INFORMATION about wild-life-friendly farming is being sent to farms in the region, in an attempt to increase rare bird species and plants.

About 2,000 arable farms across the North-East are to be sent leaflets containing information by the RSPB, the Government and farming and wildlife advisory groups.

The information spells out methods of farming that could help reverse the severe decline in birds such as corn bunting and tree sparrows, as well as certain plants and insects.

Options under the Countryside Stewardship Scheme, run by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) will also help protect other farmland birds such as the grey partridge, yellowhammer and lapwing, as well as insects and rare arable plants.

The leaflet contains details of how the scheme works, management options and payment rates.

David Hirst, from the RSPB North of England office, said: "Farming holds the key to the better conservation of typical birds of arable land because these birds depend on habitats and food sources that can only be maintained by farmers.

"The RSPB welcomes the new Defra information leaflets and we hope that many farmers in the North-East will be attracted to the benefits of the new arable options. The activities that qualify for payments under the scheme can make a real difference for some of our best-loved countryside birds."