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Today's British farmers have two main goals; to provide the nation with food and to be custodians of the countryside, creating an inspiring landscape that supports diverse wildlife. Wildlife conservation and the working farm are closely connected in 21st century Britain. In years gone by, environmentalists had a generally negative view of agriculture, due to some of the working practices. Among the criticisms levied at farming was the use of pesticides, genetic engineering, pollutants, soil degradation and deforestation. Impact of deforestation The global clearing of forests on a large scale is a side-effect of agriculture that has impacted our planet. Scientists estimate forests covered around 75% of Britain 6,000 years ago. By the 17th century, they still accounted for more than 50% of our land. The industrial revolution, beginning in the mid-18th century and continuing through to the 19th century, led to the beginning of wide-scale deforestation. The growth in industry, the introduction of machinery and the population boom led to a decrease in forest areas. New villages were built and more land was taken over for agriculture. Trees were cleared to prepare land for crop production. By the early 20th century, woodland cover in Britain had hit an all-time low of only 5%, according to the Forestry Commission. Today, a programme of reforestation has increased woodland cover across the UK to 11%. However, many of the woods are small and isolated. The larger, older woods of more than 100 hectares (which have the highest biodiversity value) make up only 1% of the total cover in the 21st century. Irrigation effects Irrigation has also been accused of creating environmental problems. Applying controlled amounts of water to crops can lead to underground layers of water being depleted; impacting the planet, according to research cited in the Science for Environment Policy. Irrigation is accused of affecting the temperature of the land, changing how it reflects the sun's rays and increasing the release of water into the atmosphere. The study concludes that in the long term, this may affect rivers and freshwater supplies where water extraction and irrigation take place. For many green groups, farming had always been the enemy of the environment for these reasons. All of this changed in the 1980s, when a new body of research suggested wildlife conservation could go hand-in-hand with the working farm. Wildlife Conservation Research Unit The change in attitude came about as a result of studies by the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit at Oxford University's Department of Zoology. The concept seemed simple - that conservationists should work with farmers and not against them. Some 30 years ago, the original research was led by David Macdonald, who set out to provide scientific evidence to help farmers deliver a better future. His goal was to introduce farming practices to foster wildlife conservation, resulting in the type of countryside that society values. The project began with the WCRU asking farmers' opinions on how to better integrate wildlife on farmland. They were also asked about any problems they had with wildlife. This simple approach reflected the WCRU's mission to achieve practical solutions to conservation problems. Research continued, with large-scale studies of field management at Wytham, followed by experiments with set-aside land. Comparisons between conventional farming methods and organic farms were also studied. Then, landscape research across the Upper Thames and the Chichester Plain ensued. The purpose of the research and experiments was to determine the implications of agricultural development on natural habitats, with the goal of finding ways to encourage biodiversity and support essential ecosystems. Future of farming The study has resulted in a book, Wildlife and Farming: Managing for Nature on Lowland Farms. A practical guide, filled with advice on how to conserve wildlife on working farms, the book contains information on habitats and wildlife - helping to produce a land management summary. The research has led to blueprints on many aspects of preserving wildlife on farmland, including specific information on farmland bird conservation, landscape conservation, increasing biodiversity on agricultural land and more. Those whole led the project hope farmers will continue to adopt wildlife-friendly practices so nature and agriculture can live side-by-side. In the case of farmland birds, many UK populations have declined, due to the loss of nesting and foraging habitats. According to the RSPB, populations have suffered a marked decline since 1970, due to a reduction in mixed farming and the resulting loss of habitat diversity. This has led to fewer opportunities for birds to forage in diverse habitats throughout the year. In addition, increased field sizes have led to a reduction in nesting habitat and the loss of insect-rich foraging habitat. Field drainage means fewer wetland habitats and fewer soil invertebrates - a source of food for species such as sparrows and reed buntings. The RSPB studied 19 species of UK birds found on farmland and recorded a 48% average decline overall since 1970. The government has pledged to back any measures to reverse this reduction. Stewardship funding Countryside Stewardship funding has been introduced to support farmers in changing their habitats to help bird populations improve. The advice from the WCRU covers the provision of ideal habitats for birds on lowland arable and grass farmland. It suggests measures to increase seeds and invertebrates to attract birds, providing eco-friendly advice for areas with crops, including introducing over-winter stubble, conservation headlands and wild bird seed mixtures. The timing of mowing and grazing on grassland is also important. A diversity of habitats, including grassland, arable and non-cropped areas, can help farmland birds to survive. There has been a specific WCRU study on hedgerows for farmland birds, listing the relevant Countryside Stewardship options. The RSPB is supporting the increasing number of farmers in Agri-environment schemes, calling it a "positive trend" to enhance the farmed environment. The wildlife charity hopes that as more farmers take up Entry Level Stewardship options, we will see an increase in declining bird populations again. In the UK, around 70% of farmland is used for food production, but combining trees with farming (known as agroforestry) will help the planet by removing more carbon from the atmosphere, making farming more sustainable, according to Friends of the Earth. Now, pioneering farmers in the UK are doing their bit to benefit both farming and nature. Even relatively simple steps, like planting more hedgerows and increasing the number of trees on their land, will help in the future. With 475,000 jobs provided by agriculture in the UK, any steps to improve both productivity on farms and the quality of the environment will be welcomed by everyone.We use cookies to make your experience better. To comply with the new e-Privacy directive, we need to ask for your consent to set the cookies. Learn more.