Written by Fiona Torrance, Farmland Biodiversity Advisor
With 70% of Scotland’s land used for agricultural purposes, support for farmers is essential if society is to address the biodiversity crisis. Through careful management of farmland habitats and adopting nature-friendly practices, research has shown that reversing this decline is feasible. However, with so many different species inhabiting our farmlands, and advice often expensive, it can be difficult to know where to start.
One option which some may consider is a biodiversity, landscape and habitat management plan, part of the funded specialist advice support offered by the Farm Advisory Service (FAS). With £1,600 available for each plan, these reports can be a cost-effective method to help farmers gain a better understanding of the habitats present on their land, what condition these are in, and suggestions for land management strategies to enhance biodiversity.
Although practices such as these improve biodiversity, there can also be additional benefits for the farmer. These may include improved soil quality, integrated pest management, healthier livestock and increased farm resilience. Some measures may even result in a reduction in costs, either through financial savings or reduced workload. This means that these plans can be an extremely worthwhile exercise, for both biodiversity and the farmer.
When selecting an advisor to undertake these assessments, care should be taken to ensure they are suitably experienced. The GWCT’s Scottish Advisory Service is perfectly placed to undertake these plans, taking advantage of nearly 100 years of our research into farmland species and our experience working collaboratively alongside farmers to achieve environmental outcomes. Each report produced by this service is tailored to the client’s own requirements, and aim to support farmers to achieve their goals for wildlife in a way that works for them.
Specialist advice plans are open to all farming and crofting businesses, provided they are registered with Scotland Rural Payments and Services and hold a Business Reference Number with IACS. Up to two specialist advice options can be funded per business each year excluding VAT (where this is payable by the business), with £1,600 available for each plan. For further information please see the FAS specialist advice website.
To enquire about this service, please contact us at scottishadvisory@gwct.org.uk.