Conservation Thread

[Kevtherev]

Could this be an idea to start a thread on farm conservation projects on your farms?
Wildlife ponds
Wildflower meadows
Tree and hedgerow work etc.
Farmland birds.
Conservation work is something I’ve always been heavily involved in with projects like pond restoration and creation,hedgerow coppicing and Laying plus establishing wild flower meadows.
Just an idea so that we can show the general public on here what we do as landowners.
I know @Clive is involved with bird monitoring on his farm.
Good idea ???
Many of you are already doing your bit so post pictures of anything on farm even if it’s a small area.

 

[Kevtherev]

@Chris F

 

[Clive]

good idea

 

[Kevtherev]

One of a pair of tawny owls born on farm last year in some old buildings.

 

[Clive]

View attachment 793302
One of a pair of tawny owls born on farm last year in some old buildings.

Great to see - the surveys being done on our farm have found Tawny, Barn and Little owls recently all breading - they are suggesting that they are doing well as the unincorporated crop residue is providing habitat for the mice they prey upon

Lapwing and Golden plover also in very healthy numbers - I wil post some of their recent reports

 

[Kevtherev]

Pair of leverets I moved to safety on a farm in some crops due to be cut.

 

[Clive]

This was a recent survey result on a 80ac block of wheat near out yard - and see the advice re controlling foxes, these guys are not like the Packhams of this world, they understand the countryside and that some species need to be controlled to help others

Hi Clive


Really impressed with the number of birds seen tonight, I have no doubt there was more than the below but we tried to blitz a number of fields tonight in order to get a feel for what’s about. I’ll list the species below however if you would like a break down per field then let me know.


Common Snipe - 30

Woodcock - at least 5

Fieldfare - 4

Golden Plover - 2

Skylark - at least 35 - favouring the rape

Grey partridge - 4

Stock Dove - 1


We ringed 2 woodcock and 2 Skylark, we could have ringed the stock dove but was in poor health so released it without ringing.


Skylark tend to be in larger flocks which we leave alone and look to ring the individual birds.


We saw at least 10 foxes and could see in the Thermo that they were flushing some birds. I think Ground nesting birds may struggle to be successful with this number of foxes. 7 of them were in the fields leading up to your offices. 3 were over the other side of the field in the rape.


All in all a brilliant night and just shows how your farming methods improve wildlife habitat.


Cheers


Ben

 

[Campani]

This woodland. Wasnt planted by me, but the last generation on a steep bank of pasture. I went in two years ago and felled a lot of trees to give it more diversity. It was all trees of the same age and height no gaps. I have left the wood piled on the floor to provide dead wood for insects. The extra light has allowed loads of new ground plants to flourish, including this bluebell. The first I have ever seen in the wood.

 

[Clive]

Hi John, Clive


Went out last night on the fields leading to your unit and the rape field opposite.


Would you mind sending me an electronic copy of your map so I can work out the other fields please.


Totals as follows:


Seen

70 Common Snipe

12 Golden Plover

5 Woodcock

2 Fieldfare

25 Skylark

3 Grey Partridge - 2 being paired


Ringed

3 Skylark

1 Grey Partridge, adult male



These numbers are really good and shows us that this farming method is definitely the way to go to improve wildlife habitat.


Are you on any stewardship schemes?


Number of rabbits

5 foxes

1 badger


Thanks


Ben

 

[7610 super q]

Repairing walled garden walls ( Possibly 17th Century )
Habitat for lizards etc. Too quick for me to get a pic.....

And conserving elderly blue tractors....

Rescuing pheasants...

 

[Still Farming]

Had a go at all .

 

[Cab-over Pete]

I’m conserving wildlife by restraining myself from shooting 6 doves that insist on crapping all over my machines.

Short of park everything outside, what can I do?

 

[Still Farming]

I’m conserving wildlife by restraining myself from shooting 6 doves that insist on crapping all over my machines.

Short of park everything outside, what can I do?

Spend thousands and bird proof sheds

 

[Cab-over Pete]

Oh.

 

[Kevtherev]

Couple of my late grandfathers records from one of his old bird books.
A very keen conservationist he wrote little notes of the rarer birds he saw whilst farming.

 

[reverand]

In others experience, do curlews go a fair bit quieter once paired and nesting? I heard them 4 weeks ago but I haven’t heard them hardly at all since. The lapwings are a lot quieter now since nesting but there are more of them and more visible. I’m worried the curlews have moved on

 

[Dan7626]

Before and after of a pond I cleared this winter
Stupid phone put them all upside down

 

[Kevtherev]

Water going to fall out dan [emoji23]

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Dont you risk getting unwanted visitors at night if you advertise your wildlife.

 

[Dan7626]

Water going to fall out dan [emoji23]