Newsletter Spring 2006 SIMON PUTS UP A SIGN ASKING WALKERS TO SIMON PUTS UP A SIGN ASKING WALKERS CARE NOT TO DISTURB NESTING BIRDS TAKE

Bowland farmer wins national Beer for hen harriers Bowland Brewery, maker of the fine Hen Harrier conservation award bitter, is helping to protect hen harriers in the . A Bowland farmer has been presented with the RSPB's National The brewery, owned and run by master brewer Lapwing Champion award for his achievements for conservation. Richard Baker, is contributing money for each pint of Hen Harrier bitter sold over the bar and for each Simon Stott, who runs Laund Farm near Chipping Simon has been working for some time with the bottle of Hen Harrier bitter sold at the Bashall Barn with his father John, has created the ideal breeding Bowland Wader Project to try to achieve perfect farm shop at , north of . habitat for waders by managing fields that were conditions for breeding waders on the farm, The generous donation will go towards funding the once infested with rushes in order to encourage and has enjoyed watching the increase in birds Birds of Bowland hen harrier monitoring scheme, grassland back, and has also created several returning every spring to use his fields for nesting. run by the RSPB and English Nature and supported shallow scrapes to provide important insect-rich For further details of the Lapwing Champion by United Utilities. feeding areas for adults and chicks in the spring. Award and how to enter for 2006 please contact So if you are out and about in Bowland and are He has also put some of his less productive land the Bowland Wader Officer on 01200 426433. feeling parched, you can sink a pint of Hen Harrier into Defra’s Countryside Stewardship Scheme safe in the knowledge that your pint is helping to with the aim of managing it to create good preserve and protect this wonderful bird. conditions for lapwings, redshanks, curlews and snipe. For more information about Bowland Brewery, CHRIS TOMSON you can visit http://www.bowlandbrewery.com/ The judges were impressed with the range of work Simon has done to provide good conditions for breeding waders on his land; they were also Discover Bowland’s birds particularly impressed with his efforts to explain the importance of rush management to so many Learn about how the Forest of Bowland Area other farmers during demonstration events held of Outstanding Beauty is managed for the benefit on his farm in 2004. of wildlife, by joining expert guides from the RSPB United Utilities and English Nature. Walks focusing All the hard work at Laund Farm has resulted in on birds of prey – especially the area’s special bird, a notable increase in birds using the land. In 2003, the hen harrier – will feature alongside migration Simon had four pairs of lapwings. Now, thanks and farm wildlife walks. The cost is £5 per person to the work he has carried out, that figure has (except the farm wildlife walks, which are free risen to approximately 20 pairs in 2005. of charge). All profits go towards funding vital conservation work in the area. To reward his efforts, Simon received a £1,000 cash prize, as well as a silver plaque and a prize For an information leaflet or to book, please kindly donated by Jordans Cereals, who sponsor contact the RSPB’s Anna Sugrue on 01484 the competition. 861148 or e-mail [email protected] Focus on. . . Upland birds on the United Utilities’ Rush management Bowland estate

REDSHANK (CHRIS GOMERSALL, rspb-images.com) After the success with hen harriers in 2004, we waited with bated breath to see what Damp grassland on farmland is a very important the cattle eat the new rush growth, but will would happen in 2005. habitat for breeding birds such as lapwings, destroy the larger tussocks by trampling. redshanks, snipe, curlews and reed buntings. Things got off to a slow start and work was However, damp grassland is very prone to rush If the infestation is bad, then a regime of cutting hampered by poor weather during much of March infestation. and baling in August followed up by weed wiping and April. However, by the end of April we had in September, repeated for two or three years located five hen harrier nests, with the prospect Low levels of rush cover are beneficial to breeding will help to reduce the onset of another rush of more to follow. By the end of May our nest birds as the tussocks provide good cover for infestation, especially if after the mowing and tally had grown to eight and by the end of June, nesting birds and for concealing chicks; heavy weed wiping, the area is grazed with cattle. 11 nests had been found! This was the highest infestations can have a negative affect on the number of nests for at least 15 years. value of the grazing pasture. Finding and keeping The Bowland Wader Project has secured grants this happy medium can be a tricky problem. to help deal with severe rush infestations in areas that hold or used to hold high numbers of breeding Once a field has more than about a 40% cover waders. Using a combination of the techniques of rushes, management by sheep grazing or above, this has delivered significant increases in mowing alone is unlikely to stop the problem breeding waders in a few years – one farm went from worsening. A heavily infested field isn’t from four pairs to 24 pairs of lapwings in a couple just of little use for breeding birds; it is of little of years following rush management work tied or no use for grazing and can be harmful to together with other basic wader management. sheep, amongst other reasons it can be very difficult for wet fleeces to dry out. If you want further advice on dealing with rush infestation or general advice on wader management Cattle grazing after mowing rushes very low on your land, please contact the RSPB Bowland to the ground can be very useful as not only will Wader Officer on 01200 426433. (MARK DARBYSHIRE, DEFRA)

