17 Nov FiPL grant identifies how to attract more farmland birds
With funding secured from the Defra funded Farming in Protected Landscape (FiPL) Programme via the South Devon National Landscape , organic dairy farmer Geoff Sayers of Carswell Farm near Holbeton has undertaken a bird survey to follow-up a baseline survey undertaken by Devon Birds in 2017.
Over the last 10 years habitat enhancement and management improvements have been made whilst still maintaining productivity levels within the dairy system. The results from the 2024 survey have provided an estimate of the breeding and wintering bird population numbers on the farm (see graph). This information on the abundance and distribution of bird populations has informed land management decisions and future ambitions and targets in relation to key farmland bird species. It was particularly pleasing to see the increase in species such as cirl buntings 8-16 and skylarks 33 – 121 .
Changes at Carswell Farm included reducing cutting hedgerows to biannually allowing hedgerows to become taller, wider, and denser producing more berries and nuts. Supplementary wild bird feed was scattered at targeted locations and multiple areas of wild bird cover were established and retained each year providing food for birds during the winter, particularly Cirl Buntings. Scrub was encouraged in some areas and in other areas, where scrub was present in large blocks, rides and openings were cut creating more structural variation and subsequent nesting habitat. Grazing of the dairy cattle was reduced in fields with a higher quantity and variation of wildflowers focusing on allowing these plants to flower and set seed.
These actions all aimed to increase the suitability of nesting habitat and/or the availability of food for birds, which has in turn increased the number of birds the farm habitats can support.
Geoff Sayers owner of Carwell Farm commented “At Carswell in the post war era farming was about maximising production, which meant the landscape was not always the best for wildlife. Since the late 90’s we have farmed organically and try to enhance the habitat every year. The bird survey shows that the birdlife continues to improve, it is not just anecdotal!”
Roger English – Manager South Devon National Landscape commented ”This FiPL funded survey demonstrates that small changes in management like reducing the frequency of hedge trimming and creating more winter food sources can improve habitats for farmland birds. We hope that other land managers will follow suit and see an increase in birds on their farms.”
FiPL: https://southdevon-nl.org.uk/farming-in-protected-landscape-programme-2021-2026/
2024 survey: Robbie Phillips: [email protected]. Full details of the bird survey can be found in the Carswell Farm 2024 Breeding & Wintering Bird Survey Report v1.0 (Robbie Phillips Ecology Ltd 2025).
