Frontier Agriculture’s people are probably unaware of the environmental impact of their farm demonstration days. Frontier organises open days on the farms where test plots are grown of its seed varieties. These test days are attended by hundreds of farmers who want to view the test plots and meet with Frontier staff and other growers.

Frontier agriculture demonstration farm open day

I live near one farm that Frontier uses and the demonstration takes place over two days in mid-June. In preparation for this the farmer has all the verges round the farm cut back, this includes trimming deep into the ditches on the farm. In addition many of the hedges are cut back. The intention appears to be to make the farm look neat and tidy.

It is of course vital that the prime arable land in Suffolk is as productive as possible and over 95% of the farm’s land is cropped and farmed very efficiently to produce food.

Verge and ditch mown down mid June, flowers and ground nesting birds gone

The remaining few percent of the land not in production are the field and road edges and the hedges, these are the only places where wildlife can live. Plantlife the wild flower charity states that road and field verges are now the most important wild flower habitats in England. Virtually all unimproved hay meadows in Suffolk have been ploughed up. Road and field verges are now the only place where wild flowers can be found. The verges are also home to ground nesting birds including game birds. Many songbirds are still nesting in hedges in mid-June.

Hedge cut back in Mid June when birds are still nesting

Cutting road and field verges in mid-June prevents wild flowers from producing seeds, so annual and biannual flowers cannot reproduce. Many wild and game bird young are abandoned and starve when hedges and verges are trimmed too early.

Grass verges and hedges do need managing. If verges are cut back in July, like old hay meadows used to be, wild flowers can seed and thrive. If hedges are left until birds have fledged in mid-July no harm is caused to them.

Left hand verge managed by another farm, Flowers left to seed, cover for ground nesting birds

Road users complain that the road verges grow high. In part this due to the high loads of fertiliser spread on them. Frontier wants the test plots to look good, but the fertiliser is spread so wide that even the roads look like hail has fallen during the spring.

Frontier could put more substance behind the environmental statements on their website. Demonstration farms do not need their grass and wild flower verges made to look like lawns and their hedges trimmed in mid June. More effort can be made to target the application of fertiliser and sprays to the crops and keep it off verges, field margins and roads. These actions are cost neutral and will bring a significant environmental benefit. If this was promoted as good practice to the landowners who come to the open days, Frontier could make a really positive environmental impact with very little effort.

Song birds shot in thousands as they migrate. The last few years the headlines have been from Malta and this year the RAF land on Cypress was the main focus. The images of “hunters” with shot swallows and turtledoves are guaranteed to generate anger, indignation and calls of “something must be done”. The hunters say they have always shot migrating birds, “it’s tradition”. However they have more and much better guns and more time for shooting and kill far more than they traditionally did.

Green lane hedges cut back on all sides degrading a once rich wildlife area

It is very easy to blame bad men from other places for the declining bird population. But, environmental evidence on the decline of wildlife in the UK always points at loss of habitat as the main cause. What does habitat loss mean and should our anger and calls for “something to be done” be better directed towards what we can do?

Village hedge, bottom growth rooted out reducing value for birds and insects

Habitat loss is a direct result of what we do in our gardens, farms and shared spaces. In and around my village I can see the result of our decisions. The churchyard is mowed nearly every week starting in the spring, primroses and other wild flowers are fewer every year and in some parts even the grass has been taken over by moss. The old yew tree has been cut down, it used to provide food, shelter and nest sites. The spiky growth round the bottom of the limes trees is cut away again destroying food and shelter. Only the newer graves need to be mowed every week, the older part of the churchyard could be managed like a hay meadow allowing wild flowers to thrive providing food and shelter to birds and insects.

once primrose rich churchyard stripped of wild flowers by over mowing

Village hedges are cut back vigorously even during the nesting season, any growth at the bottom is removed including the nettles that are the food for many butterflies. Lawns are cut short right to the edge this year starting in February. The little mud nests of house martins are cleared away from house eaves to prevent the mess from their droppings. Road verges in the village are mowed weekly killing most of the wild flowers.

Churchyard grass dying and taken over by moss due to over mowing

On local farms only the field margins and hedges are used by wildlife, but these have been cut right back this winter destroying food and shelter. Hedges do need to be managed but can be trimmed just on one side on a four year cycle instead of both sides and the top at the same time.

Field margin, new hedge growth and ditch stripped bare. wildlife value destroyed

Our footpaths and bridleways are mowed and cut back as much as three metres wide even during the nesting season. They have become wide lawns with little wildlife value. Road verges are cut before the wild flowers and grasses have set seed and become more sterile every year.

