Why farming matters and what you can do

Farming is of fundamental importance for wildlife. Farmland provides breeding and feeding habitats for birds and other animals and plants. Three-quarters of the land in the UK is farmed, and food production is a vital activity on which we all depend.

Since World War II, farming policy has encouraged large-scale, efficient food production, often at the expense of wildlife. In many areas of the UK, populations of farmland birds are in big trouble.

The RSPB believes that we can develop agricultural and trade systems that meet our need for food without reducing the benefits of farming for wildlife.

Nature of Farming Award

Now in its third year, the Nature of Farming Award celebrates the efforts of farmers providing for wildlife on their farms. Do you, and your farm, have what it takes to win the 2010 competition?

Find out more

In 1999, we bought a working lowland arable farm, Hope Farm, in Cambridgeshire. Run as a commercial enterprise, we use Hope Farm to give hands-on demonstrations of how farming can benefit birds and other wildlife without farmers losing income.

Your gift today will help us continue testing the introduction of new wildlife friendly farming techniques.

Gift donations for Hope Farm

The generosity of our supporters is vital, and Hope Farm relies on regular gift donations to help with its work.

Find out more about making a gift donation

Hope Farm diary

Keep up to date with the goings on at Hope Farm by logging onto the blog.

Read the blog

Farmer spotlight

Michael Sly

Michael Sly is the Chairman of the Cambridgeshire Group of the Campaign for the Farmed Environment and a keen advocate of the Farmland Bird Package. More...

Michael Sly, Cambridgeshire

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Latest farming news

Lapwing bathing

The lapwings of Lisnaskea

6 November 2009

Imagine having a whole area of international conservation importance on your doorstep? Would you be in the Amazon, Sumatra or the Grand Canyon? What about Lisnaskea in Co Fermanagh?

Male skylark singing from fencepost

Farmland bird figures confirm urgent need for action, say RSPB

29 October 2009

Government figures released today (0ct 29, 2009) give a mixed picture of the fortunes of farmland birds in England with a continued downward trend in populations, but some tentative signs of recovery.

George Eaton - NOFA 2009 finalist

George will plough award winnings back into conservation

28 September 2009

George and Ann Eaton from Tingewick in Buckinghamshire narrowly missed out on winning the Nature of Farming Award and £1,000 in prize money. This annual competition is backed by the RSPB, Butterfly Conservation, Plantlife and BBC Countryfile magazine and seeks to find the most wildlife friendly farmer in the UK.

This website has case studies of farmers managing habitats for wildlife, a discussion forum for farmers to ask any questions on farm management for wildlife conservation and a library of information on farm wildlife conservation with links to other relevant websites.

Find out more