Yesterday the Government made a decision which could have a major long term effect on the populations of some of England’s best loved birds.
It’s not immediately obvious how European butter mountains relate to skylarks but bear with me here and I’ll explain.
The butter mountains were just one result of surplus food production in the 1980s. In response the government began paying farmers to take some of their land out of production – the set aside policy. One unintended effect of this policy was that farmland birds like skylarks, yellowhammers and linnets found a rich habitat across the countryside in amongst the unharvested pockets of land.
But food prices have risen in recent years heralding an end to set aside – and an end to the valuable nesting and feeding spots they provided. In response the Government began pondering what farmers could do to replace the environmental benefits of set aside – and stirred up a major debate which has been raging across the countryside for months.
Yesterday at the Royal Show environment minister Hilary Benn announced that farmers would not have compulsory environmental measures placed on them in order to carry on receiving subsidies – instead a voluntary scheme will be introduced.
Now the RSPB did support a compulsory approach and we were engaged in a healthy debate with the National Farmers’ Union on the issue. But now the dust has settled and the decision has been made, we’re gearing up to join forces with farmers to make this scheme work.
Farmers provide an essential habitat for wildlife in this country and there are measures they can put in place which can make a real difference for UK birds – we’re now relishing the challenge of helping them do just that.