Action Plan Information for...
Land Owners
Approximately 60% of Sussex is farmed and many of our Biodiversity Action Plan habitats and species are found on farmland. Landowners have a vital role in conserving a rich and healthy natural environment and managed well the farmed landscape can provide many opportunities for biodiversity.
Listed below are some of the many ways in which landowners can enhance opportunities for biodiversity. Financial support is available for undertaking many of these positive management activities and there are links below to organisations that can provide further advice and support.
Whole Farm Management
- Produce a management plan which identifies habitats and species on your land and the best ways in which they can be conserved and enhanced.
- Retain wildlife areas such as ponds, copses and pasture. Linking these areas together and buffering them from agricultural activities will further increase their value to wildlife.
- Clear ditches on a rotation to ensure that animals and plants are able to recolonise, and to provide a variety of conditions.
Arable Farming
- Provide wildflower or grass margins around field edges to provide cover for mammals such as hares, and nectar and pollen for insects.
- Leave small unsown areas in winter cereals to provide nesting plots for skylarks.
- Retain winter stubbles to provide a food source and cover for farmland birds
Livestock Farming
- Carry out grassland management before March to avoid ground-nesting birds, reptiles and insects.
- Allow access to redundant farm buildings or install boxes for bird species such as barn owls and swallows.
- Leave areas of long grass, scrub and deadwood to provide cover and hibernation sites for animals.
Woodland and Hedgerows
- Cut hedgerows and scrub on a two or three year rotation. Cutting in early spring before the bird-nesting season will ensure that birds and mammals can take advantage of winter berries.
- Avoid spraying field edges to protect hedgerows, watercourses and rare arable plants which may be present in field margins.
- Consider coppicing or selective felling in woodland to open up areas of the canopy and promote a varied structure.
Further Information
The Country Land and Business Association is the membership organisation for owners of land, property and businesses in rural England and Wales.
The Environment Agency advises on managing water, soils and manure, and provides information on catchment sensitive farming.
Farming Futures has information about climate change and how it will affect agriculture.
Farm Wildlife has case studies outlining the experiences of farmers carrying out conservation work on their land.
The Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group offers a range of advisory services regarding farmland biodiversity.
The Forestry Commission administers the English Woodland Grant Scheme and provides advice on managing farmland woodlands
The Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust researches game and wildlife management, and the effects of land management practices on the environment.
The Grazing Animals Project provides advice on all aspects of grazing with the natural environment in mind.
Linking Environment and Farming promote Integrated Farm Management to help farmers improve their environment and business performance
The National Farmers Union represents farmers and growers in England and Wales and aims to promote successful and socially responsible agriculture.
Natural England provides free advice for farmers and land managers, and delivers the Government’s programme of financial incentives for the protection and enhancement of the natural environment.
Sustainable Arable Farming for an Improved Environment presents the findings of a five year project looking at enhancing biodiversity on arable farms.
UK Agriculture aims to widen understanding about the role of agriculture in the countryside, and provides information about improving its biodiversity.
