Farmland birds declining in England, RSPB reveals
The charity calls on the government to better support farmers tackling declines.
A report into the population of the UK’s birds has revealed concerning statistics for England’s farmland birds.
Between 2019 and 2024, the indicator tracking England’s farmland bird population recorded a 13 per cent decline. This continues a trend dating back 50 years, impacting birds such as tree sparrows, turtle doves and yellowhammers.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) has credited the UK’s farmers with tackling these declines, by farming with nature to help wildlife recover.
However, the charity also warns that farmers’ efforts could be in danger if the government does not step in. Thousands of farmers in England could lose their funding in December, with Countryside Stewardship (CS) Mid Tier agreements set to end.
The agri-environment agreements currently fund farmers’ work to take action with nature and climate on their farms. This includes creating habitats for birds and other wildlife.
The RSPB warns that, without these schemes, farmers may be tempted to remove wildlife-rich habitats to intensify their production.
The charity is calling on the government to offer farmers a one-year extension to these agri-environment agreements and help farmers to transition to new, ambitious schemes.
It is also encouraging the government to increase the number of farmers that are part of the higher tier schemes, as well as improving the entry-level scheme. The RSPB says this will support farmers to manage 10 per cent of their land for nature.
The calls follow a petition earlier this year, signed by over 100,000 RSPB supporters, which called for the government to keep investing in nature-friendly farming. The charity says that, while the government has listened, it hopes these latest stats will remind them of the urgency.
Katie-Jo Luxton, executive director of global conservation at the RSPB, said: “For farmland birds in England, this accelerated decline reflects that, despite some positive progress, the rollout of new agri-environment schemes is missing the mark.
“Well-designed agri-environment schemes can recover nature, the evidence is clear, but the current schemes are not delivering their full potential for nature.”
Image © Martin Mecnarowski/Shutterstock.com
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