Farming for wildlife

Biodiversity

Birds, bees and butterflies – and plenty more wildlife besides – are under threat. Putting agroecological principles into practice can make a huge difference. Read about what farmers in Scotland are doing to encourage biodiversity on their land.

• PLANNING FOR WILDLIFE

  Farmer Denise Walton explains that "wildlife, whether it's small, seed-eating birds or rodents or even insects, will always follow corridors where there's some kind of security from predators, or there's a source of feed.”

• Harnessing nature in farming

  David Finlay, who farms beef, sheep and dairy at Cream O'Galloway, takes us on his journey from sceptic to champion of organic farming...

• INCREASING POLLINATORS ON ARABLE FARMS

  Video: Farmer Bill Gray of Preston Hall Farms and Dr Lorna Cole of SRUC discuss how to increase pollinators on arable farms through habitat management and monitoring.

Farmland birds

Wading bird populations are declining in Scotland. But small changes are all that's needed to bring them back to your farm. Find out how Scottish farmers are taking action to avoid these iconic species disappearing altogether.

• Bringing wading birds back to Scottish farmland

  At Threepwood Farm in the Borders, farmer Colin Strang Steel has seen a flourishing population of wading birds. He tells us about the practical measures he’s taken to integrate wading birds conservation into his farming practices.

• WADING BIRDS AND HEALTHY SOIL

  Bruce McConachie and his family farm sheep and cattle across 1,900 acres on the edge of the Cairngorms, where wading bird populations are flourishing.

Other useful resources

• USEFUL LINKS

  A list of useful links on resources on improving biodiversity on your farm.

• ATTEND AN EVENT

  Attend a Soil Association Scotland event to learn more about improving biodiversity on your farm.