A better way of life for wildlife - and farmers

The inaugural meeting of the agriculture and biodiversity advisory group (ABAG) was held at the Tyne Tees farming and wildlife advisory group office in Barnard Castle.

The group consists of a small number of volunteer farmers, all with an interest in wildlife, who advise on how the Durham biodiversity action plan can best be put in place from the farmers' perspective.

Members agreed biodiversity should not be seen as another cross for farmers to bear, but as a buffer against financial hardship which will allow improvements for farmland wildlife.

Mrs Lee Pike, FWAG farm conservation officer and group member, said the aim was to be practical and realistic rather than theoretical.

"It is no use us looking at schemes which are going to cost the farmer money in this day and age," she said.

FWAG was totally committed to the countryside stewardship scheme, but acknowledged it was not suitable for every farm.

ABAG may explore additional avenues of funding for smaller individual projects.

"We will look at the things we can do to help species without affecting a farm's commercial aspect," said Mrs Pike.

"The average age of farmers is 55 and we realise that not all want to commit themselves to a ten-year stewardship, no matter how good it is.

"We completely support the 'whole farm' scheme but there are now cases where it might not be an option."

FWAG believed the whole farm approach was the only way to go forward with conservation.

However it was flagging up the problems of farmers who did not want to go down that road, but who might want to restore hedgerows or create ponds to attract and conserve wildlife.

ABAG would look at the possibilities of smaller projects.

Mrs Pike cited the field restoration boundary grant, administered by FWAG and Durham County Council, as one scheme already in place to aid smaller projects.

Farmer Tony Wilson, NFU northern regional council delegate, loved to see wildlife on his farm and applauded farmers who tried to protect it.

But they were having difficulty at the moment in making enough money on which to live.

He thought it unlikely that farmers would want to, or be able to, forego income or increase their deficit to fund biodiversity.

For most commercial farmers food production was the number one priority; conservation was looked on as a crop that had to pay its way.

He was also concerned by the attitude of single issue groups, believing the countryside needed a balance of nature.

He did not shoot, but reluctantly agreed to allow a syndicate on adjoining land to cull partridge when he noticed coveys getting smaller.

From then on coveys started to increase to the ten-14s he had today. He felt that shooting stopped inbreeding, proof that conservation needed a system of culling to sustain a healthy balanced population.

He asked those present to remember that the most endangered species in the countryside today was the efficient British farmer.

"We have no conservation group to fight for our survival and you need us to look after the majority of the open areas of this beautiful country," he said.

"So please look after the British farmer who is the unpaid countryside warden on duty 24 hours a day, 365 days a year."

The group intends to meet four times a year, on farms.

It also hopes to develop practical agricultural initiatives.

Farmland is important for some species highlighted in the Durham biodiversity action plan and a recording form has been produced to enable farmers to record sightings.

The forms will be treated in confidence and will contribute to the knowledge of distribution and numbers of some of the most threatened species such as the brown hare, barn owl, grey partridge, otter and water vole.

The plan was given a boost last week when the county council agreed to give an annual contribution of £2,000 to ensure membership of the partnership.