HEN HARRIER CHICK, BOWLAND (CHRIS ADAMS)

Two of the nests failed during the course of the season, but the remaining nests managed to produce a respectable total of 19 fledged young. The productivity of each pair was down on last year’s exceptional numbers, it was thought that this was due to poor numbers of key prey species, particularly voles.

In contrast, the estate’s peregrines had a poor breeding season. We only located six nests compared to the usual seven or eight. In addition, three nests failed completely, whilst the others managed to fledge just five young between them. The fortunes of this species seem to fluctuate widely from year to year, but the recent national survey revealed that they are still increasing in numbers.

There were a total of seven merlin nests located. It is believed that six of these nests were successful, but having our hands full with It patrols watercourses (although in many cases hen harriers, little time was devoted to this Upland streams they can wander quite a distance from water) species during the fledging period. during the warmest months of the year. Water courses in the uplands tend to be fairly Ring ouzels are one of the other key species that hostile places, changing in some cases into Given their sometimes violent nature, these we monitor regularly. This year saw their continued raging torrents within minutes of heavy rain. streams often wash away banks, which in turn decline, with only 12 territories located, compared They are also generally poor in nutrients and create new shingle beds. These areas of gravel to 14 last year and as many as 30 in the early can be quite acidic. are quickly colonised by plants such as foxgloves, 1990s. This worrying situation continues to which can create a brilliant sea of purple flowers mirror the national decline. Not surprisingly, the creatures that live in this in late spring and early summer. environment are well adapted to cope with Amongst the songbirds, the stonechat population these harsh conditions. Take the dipper – most The areas of gravel are also used by many insects, continues to increase, with 46 territories found young songbirds leave the nest at about two particularly for sunning themselves. This in turn this year. Also on the increase are wheatears. weeks of age, when feathers have still to finish provides an ideal food source for birds such as In 2004 these smart little birds suffered a minor growing, and in many cases still unable to fly. grey wagtails and common sandpipers. The river population crash, from 27 pairs in 2002 to just However, the dipper’s young don’t fledge until gravels are also the favoured nesting sites of 16 last year. The population stood at 22 pairs this they are nearly three weeks old, thus they enter oystercatchers, the eggs of which blend in so year. Whinchats managed to hold their own this the water fully insulated and waterproofed well with the surrounding stones. year with 19 pairs, compared to 18 last year. against the cold. Reed buntings, after a bumper year in 2004 with These stream valleys, nestled amongst high 18 pairs, experienced a decline to just 11 pairs. One of the most dramatic insects in this country hills, are one of the best places to be on a warm can be found in this type of habitat. The golden- summer’s day. And for me at least, form an So we can probably say that 2005 was a good ringed dragonfly is one of our biggest insects enduring memory of childhood days spent year for upland birds on the United Utilities’ estate. and, as the name suggests, it is very colourful. exploring them. We can all breathe again! The Environmental Stewardship Rare bird appears Scheme – how does it work? on farm in Bowland Quite a stir was caused recently when a rare In May 2005, the Environmental Stewardship bird turned up at New Laithe Farm near Newton Scheme (ESS) replaced the Countryside in Bowland. The grey phalarope, which breeds Stewardship Scheme (CSS) as the new in the Arctic Circle, appeared on the morning agri-environment scheme that provides funding of 27 August and delighted birdwatchers over to farmers and other land managers who deliver a weekend period before departing on the 30th. effective land management on their farm. The grey phalarope is a small wading bird that ESS is a two-tier scheme designed to encourage occasionally breeds in very small numbers in SKYLARK (CHRIS GOMERSALL, rspb-images.com) more land into Stewardship and at the same Iceland but has its nearest regular breeding grounds time offering significant rewards for the best Points are gained by implementing a series in Greenland. The bulk of the population breeds land for wildlife. of basic environmental options on your land through Arctic Canada and Russia. – each option is worth different amounts of points “It’s worth every farmer giving the scheme serious depending on the wildlife gain. consideration” – Margaret O’Kane, Rural Futures Lead Environmental Adviser The application process is very simple – despite media stories to the contrary. If you have registered Entry Level Stewardship (ELS) is the lower tier your land with the Rural Land Register, simply of the new scheme. Unlike the old Countryside phone Defra on 08456 024093, make sure you Stewardship Scheme, it is not competitive – which have your holding number and