agriculture and aggregates.

To fund the restoration, creation and maintenance of priority grassland habitats the Mendip team has used Higher Level Stewardship where available (approximately

half the Living Landscape is within an HLS target area). However, focussing solely on restoration and recreation of priority habitat is expensive, time consuming and unrealistic over such huge tracts of agricultural land.

In order to link separate parts of the grassland networks, we’re also trying to increase the permeability of the majority of the landscape, which is intensively farmed, through our Seeds For Change project.

Mendip Hills Living Landscape, Somerset

Creating resilient grassland networks

Disappearing grasslands

The Mendip Hills Living Landscape

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Monitoring grassland species diversity

Harvesting an EK21 grass crop

Increased floral diversity benefits wildlife

Seeds for ChangeTo demonstrate that agricultural grassland can produce resources for wildlife, as well as a high quality grass crop, seed trials were established to compare the farmer’s usual seed mix (species poor, typically one or two grasses with red or white clover - right of image ) with an enhanced diversity seed mix (6 grasses, 9 legumes, 6 forbs - left of image ). Farmers managed both mixes as they would normally do, with a compulsory resting period of at least three weeks in the summer (no cutting or grazing) to allow the plants to flower. The quantity and quality of the grass crop from each seed mix did not differ, which is crucial if farmers are to be encouraged to plant the new seed mix. In all the trial sites, floral abundance and diversity were a lot higher in the enhanced diversity seed mix, providing significantly more pollen and nectar.

The importance of agri-environment fundingThe Seeds for Change enhanced seed mix is now available as an ELS option - EK21 (200 points/ha). Somerset Wildlife Trust is using ecological network modelling to identify areas on farms where this option could make a real difference to how grassland species move across the landscape. Higher Level Stewardship has been the mainstay of habitat creation, restoration and maintenance and the Mendip team has helped many landowners enter HLS agreements, selecting management options that are great for wildlife and the farmers.

Working with the aggregates industry to restore the landscapeSome 1,800 hectares in the Mendip Living Landscape is contained within active quarries or in quarry company hands (three times the area ofTrust grassland reserves). Somerset Wildlife Trust has worked with the Minerals Policy team at the County Council to include ecological networks developed by the Mendip team as the basis of future landscape-scale restoration of the minerals industry. These networks were developed using computer modelling in partnership with Forest Research and county ecologists.

Monitoring landscape scale progress

Assessing how the Mendip landscape has been enhanced for wildlife over such a large area is challenging. The Mendip team is focusing on ‘pinch points’ in the ecological network, monitoring the condition of habitats and the way that species are using them to assess how the team’s support to farmers and work with the aggregates industry is helping wildlife over the long-term. Monitoring the landscape in this way will provide the evidence needed to lobby for better targeting of agri-environment schemes with appropriate options that support landscape-scale conservation in the way advocated by Making Space for Nature and Biodiversity 2020.


Tel: 01636 677711


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Farming for

A Living Landscape


The meres and mosses form the largest and most ecologically diverse cluster of natural wetlands in lowland England. They are of international importance for their biodiversity; here you will find 13,000 hectares of peat deposits, Europe’s greatest concentration of ponds, rare floating bogs and glacial lakes.

However, core sites are now isolated in a landscape of highly productive farmland and have suffered from reduced water quality, extensive drainage and inappropriate management. We are working with farmers and landowners to rebuild a robust ecological network, supporting positive action both to protect wildlife and strengthen farm businesses.

The 2011 Natural Environment White Paper heralded a “step change in nature conservation” and designated 12 Nature Improvement Areas (NIAs) across England. The Meres and Mosses of the Marches is one of these. This Defra pilot programme provides the ideal opportunity to test new approaches to delivering A Living Landscape.

Existing initiatives such as Catchment Sensitive Farming, Entry and Higher Level Schemes

all operate within the Meres and Mosses area, yet water quality continues to decline and biodiversity diminish.

Whilst existing schemes all have good elements, none of them provide an integrated approach to delivering a truly living landscape with thriving businesses, abundant wildlife and basic ecosystem services on which we all rely: clean water, carbon capture and recreational opportunities.

Meeting the challenge of restoring a fully-functioning living landscape in the Meres and Mosses demands joined-up thinking. We have a moment of real opportunity to combine support for rural business development, agri-environment schemes, Water Framework Directive and the NIA to give something far greater than the sum of its parts and provide the step change in nature conservation that is so desperately needed.

