Know How / Biodiversity ARABLEHerts farmer shows how production and biodiversity combineA Hertfordshire arable farmer has won the prestigious Silver Lapwing Award for his long-standing commitment to species and habitat conservation. Andrew Bott of Finches Farm, Benington, was recognised by the… WILDLIFEThink tank disputes government data on farmland bird declineA major government report suggesting UK farmland bird populations are in serious decline has been strongly challenged by the Science for Sustainable Agriculture (SSA) think tank, which says the data… BIODIVERSITYFree tools to help farmers monitor habitat and biodiversityA new freely available app is helping farmers and landowners monitor biodiversity and manage habitat quality. The app, known as e-Surveyor, uses artificial intelligence (AI) to make ecological surveying more… BIODIVERSITYNew habitat mapping tool to baseline biodiversityA fully automated habitat mapping and site screening tool has been launched this week to deliver rapid ecological assessments in just minutes. Biodiversity mapping data company Gentian announced the launch… BIODIVERSITYDefra’s nature and food targets swayed by Land Use FrameworkDefra is considering introducing varied support schemes for nature and food production in England, linked to location and land type, as a result of recommendations in the Land Use Framework.… BIODIVERSITY27 acoustic sensors to monitor pollinators in beet cropsA network of 27 acoustic sensors is being installed at a large farming estate in North Norfolk, as part of a joint project between British Sugar and York-based agri-tech company… BIODIVERSITYWhat bioacoustics means for farm habitats and biodiversityUsing sensors and smart listening technology to understand more about on-farm habitats and the biodiversity they support is coming to a field near you. Known as bioacoustics, it combines biology… ENVIRONMENTSouth Downs National Park launches policy consultationFarmers operating within the South Downs National Park will be expected to plant more trees, help clean watercourses, and provide better public access as part of a new Partnership Management… BUSINESSWhat smarter, fairer farm data means for UK agricultureThere’s no getting around it — farming across Britain is under intense pressure. Whether you’re in livestock, arable, dairy or horticulture, the challenges are piling up: rising input costs, labour… ARABLEHow cultivated margins help rare plants and biodiversityCultivated margins, or areas of fields that are cultivated annually, but not drilled, are one of the best ways of encouraging rare arable plants and the wildlife that depends on… ENVIRONMENTWildfire warning as Labour plans to ban controlled burningUK government plans to further restrict controlled burning on peatland has been met with criticism by campaigners, who say the move will risk increasing out-of-control wildfires across the country. The… NEWSMinisters invited to choose which wildlife plots must goA Bedfordshire arable farmer has written to prime minister Sir Keir Starmer, Defra ministers and chancellor Rachel Reeves to ask if they might help decide which wildlife plots to rip… WILDLIFESenedd committee slams lack of progress on nature recoveryThe Welsh parliament’s climate change, environment and infrastructure committee (CCEIC) has launched a scathing report on the lack of nature recovery progress in Wales. The committee warned that targets set… BIODIVERSITYLottery grant to help northern farmers realise natural capitalA group supporting farmers in the north of England to capture income from natural capital markets has secured £100,000 to fund catchment-scale conservation work. Wensleydale & Swaledale Environmental Farmers (Swef)… ENVIRONMENTAL SCHEMESForestry Commission issues new advice for farmersPlanting the right trees in the right place on farms just got easier, with the publication of a new guide from Forest Research (the Forestry Commission’s research arm) and Reading… BIODIVERSITYHow beneficial insects can help nature and food productionIt will come as little surprise to many to learn that a long-running study into insect populations in cereal crops – the Sussex Study – has shown a decline, linked… NEWSWild Justice launches legal action over Dartmoor grazingWild Justice is taking legal action against the Dartmoor Commoners’ Council (DCC) in the High Court, alleging it has failed to meet its statutory duties in maintaining the commons and… BIODIVERSITYNorth Lincs Environmental Farmers Group set for expansionThe Environment Farmers Group (EFG) is setting its sights on further expansion, with one of its subgroups having secured more corporate sponsorship. The northern Lincolnshire EFG is one of ten… BIODIVERSITYHow to reverse insect decline and preserve food outputA new free guide for farmers has been produced by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT), outlining the measures they can take to increase insect numbers and improve biodiversity,… BIODIVERSITYWild Justice threatens legal action over Dartmoor grazingEnvironmental campaign group Wild Justice is planning a legal challenge against the Dartmoor Commoners' Council as a way of forcing livestock farmers to reduce stocking rates within the Dartmoor special…
