Farmland biodiversity

The Trust has conducted research on farmland wildlife since the late 1960s and this has included ecological studies of individual species, habitats, systems and long-term changes. Unfortunately, post-war agricultural changes have diminished biodiversity on lowland farms, driven by government policy and European Union subsidy. However, our research has identified ways of reversing this loss of biodiversity without reversing improvements to farming systems.

Our studies include: improving the conditions for biodiversity in cereal crops, exploring tillage methods to reduce diffuse pollution and soil erosion [link to page - needs writing], examining the ability of predatory insects to control outbreaks of pest insects in cereals, developing field margins to improve songbird numbers, (see for instance Conservation headland), and even looking at the wildlife potential of novel crops like short-rotation coppice.

Key staff:

• John Holland BSc MSc PhD
• Dave Parish BSc PhD
• Rufus Sage BSc MSc PhD
• Julie Ewald BS MS PhD