Wild flowers on farms the best habitat for wildlife say ecologists

By Louise Gray, Environment Correspondent

Farmers in Britain are encouraged to sow wild plants on crop margins as part of subsidised environmental schemes.

However a new study has found that grass alone will not help wildlife as much as planting flowers like knapweed, yarrow and bird's-foot trefoil.

Conservationists said the research showed how important it is for farmers to grow more wild flowers, especially for rare birds like yellowhammers and skylarks. Ultimately it will encourage predators like barn owns and kestrels.

The research, published in the journal Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, found field margins could provide food for animals more cost-effectively than "whole farm practices" such as organic farming – but a variety of margins needs to be managed well to provide food all year round.

Wild flowers provide more seeds for insects and birds. Also hedgerows need to be provided alongside the margins to maximise nesting opportunities for birds and habitat for insects.

Richard Winspear, senior agricultural adviser with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, urged farmers to consider incorporating flowers into margins they sowed this autumn.

"If farmers are planting further margins this autumn, then there are significant further benefits to adding flowers to the mix," he said.

"Flower-rich margins hold the greatest variety and abundance of insects of any margin type. Such margins alongside watercourses could be a simple way for farmers to benefit both wildlife and water quality."

Farmers include field margins alongside their crops as part of agri-environment schemes subsidised by Europe, which pay them to manage their land for the environment.

The RSPB and other groups had wanted farmers to be required to set aside a certain amount of land for wildlife in order to replace the benefits of the old "set-aside" scheme that had benefited wildlife by leaving land fallow.

However the Government has chosen to stick with a voluntary programme, the Campaign for the Farmed Environment, to persuade farmers to leave land for wildlife.

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