media release
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00:01 hours Wednesday July 29
Wildflowers on farms will boost wildlife, finds latest scientific report.
Wildflower field margins are a greater boost to farmland birds and other wildlife than grass alone, according to a new report.
The paper published in the latest edition of the scientific journal Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment highlights the significant benefits for biodiversity of creating flower-rich margins around arable fields.
The RSPB is urging farmers to consider incorporating flowering plants such as knapweed, scabious, yarrow and bird’s-foot trefoil to any grass mixtures in margins that they will be sowing this coming autumn.
Richard Winspear, the RSPB’s Senior Agricultural Adviser, said: “Flower-rich margins hold the greatest variety and abundance of insects of any margin type. Such margins alongside watercourses could be a simple way for farmers to benefit both wildlife and water quality.
“Grass margins are a popular option for farmers and they do have wildlife benefits, such as boosting predatory insects and small mammals, and providing hunting areas for barn owls and kestrels. However, if farmers are planting further margins this autumn then there are significant further benefits to adding flowers to the mixtures.
“As with all wildlife management, increasing the diversity of habitats you create increases the range of wildlife that will benefit.”
The RSPB recently signed up to the Campaign for the Farmed Environment – which was set up by the National Farmers Union and others to replace the environmental benefits of set-aside in our countryside. The campaign is encouraging farmers to put measures in place to benefit biodiversity, farmland birds and natural resources such as watercourses. The report – entitled Arable Field Margins Managed for Biodiversity Conservation – shows that creating a diversity of wildflowers in field margins can help farmers achieve all three of these aims.
-Ends-
Notes to editors:
- The scientific review reference is: Vickery JA, Feber RE and Fuller RJ (2009) Arable field margins managed for biodiversity conservation: a review of food resource provision for farmland birds. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 133: 1-13. For a précis of the paper click here -
For more information contact:
Nik Shelton, RSPB media officer 01767 693554/07739921464
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