a list of all your means it is open to all. To enter the scheme you field numbers to hand. If your land has been simply need to get 30 points per hectare on your registered then a pack should be with you within land (with a couple of exceptions). This will give GREY PHALAROPE, NEW LAITHE FARM AUGUST 2005 (M BREAKS) a few days – on the whole, the computer and map you £30 per hectare per year for five years. Higher problems for ELS have now been solved. Because of their remote breeding areas, phalaropes Level Stewardship (HLS) is a very competitive very rarely encounter humans and are therefore scheme designed to deliver the highest level of Top tip – register all the land that you use – you rather fearless and approachable. This bird was environmental benefits to high-priority species can delete fields yourself, but you cannot add fields. no exception to the rule, and people could get as and habitats. close as five feet away from the bird before it The handbook that comes with the pack has all would move away. The bird’s confiding nature, ELS example the answers in it; it is designed to allow anyone combined with the fact that its mottled plumage A 150 ha farm needs 4,500 points (150 hectares to complete the pack themselves. All the rules for identified it as a juvenile bird hatched this year, x 30 pts) and will receive £4,500 per year. The the different options are laid out – there are no fuelled discussion amongst the excited application is submitted by end of January 2006, hidden surprises in this scheme, it is as simple as birdwatchers present that it may never have the scheme offered by end of February 2006. The it appears. actually seen a human before it landed at Newton! first payment (half of £4,500 = £2,250) is given in August 2006, and then every six months after that. “Most farmers are already doing quite a bit of The phalarope spent its four-day stay wading and what’s required – the money is there for them, so swimming in shallow scrapes and channels, There are no forms to fill in once the scheme has why not take it!” – Tom Bridge, RSPB Bowland which were deliberately created to help the been offered, the money is sent automatically Wader Officer breeding wading birds on the farm. Over the four- every six months for five years. day period, more than 400 keen birdwatchers came to see the grey phalarope, with some For further advice on ELS or HLS on your farm, please contact the RSPB Wader Officer on travelling from as far away as Lincolnshire and 01200 426433 or Margaret O’Kane (LRF) on 01200 426433. Staffordshire. Grey phalaropes migrate every year to winter at sea off the West African coast, but are occasionally seen in autumn off the western blocked using a variety of techniques, with the shores of the UK after strong westerly gales. Re-wetting the hills aim of restoring a more natural hydrology which This unexpected sighting is only the second ever should benefit blanket bog vegetation. of this species in the east Lancashire area; the first In the last newsletter we mentioned United record came from some similar wader scrapes near Utilities’ aspirations, under their Sustainable Huge areas of moorland were artificially drained in 1992. Catchment Management Project (SCaMP), by the mechanical digging of these drains during to undertake environmental enhancement the post-war years, up until quite recently, with Having dug the scrapes on the farm to help provide of their Bowland estate in partnership with the aim of improving the productivity of the feeding areas for their lapwings, snipe and curlews, farming and shooting tenants. This should lead vegetation for grazing livestock, and to a lesser the Breaks family at New Laithe were absolutely to upland habitats being in top notch condition extent, red grouse. However, the drying-out delighted to receive a visit from this rare Arctic and knock-on benefits for improved water quality. of the peat and heavy grazing causes the death wanderer. Margaret Breaks said: “With the scrapes of sphagnum mosses and the peat then slowly created last Christmas, we didn’t have long to The priority at the moment is in the planning washes away. In addition, the drains themselves wait for the returning lapwings and curlews to stages, in defining what needs to be done and can cause serious erosion in the soft peat during claim their nest sites, and although they didn’t how much it will cost! However, during February periods of high rainfall. breed this year we were delighted to have and March last year the first practical steps were summering redshanks on the farm for the first taken in delivering some of these aspirations. The drains that have already been blocked are time in over 20 years. being monitored by Leeds and Durham Universities A total of approximately 8 km of moorland drains, to assess the effectiveness of what we have done “However, this success was totally overshadowed or grips as they are commonly known, were so far, with results to date looking very promising. by the amazing discovery of the grey phalarope, which stayed for four days thrilling over 400 visiting

PETE WILSON (RSPB) birdwatchers with its confiding nature. With eight species of wading birds and seven species of dragonfly that have already visited the scrapes, we can’t help wondering what will be next!”

