New Forest plea over Big Farmland Bird Count

FARMERS and landowners are being urged by a New Forest nature charity to take part in the Big Farmland Bird Count to help measure the impact of conservation.

This year is the 10th birthday of the national count which is organised by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT), based in Fordingbridge.

From today (Friday) to 10th February volunteers are asked to spend 30 minutes counting birds they see on their land and submit the results to the organisation.

Jim Egan, GWCT founder, said: “This an opportunity for land managers to understand that what you do makes a difference and gives the GWCT a superb opportunity to shout about all the good work done on farms.”

Dr Roger Draycott, who runs the count, said: “In the 10 years since it began, the commitment shown by an ever-growing number of farmers and land managers to supporting and monitoring birds and other wildlife is inspiring and should be celebrated.”

He said it was also an opportunity to “show our appreciation for all those farmers, gamekeepers and other land managers who work so hard to support our wildlife, mostly unrecognised by the wider public”.

In a recent assessment of UK birds, more than one in four has been shown to be in “serious trouble”.

Minette Batters, president of the National Farmers Union, encouraged people to take part, praising land managers for “maintaining and protecting the great British countryside”. saying: “Not only are farmers across the country producing sustainable climate-friendly food, they are also maintaining and protecting the great British countryside, creating habitats for biodiversity to flourish and additional feeding for farmland birds.”