Farming
We're working with farmers to find and share practical wildlife-friendly farming techniques.
Farming near you
Farming after Brexit
Following the decision in June 2016 for the UK to leave the European Union, major decisions will need to be made about how all governments across the UK support the environment, farming and rural development to replace the Common Agricultural Policy.
The RSPB, in partnership with leading UK conservation organisations, has called on the government to grasp the opportunity to provide more support to nature-friendly farmers and secure a better future for our countryside. We are currently working with farmers and others with expertise in food, rural development and conservation to achieve this.
Advice
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Get a farmland bird survey
Find out how to get a survey of the bird-life on your farmland.
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Helping species
If you know which birds are on your farm, then you can find out what they need and how you can help them.
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Managing habitats
Advice on how to manage habitats for wildlife on your farm, from margins, banks and headlands to meadows, scrub land and buildings.
Agriculture and land-use
Our work with government helps develop agricultural policies that support the vital work that nature needs farmers to do.
Hope Farm
EU LIFE+ Farmland bird project
The EU LIFE+ Programme supported our Farmland Bird Project, enabling us to provide free bird surveys, an annual wildlife-friendly farming competition and free practical advice for farmers from specialist experts in their own area.
Find out more about the project and how it’s helped us shape the new advice and support tools we have available for farmers.
Our work with farmers was kindly sponsored by the EU LIFE+ fund between January 2010 and September 2013, safeguarding the future of our farmland birds under the EU Birds Directive.
Nature of Farming Award
Our farming blog
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Agriculture Bill – things are about to get real
Tom Lancaster, Principal Policy Officer, provides an update on the Agriculture Bill This week, the Government’s new Agriculture Bill will get its second reading in the Commons. As the first opportunity for MPs to debate the Bill, and all that it mean...
Posted 09/10/2018 by Kathryn Smith -
Squeaky bum time for farming and wildlife
By Tom Lancaster - Principal Policy Officer, Agriculture for the RSPB As conservationists, we’re sometimes accused of being hyperbolic, evoking the threat of ecosystem collapse in every tweet, blog or magazine article. With recent studies suggesting ...
Posted 23/08/2018 by Kathryn Smith -
Movement on rural policy in Scottish Government
A Scottish Government consultation on a transition to a new rural policy closed last week. The theme was ‘Stability and Simplicity’, setting out plans to make the next few years as smooth as possible for land managers and rural businesses as we trans...
Posted 17/08/2018 by Kathryn Smith -
A hard year for crops and wildlife means early preparation for winter at Hope Farm
Blog post by Derek Gruar, Senior Research Assistant, RSPB Centre for Conservation Science and Georgie Bray, Hope Farm's Assistant Manager. Farming is a rewarding but very challenging test of resilience for many reasons. This year has been particularl...
Posted 16/08/2018 by Kathryn Smith
How are we doing?
We've been making changes and we'd love to know what you think.