WILDLIFE is getting a helping hand from farmers in South Warwickshire.
A group of farmers have come together in the Arden area – stretching down the western side of the county from the northern border near Tamworth all the way down to the southern border with Oxfordshire – as part of Natural England’s Facilitation Fund.
It offers grants to groups of farmers for working out the best ways to improve the natural environment across their land, providing habitats for wildlife on a landscape scale to better aid conservation of important species.
Their combined efforts help to create bigger, better, more joined up areas in the farmed landscape, which create vital safe havens for wildlife to exist.
Initially 16 farmers have come together in Arden with more interested in joining over the next three years of the scheme.
There are now 98 groups working across England with the common goal of delivering environmental improvements on their lands.
Ian Jelley, director of living landscapes at Warwickshire Wildlife Trust said: “We are delighted to have secured funding. This will enable us to create bigger, better, more joined up areas for the benefit of wildlife and people at a landscape scale.
“We were thrilled that 16 landowners signed up to the group at the application stage, and are confident that more landowners will come on board once we’re up and running.
“This funding will enable Warwickshire Wildlife Trust to extend its reach in supporting more landowners to integrate nature conservation into main stream farming.
“By sharing best practice with some of the excellent work that is already taking place, we are confident we can support farmers to make improvements that will benefit wildlife and their business.”
