Management ideas for winter

Hawthorn, with berries in hedgerow

Creating a lapwing nesting plot on set-aside

Apply for a derogation to cultivate an area of set-aside for nesting lapwings.

Do you have any fields that are already in set-aside or could go into set-aside where lapwings regularly nest? You can apply to cultivate a plot (a minimum of 2 hectares is ideal) in February or early March. If they are put in the right place then they are highly likely to attract nesting birds. It takes up to 10 weeks for derogation applications to be processed, so December is a good time to apply. It may also be possible to create these plots under agri-environment schemes in England and Northern Ireland, so this is an ideal time to try them out to see if they work for you.

Helping lapwings

Buy seed for wild bird seed mixtures

Now is an ideal time to buy a seed mix to establish an area of wild bird cover this spring. Creating up to a hectare of wild bird cover on set-aside or through an agri-environment scheme this spring will benefit seed-eating birds over the next few winters. The Game Conservancy Trust recommends mixtures of kale and cereal (drilled in March/early April) or kale and quinoa (drilled in late April/My) for a two-year mix.

Plan conservation work on your farm for this year

The relatively quiet winter months may provide the ideal opportunity to consult a conservation adviser, such as FWAG, for advice on wildlife-friendly management practices or applications for agri-environment funding (where applicable). To benefit farmland birds, identify what priority species are present in the local area, and try to provide their 'Big Three' - nesting habitat, summer food and winter food.

Thin overcrowded woodland

Woodland that hasn't been managed for a while will become tall and spindly, and offers little for birds and other wildlife. In time, the trees may start to die. Thin the wood by selectively felling tress that crowd others, leaving the strongest and any that are already dead or dying - dead wood is very valuable for wildlife and the health of the wood. Keep native species in preference to non-native sycamore and conifers. Meanwhile, take as much of the felled timber as you need for fuel wood or sale, and leave the rest where it lies to rot and feed the soil.

Do the birds need more grain?

If you are putting out grain waste (or pure grain if tailings are not available) along a farm track through the winter then you may find that demand increases between December and February, especially in spells of cold weather. This measure could help redress the loss of traditional food sources such as weedy stubbles, spilt grain, winter fodder for livestock and access to grain stores. It can also create a winter wildlife spectacle for the enjoyment of farmers and visitors to the farm.

Managing farmland bird feeding stations

Late winter is the best time for hedgerow management

If possible, hedgerow work is best done in January or February, allowing birds to make use of the berry crop through the winter and avoiding disturbance to nesting thrushes which normally start nesting in March. Hedgerow trimming is best done on rotation, rather than annually. If done on a 2-3 year rotation so that only a fraction of the hedges are managed in any one winter then this will boost survival of beneficial insect populations and food resources for birds. This policy should also save money.

Managing hedgerows

Retain areas of winter stubble

Winter stubbles provide seed food for birds in the form of spilt grain and seeds of weeds that germinated with the preceding crop. The best stubbles for birds are ones with no pre-harvest or post-harvest herbicides, which can be left untouched until at least mid-February. These stubbles may be funded by agri-environment schemes. Barley stubbles generally support more birds than wheat stubbles.

Managing over-wintered stubble

Winter is a good time to put up nestboxes

Nestboxes can be used to accommodate nesting birds such as tree sparrows or barn owls. Tree sparrows can be accommodated by clusters of nestboxes around the farmyard and use nestboxes with a 28 mm diameter entrance hole. Barn owls can be attracted to nest on farmland where there is plenty of rough grassland, such as field margins for them to hunt for small mammals. A large wooden box on its side in the roof space of an open farm building, or a barn owl nest box erected in a hedgerow tree may be used if there are no other available nest sites.

Nestboxes for owls and kestrels

Re-start derelict coppice

Over 40% of woodland lowland broadleaf woodlands used to be coppiced for fuel wood and other products. Now, only 4% is actively coppiced. You can recognise derelict coppice from the high number of multi-stem trees. Restarting coppice will have a very positive effect on birds, butterflies, other invertebrates and plants. Plan work now for the winter, and aim to cut a small coup (maybe 1/15th of the area) each year, and use or sell the wood for fuel or to local craftsmen.