The Meres and Mosses of the Marches

Nature Improvement Area – a new approach

Shropshire and Cheshire Wildlife Trusts

The Meres and Mosses Living Landscape

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Bog cotton at Wem Moss

Building food links

Despite being a rural area, there is a growing disconnection between farmers and local communities. Many people no longer understand how food is produced but within the Meres and Mosses we hope to restore some of these links. Just down the road is a great model, Fordhall Farm.It is owned by the local community and encourages visitors but is a genuine working, commercial farm - the first of its kind in England. We will back a range of measures to rebuild a sustainable food chain, helping to develop food festivals, farmers’ markets and farm shops together with support for developing novel products from vodka to sports drinks and blueberry sauces. Food is a great leveller; increasingly we care about where it comes from and what impact it has on the environment.

Trusted farm advice with a business focus

We provide site-specific farm advice, including help with agri-environment scheme applications and on-going support with the implementation of scheme options. The relationship between farmer and adviser is key to adding value to agri-environment schemes; advisers need to be embedded in the locality with sufficient local knowledge, expertise and time to provide support. This must take into account both business and environmental needs, so the aim is always to provide integrated advice to maximise delivery of multiple benefits; for example creating nutrient plans to save money, reduce pollution and benefit wildlife.

Local flexibility and targeting of agri-environment schemes

Agri-environment schemes are designed nationally but in order to be successful at the local level it is important to recognise subtle differences from farm to farm. Although the whole farm is initially considered, it is often key fields that provide the solution to creating a landscape permeable to wildlife. Working at a field scale demands a flexible set of scheme options and these need to be implemented within an effective, enforced regulatory framework to gain the maximum possible benefit for the environment.

Understanding catchments

Each mere and moss wetland has its own catchment. Nutrients and pesticides can all too easily find their way into wetlands, which is damaging, wasteful and expensive. Encouraging farmers to work in catchment groups has multiple advantages; they share knowledge and expertise, peer pressure brings on the less willing and they have a stronger voice in shaping policy. Catchment groups and soil clubs are helping to protect wildlife and strengthen farm businesses.


Tel: 01636 677711


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Farming for

A Living Landscape


Pastures New is a landscape initiative led by Dorset Wildlife Trust that takes practical action to halt and reverse the decline of wildlife habitats in west Dorset. The project has laid strong foundations for a wildlife-rich, resilient and ecologically functional landscape.

The work aims to protect and extend priority biodiversity habitat across a landscape identified as a Strategic Nature Area. The initial goal was to secure positive management for 2,765 ha of priority grassland habitat over a total project area of 25,509 ha. The majority so far has been chalk grassland and lowland meadows, sitting in a mosaic of woodland, hedgerows and other wildlife features.

Working with Natural England, Dorset Wildlife Trust has facilitated the entry of 11 farms in the Beaminster area into a collective landscape-scale Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) agreement.

These farms represent vital core areas of habitat but none of them would have qualified for HLS funding individually. Creating a single HLS agreement, spanning several landowners, has ensured positive management of these core areas.

Under the joint HLS agreement, Pastures New has secured 109 ha of grassland management and restoration; 3.3 kilometres of hedgerow restoration and high quality management; management of a further 80 ha of grassland to benefit key target species; and management of traditional orchards and woodland. In addition to the collective agreement, a further 27 HLS and 38 Entry Level Stewardship agreements have been secured in the project area.

To date, Dorset Wildlife Trust’s experienced advisors have provided free advice to more than 400 landowners, held 17 events and road shows and carried out 14 grassland management demonstrations in the project area.

The Trust has also provided more than £36,000 of capital funding to install fencing and water supplies and support the use of a Rytec cut and collect machine for both seed collection and scrub cutting.

Pastures New, Dorset Wildlife Trust

Delivery of agri-environment at a landscape scale

Making wildlife-rich grasslands work

“ Without f inancial help, it would have been diff icult to manage cattle grazing on this specia l corner of the farm.”

Kevin Wallbridge, West Dorset Farmer

...and Hilfield after restoration

Harvesting seed for habitat restoration

Hilfield before...

Land management and habitat creation

The Trust’s grazing brokerage has provided a practical way of managing grasslands across the project area by linking graziers to sites in need of grazing. Key pieces of machinery, such as the cut and collect machine, are shared in a similar way and have been used to restore some of our valuable grasslands.

The Trust’s volunteer task force has put in over 1,000 days of work to help create and manage grassland sites. This has positively affected management or created grassland on over 4,000 ha across West Dorset. The Pastures New volunteers provide much-needed support in managing grasslands outside nature reserves and tasks, such as scrub control, could not have been achieved without their help.

Seed harvesting and grassland creationThe project has enabled the Trust to use its register of existing Local Wildlife Sites and, in certain circumstances, SSSIs to provide local sources for green hay and seed. In addition, the Trust has used a local contractor to brush harvest sites and dry out seed for sowing for other projects requiring more specialised techniques of restoration. To date the project has seeded 36 sites and created over 70 ha of new grassland.