Lime tree stripped of base growth, once home to insects and birds

All these small decisions and actions that we take are the cause of habitat loss and a major cause of the huge decline in wildlife. The ride-on mowers and strimmers that are now the sound of summer are destroying the small wild corners that were the home to wildlife in our village.

Scrubby field corner used by butterflies flattened destroying habitat and nest sites.

We are right to be angry about people thoughtlessly shooting wild birds but we also need think about our own actions and care for the wild places in our gardens and farms so the birds that do return at least have a haven here.

Red-legged partridge, using the feeder. March Suffolk. Alectoris rufa

There are some residents and a steady stream of visitors. Two dunnock are always present but hide in the long grass and yellowhammers use it as their home base. A handsome pair of shelduck come in to top up and moorhen creep in warily. In-between these visitors, rats dart in and out cautious of the half metre of open ground. And of course there is a steady stream of red-legged partridge and pheasants filling their crops.

Moorhen pausing to look, March Suffolk. Gallinula chloropus

The feeder is on the edge of a field that has been managed for wildlife and game birds for many years. My hide is next to it so I can photograph the hares that live, and have their young, in the field. Despite the game shooting ending in January the feeders are kept filled by the gamekeeper through to early summer. Late winter and spring can be very difficult for seed eating birds. Feeding through this period helps keep them alive, healthy and better able to breed in early summer. At least two pairs of grey partridge come to the feeder; plump would be a polite description, fat more accurate.

Grey partridge puffed up early morning. March Suffolk. Perdix perdix

Between the hares there is lot more to see, the thick bramble and blackthorn at the base of the hedge not only hides partridges but also smaller wild birds. I often see a stoat; it either darts across to the waste straw dumped on the field or hunts the rats which use the feeder. I have seen it with two young rats but so far I’ve not been quick enough with my camera. It ignores the birds, rats seem to be the food of choice.

Green woodpecker feeding on mossy ground. March Suffolk. Picus viridis

The short grass around the feeder is a favourite feeding area for a green woodpecker that probes and attacks the ground looking for food just metres away from me. The ruts made by the gamekeeper’s vehicle are still full of water and shy snipe come out of the longer grass to probe the soft mud for worms and other food.

Snipe looking for food, March morning Suffolk. Gallinago gallinago

There are many more feeders dotted around both Halls and Little haugh farms, on a quick drive by the odd pheasant or partridge can be seen. But, spending a few hours next to the feeder shows that it is a hub of activity allowing both game and wild birds to survive the toughest months and be strong enough to breed in the spring.

Shelduck pair using the feeder. March Suffolk. Tadorna tadorna

Seemingly persistent winter rain stopped at the beginning of March to be replaced by persistent wind. Rain and wind are the enemies of barn owls, one soaks their feathers and the other makes it difficult for them to hear their prey deep in rough grass. The meadow backing onto the straw barn at Halls farm is sheltered from the wind by tall hedges on three sides. From early March a barn owl has come out from the straw and quartered the meadow from mid afternoon taking voles back to feed his mate who is preparing to lay eggs deep in the straw.

Barn owl flying out of winter sunset. Suffolk. Tyto alba

The Barn owl tends to follow the same circuit often pausing to listen from posts and tree branches and then slipping over the hedge to hunt in the orchard next to the farmhouse. When the wind gets too strong he stops but as soon as gusts reduce he comes back out.

Barn owl preening on post March afternoon. Suffolk. Tyto alba

Rough thick grass in the meadow is home to many voles and mice, the barn owl must have caught hundreds of them over winter but the supply seems inexhaustible. The barn owl is very territorial about this meadow, if another owl tries to hunt it is driven away with hissing screeches, one of the few times adult barn owls make a noise.

Barn owl mobbed with wing up. Winter sunset. Suffolk. Tyto alba

However, the meadow is used by other hunters, buzzards often pause in the old oak trees in the hedge, peering down looking for food, they are quite happy to eat voles as well.

Barn owl retreating from buzzard. March evening. Suffolk. Tyto alba

Last Saturday the sun had just set and I had my camera pointed at the barn owl sitting on an oak. A buzzard shot into the frame straight at the barn owl, the pair fell with the barn owl peeling off before hitting the ground. The Buzzard then came and sat in the tree next to me.

Buzzard on oak branch. March sunset Suffolk Buteo buteo

Since then the barn owl has been less bold in his daytime hunting, coming out later and for much shorter times. Perhaps the change in the hunting regime is unrelated, but it does seem to be a strong coincidence.