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The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
 

Why farming matters and what you can do

Farming is of fundamental importance for wildlife. Farmland provides breeding and feeding habitats for birds and other animals and plants. Three-quarters of the land in the UK is farmed, and food production is a vital activity on which we all depend.

Since World War II, farming policy has encouraged large-scale, efficient food production, often at the expense of wildlife. In many areas of the UK, populations of farmland birds are in big trouble.

The RSPB believes that we can develop agricultural and trade systems that meet our need for food without reducing the benefits of farming for wildlife.

In 1999, we bought a working lowland arable farm, Hope Farm, in Cambridgeshire. Run as a commercial enterprise, we use Hope Farm to give hands-on demonstrations of how farming can benefit birds and other wildlife without farmers losing income.

Your gift today will help us continue testing the introduction of new wildlife friendly farming techniques.

Gift donations for Hope Farm

The generosity of our supporters is vital, and Hope Farm relies on regular gift donations to help with its work.

Find out more about making a gift donation

Hope Farm diary

Keep up to date with the goings on at Hope Farm by logging onto the blog.

Read the blog

Farmer spotlight

Angela and Alex McColl

Delighted to have won the Scottish Operation Lapwing Competition, Angela and Alex McColl, of Loig Farm in Perthshire, were ecstatic to then go on to win the overall UK prize for 2006. More...

Angela and Alex McColl - Lapwing Champion winners 2006

We need your support

Become a member and support the RSPB's work to find wildlife-friendly methods of farming

Join today

Get farming updates including our regular farming e-newsletter from RSPB Plus.

Find out more

Advice for farmers

Farming near you

Volunteer & Farmer Alliance

Working with farmers

Policy

Latest farming news

Male yellowhammer singing

UK wins deal on set-aside

20 November 2008

The UK has defied the rest of Europe and won the right to help its farmland wildlife.

Singing skylark

Brussels threat to British birds

19 November 2008

Europe’s farm ministers could tonight put British wildlife in even greater jeopardy.

Roseate tern pair performing courtship display

What a difference a year makes!

16 October 2008

Thanks to the support of over a million people like you, it’s amazing what the RSPB can achieve.

This website has case studies of farmers managing habitats for wildlife, a discussion forum for farmers to ask any questions on farm management for wildlife conservation and a library of information on farm wildlife conservation with links to other relevant websites.

Find out more

Contact us
© 2008 The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Charity registered in England and Wales no 207076, in Scotland no SC037654
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Last published: 13/10/2008 16:27:18
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Angela and Alex McColl - Lapwing Champion winners 2006 - (RSPB)