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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![Skylark (alauda arvensis) sitting in heather, South Stack RSPB reserve, Wales]()
Get a farmland bird survey
Find out how to get a survey of the bird-life on your farmland.
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![Redshank Tringa totanus, in breeding plumage, Geltsdale RSPB reserve, Cumbria,]()
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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![Skylark Alauda arvensis, at the grassy edge of a small field. Cornwall]()
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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Hope Farm 20th Anniversary Webinar Series - Webinar 2 Cover Crops, Soil Health and Biodiversity
A summary of the 2nd Webinar in Hope Farm's 20th Anniversary series, by Sophie Mott, RSPB’s Conservation Advisor for Cambridgeshire If you’ve read the previous blog, you’ll already know about Hope Farm’s 20th Anniversary Webinar Series, five webina...
Posted 05/01/2021 by Georgina B -
Hope Farm 20th Anniversary Webinar Series - 1 - A tried and tested plan for wildlife-friendly farming?
A summary of the 1st Webinar in Hope Farm's 20th Anniversary series, by Sophie Mott, RSPB’s Conservation Advisor for Cambridgeshire In celebration of Hope farm’s 20th anniversary we are doing something a little different, with the launch of a series ...
Posted 06/12/2020 by Georgina B -
Cover Crops and bird populations at Hope Farm
Olivia Martin, an MSc Zoology student from Anglia Ruskin University, investigated the impact of cover crops, cultivations, and other crops on winter bird populations, using 5 years worth of monitoring data at Hope farm. In the U.K., many bird specie...
Posted 13/11/2020 by Georgina B -
Celebrating 20 years of Hope Farm
Back in 2000, the RSPB was looking to purchase a farm, to demonstrate and research wildlife-friendly farming methods that would still turn a profit. A pin was put in the map between Elsworth and Knapwell in Cambridgeshire, and Grange Farm (now named ...
Posted 09/11/2020 by Georgina B