Hilfield Grassland Restoration Project

This 4 ha site was enhanced using green hay from a Trust nature reserve. The work was undertaken using a combination of volunteer help and machinery. The result is a flower-rich meadow that is cut for hay to provide winter forage. Aftercare management was initially carried out using neighbouring livestock, identified through a grazing brokerage scheme. But the restored field inspired the landowners to purchase and manage their own livestock.

Re-connecting people with nature

Pastures New has enabled local people to be involved in managing their landscape and to understand how wildlife, food and farming are fundamentally connected. The involvement of local communities, volunteers and particularly farmers, working in partnership has enabled the enhancement of habitats for wildlife and the production of food in ways that help manage and mitigate against the continuing pressures facing the countryside.


Tel: 01636 677711



Farming for

A Living Landscape


Vine House Farm spans 800 hectares in the South Lincolnshire Fens and has been farmed by the Watts family for 130 years.

The present owner, Nicholas Watts, is passionate about wildlife and started recording breeding birds on the farm in 1982. This changed his whole approach to farming and led to the establishment of a successful mail order bird seed business, selling home-grown seed across the UK.

Nicholas has received a number of prestigious conservation awards in recognition of his dedication to wildlife, including in 2006, the MBE for services to farming and conservation.

Having documented a worrying decline in farmland birds, Nicholas set about implementing a number of measures on his farm to reverse the trend.Initially, there was no funding available for these activities but with the development of agri-environment schemes they became economically viable.

In 1992, set-aside became compulsory and this stimulated Nicholas to actively manage these areas for wildlife. Although farmers

were not required to manage the set aside areas, Nicholas chose to do so, resulting in greater wildlife benefits across 10% of his farmed area. By allowing his set aside to mature and by planting part of it with wheat grown specifically for bird food, he attracted hundreds of birds and commenced work to reverse the decline of key farmland bird species.

Over the years, work to improve habitats on the farm has increased and evolved and this has resulted in

some notable success stories, set against a continued nationwide decline in farmland bird populations.

Adjustments to the flail mowing regime have seen an increase in whitethroats from just three breeding pairs to as many as 22 in some years whilst management of redundant ditches, especially ditches close to rape seed fields, provides ideal habitat for sedge warblers Tree sparrows and barn owls have also benefitted from management of the land at Vine House Farm.

Vine House Farm, Lincolnshire

Farmland birds – their fall and rise at Vine House Farm

A conservation award winning farm in the Fens

Nicholas Watts with a sunflower crop

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Cultivated weed margin

One of the farm’s barn owl towers

Wildfowl benefit from wetland areas

Diversification The initiatives at Vine House have been driven primarily by Nicholas’ love for wildlife but have also allowed the farm to receive support through various agri-environment schemes. The most significant farm diversification has been the development of a successful mail order wild bird seed business. The farm started selling rape seed to local enthusiasts who had come to witness the hundreds of birds attracted to the farm after Nicholas started feeding them in winter. Since then, the business has grown into a major concern selling home grown bird seed all over the UK. From 2007 onwards, a partnership with The Wildlife Trusts has seen 5% of turnover from the business distributed to Wildlife Trusts, who are taking local action for wildlife. The bird seed production is thus producing benefits on and off the farm and providing a life line for declining species such as the tree sparrow.

Working with the landscape

Farming in the fens has for centuries relied on a network of dykes to provide land suitable for growing crops. Mechanisation of farming has meant that fields have become bigger and many dykes have become redundant and been filled in. At Vine House Farm, dykes have been maintained and managed as essential wetland habitat. Working with the local drainage board Nicholas has encouraged sensitive management practices on active dykes which are sensitive to wildlife and reed warblers now commonly nest in vegetation along these managed watercourses.

Habitat creation

Several large ponds have been established to provide habitat for birds and invertebrates. They are complemented by spinneys planted to provide woodland habitat on the farm. Twenty acres of wildflower meadows and 13 miles of cultivated weed margins provide insect habitat, and four miles of planted hedgerow provide food and shelter for many species, such as small mammals. Specially built towers provide nesting places for barn owls which hunt across the farmland. Agri-environment schemes have provided support for these initiatives and helped to sustain the economic viability of the farm business.

Engaging the public

Apart from offering high quality advice on feeding garden birds the farm opens its gates to the public several times a year for farm tours. The farm also has its own nature reserve, complete with hide, which is open to the general public. For more information on the farm’s conservation measures, please visit vinehousefarm.co.uk/conservation.


Tel: 01636 677711



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