Shropshire farmers encouraged to grow more wildlife-friendly crops

Environment Secretary, Elizabeth Truss, unveiled the new “Pollinator Strategy” earlier this month and said a healthy environment was vital for a healthy economy.

The Pollinator Strategy will give more funding to farmers and landowners who improve conditions for bees and other pollinating insects which fertilise plants.

There are at least 1,500 species of these insects, including moths, butterflies, wasps, hoverflies and the honey bee.

Farmers are being encouraged to grow crops which provide the food and habitat pollinators need on their land through a new Countryside Stewardship scheme.

Chris Powell, of Madeleys Chartered Surveyors in Much Wenlock, said farmers were passionate about the environment and were often keen to do their bit to help wildlife.

He said: “It is a fact that modern farming methods have become more intensive which has led to the decline of many wildlife-friendly plants.

“Farmers have been forced to push for higher yields to make ends meet, so this scheme is likely to be welcomed because it will allow them to help the environment without endangering their livelihood.”

Another element of the new agri-environment policy being considered by the Government is a plan to encourage farmers to make changes to their farming practices to help further improve habitats for farmland birds that are in decline.

According to figures compiled by DEFRA, the population of farmland birds is at an all-time low, with numbers of birds like the grey partridge down by 85 per cent and numbers of lapwing halving since the 1970s.

The decline has been blamed largely on intensive farming techniques which have seen more chemicals used and hedgerows disappearing – meaning less habitat and feed sources available.

Mr Powell said: “The plans are yet to be finalised, but it’s likely that farmers and landowners will be encouraged financially for creating more hedgerows and woodland, as well as growing plants that provide seeds and berries over the winter.

“As with all previous agri-environment schemes, it will be important for farmers and landowners to study the detail to make sure they get the most out of it, so we would advise people to speak to their chartered surveyor about the options.”