How farmers, conservationists, governments, supermarkets, businesses and the public can help nature and farming thrive together.
Decades of government incentives to intensify food production in the UK have led to wildlife declines, degraded soils and polluted rivers and lakes. But it’s not just nature that’s affected. The loss of these natural systems has made farming harder.
Meanwhile, rising costs, extreme weather, market pressures, and policy uncertainty have made it even more difficult to run a profitable farm.
Today, more and more UK farmers are adopting regenerative and agroecological principles, leading the way to a food and nature-rich future. However, nature needs more farmers to build on these vital principles to create habitats that support wildlife all year round.
In turn, when farms work with nature, they become more resilient; the land becomes healthier, food production is more secure and wildlife can recover.
Discover the many benefits of nature-friendly farming in the full report.
We know nature-friendly farming works because we see it in action every day. Our new report showcases four great examples from across the UK.
Since 2017, the Ritchie family has partnered with RSPB Cymru and National Trust Cymru to restore damaged peatlands in the Upper Conwy Valley, bringing benefits to both nature and the community.
For 25 years, RSPB’s Hope Farm in Cambridgeshire has shown that farming can thrive while helping wildlife. Farmland birds have tripled, butterflies have quadrupled, and profits have held steady.
Funded by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), and facilitated by RSPB NI, this project has supported 33 farmers to create habitats for species like Yellowhammers, Linnets, and Skylarks through tailored advice and training.
Launched in 2009, this partnership is working with farmers and crofters across 10,000 hectares, to improve farmed habitats for important populations of Lapwings, Curlews, Oystercatchers, Redshanks and Snipe.
Many farmers and crofters are helping to drive the transition to nature-friendly farming. However, significant parts of the food system currently work against it. To succeed, scaling up nature-friendly farming will require a collective effort across the whole UK food system.
Our new report sets out some important actions needed to make this a reality, including:
Governments across all four UK nations need to support a fair and just transition to nature-friendly farming. This includes well-funded agri-environment schemes and tailored advice for farmers.
Businesses and retailers (including supermarkets) need to ensure their supply chains incentivise nature-friendly farming.
Banks must enable the transition to nature-friendly farming financially. For example, they should reflect its benefits in their terms and costs of lending.
Everyone has a role to play, and by using our voice and managing our choices, we can support a food system that works for nature and people.
Nature-friendly farming isn’t just an option. It’s essential to tackle the connected challenges that wildlife and farming face. We’re confident that this vision can become a reality if we all step up together.
To find out more about our vision and how we can all help bring it to life, read our new report, ‘Nature-friendly farming: securing a food and nature-rich future’.
In the UK, nature and farming are deeply intertwined, and because of this, farming is central to much of our work at the RSPB. One of our key priorities is supporting farmers and accelerating the shift towards nature-friendly farming.
On the ground, farming (especially livestock grazing) is a key feature in the management of many of our reserves. Therefore, we work with farmers and graziers to deliver a wide variety of habitats for nature.
Backed by our cutting-edge scientific research, our advisors also work with farmers across the UK to support a wider transition towards nature-friendly farming. Meanwhile, our demonstration arable farm allows us to trial and share the latest nature-friendly techniques.
This is all supported by our policy work and campaigning, where we engage with policymakers, businesses, and the public to showcase the benefits of nature-friendly farming. This helps to ensure that farmers have the support they need to bring nature back across our landscapes.