Page 17 - Conservation Impact Report 2016

Conservation Strategy Conservation Impact

A wide range of measures to benefit farm wildlife are ■■ Creation of bespoke areas such as skylark plots and
in place on our agricultural holdings including in-field arable margins within arable areas has benefited
skylark plots, beetle banks, margins sown with nectar farmland birds such as skylark (Alauda arvensis) and
and pollen-rich species, uncropped headlands and corn bunting (Miliaria calandra). Arable populations
over-wintered stubbles to provide winter seed. These are stable with a mean 5 corn bunting territories
measures are to specifically benefit seed and insect- and a mean 8 skylark territories between 2010 and
eating birds like corn bunting and skylark, but also have 2015.
benefits for pollinators, small mammals and overall
biodiversity. ■■ One site with extensive rough grassland margins
supports a significant population of harvest mice
Brown and black hairstreak caterpillars are entirely (Micromys minutus), with over 100 nests in 3 fields.
limited to blackthorn, of specific, but different, ages.
Black hairstreaks require old, mature blackthorn ■■ The site also has a stable population of barn owl
while brown hairstreaks need young, tender growth. (Tyto alba) (mean of 6 young fledged per annum
Management is therefore focused on ensuring that at between 2005 and 2015); although this fluctuates
any given point in time there is sufficient blackthorn greatly in response to the weather.
at these different growth stages – coppicing and
laying are used to create the right balance. New ■■ At least 8 sites support brown hairstreak (Thecla
hedges containing a variety of native species have betulae) populations. Rotational hedgerow
been planted to benefit a range of birds and insects. management is undertaken to provide the young
Blackthorn, common hawthorn and hazel are the blackthorn growth required by the caterpillars. At
dominant species in the mixes, with other flowering the sites with the largest populations, numbers are
and fruiting shrubs included and oak and field maple, currently stable.
these latter will be allowed to develop as standard trees
along the hedgerow. Tree sparrow boxes are put up in Figure 7. Brown hairstreak eggs -
suitable locations. trend at one meadow site

Management of rough grassland is a careful balancing
act. Too frequent cutting or grazing will destroy the
tussocky grassland structure needed by the small
mammals, but too long a gap will result in scrub
invading and shading out the grassland altogether.
Currently, a mix of grazing and grass cutting with
the tractor is carried on a varied rotation to establish
which works best where to create the ideal structural
diversity. Any invading scrub which is too big to be cut
or grazed is removed by hand. In addition to the crucial
habitat management one site has six barn owl boxes.
These provide places for the owls to roost in, nest and
increase the population of this important farmland
bird.

35 Structure of the agricultural industry in England and the UK at June, DEFRA, www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/structure-of-the-agri-
cultural-industry-in-england-and-the-uk-at-june (accessed 19 August 2016)
36 M. Eaton et al., Birds of Conservation Concern 4: The Population Status of Birds in the UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man, British Birds 108, December
2015, p. 708–746
37 Brown Hairstreak, Butterfly Conservation, butterfly-conservation.org/50-1309/brown-hairstreak.html (accessed 22/8/16
38 UK Priority Species Pages, Joint Nature Conservation Committee, jncc.defra.gov.uk/_speciespages/2428.pdf (accessed 22 August 2016)

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