A GROUP OF BIRDWATCHERS ENJOY CLOSE VIEWS OF THE PHALAROPE (M BREAKS) Farmer’s View

Lawrence Whitaker, Ashnott Farm near Newton-in-Bowland

Lawrence Whitaker’s farm comprises 200 hectares of rough grazing and moorland on Newton Fell in the south of Bowland. This mixed livestock farm has around 550 breeding ewes and 20 suckler cattle; however the number of cattle on the farm has been reduced over the past few years.

Ninety per cent of Ashnott Farm is on land As well as the breeding wading bird work designated by UK legislation as being within Lawrence has done under his Stewardship, a Severely Disadvantaged Area (SDA). As well he has also restored walls and hedges, installed as farming this difficult land, Lawrence works for permissive access across his land and worked Lancashire Rural Futures (LRF) as a business adviser with the local gamekeeper to improve habitats specialising in rural diversification and also finds in other areas on and around his holding. time to be one of the five directors of Bowland He has also applied for Defra’s new Entry Forest Foods. Level Stewardship (ELS) to ensure that he is maximising the wildlife potential on his farm. In 1994, Lawrence entered Ashnott Farm into a Countryside Stewardship Scheme (CSS) agreement. Lawrence’s directorship of Bowland Forest When asked about his reasons for entering the Foods (BFF) has meant that he is in a position scheme, Lawrence’s reply was very honest. to encourage many of his peers to adopt similar He said: ‘Whilst I enjoy seeing the wildlife that approaches to meeting the combined needs of should be on my farm doing well, and miss it when farming and wildlife. Bowland Forest Foods is it ís not there, the financial benefits of entering a co-operative of around 50 farms that work the scheme were also attractive’. together to sell locally produced beef, lamb and LAWRENCE WHITAKER (MRS L WHITAKER) pork direct to butchers, restaurants and general Three quarters of the farm is in CSS, helping consumers. When asked about how he felt the continued: ‘Bowland Forest Foods benefits the conserve populations of skylarks, lapwings, snipe BFF and environmental farming fitted together, farmer by ensuring they get the best price and curlews. Hen harriers are also regularly seen Lawrence replied: ‘BFF members have to be for their product, this helps keep the farms viable in the area and are thought to have bred on the committed to farm in an environmentally in the long term, which in turn ensures the land nearby fells in recent years. sustainable way; many of our members continues to be managed. You can have all the have Stewardship agreements in place. environmental schemes you want, but you need Lawrence has easy access to the LRF and RSPB someone managing the land to implement these environmental advisers, with whom he shares an ‘In fact, several of our members are working with schemes. Organisations like Bowland Forest office. Over the past few years, he has regularly the RSPB to directly benefit breeding waders over Foods working with LRF and the RSPB is the sought their advice and has received help in and above what is required for their stewardships. way forward. You have co-ops to help market renegotiating his CSS agreement and to sort As well as the work for waders, our members our goods, business advice and environmental out rush infestations in key breeding wading bird have also restored miles of walls, hedges and advice to ensure the harriers, curlews, larks areas, and also to install scrapes in these areas. installed many miles of permissive footpaths and lapwings are there for the next generation Whilst renegotiating his Countryside Stewardship and bridleways’. of farmers’. agreement, he was concerned about undergrazing in some areas, because of old restrictions. When asked about the future of farming and For environmental or business diversification He sought and received advice from Pete Wilson, wildlife in Bowland Lawrence commented: ‘The advice phone Lancashire Rural Futures/the RSPB RSPB Bowland Project Officer. Pete then helped work that Lancashire Rural Futures and the RSPB on 01200 426433 or visit negotiate more realistic grazing levels and gained do in Bowland is really helping both rural business www.lancashireruralfutures.co.uk permission to allow small amounts of bedding and wildlife. Without them lapwings, curlews and muck to be applied. Lawrence said: ‘This has hen harriers would be a lot worse off and many For more information on Bowland Forest Foods, improved the grazing on my land and helped farm businesses would have gone under. ELS will please call 01524 793558 or visit the lapwings – which can only be good’. also really help over the next few years’. He www.bowlandforest.co.uk

Festival success! of England’s rarest birds, the hen harrier, the night bat and moth walk, and new events such as the short-eared owl safari and Stocks Reservoir circular Over 1,200 people from across the UK flocked to the third annual walk proved very popular. Bowland Festival. The festival – between 6 –12 June – celebrated the wildlife, landscape, heritage and rural life of the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding One of the Bowland Festival’s main aims is to support and promote Natural Beauty. sustainable tourism in the Forest of Bowland area. RSPB Conservation Manager Roy Taylor said: ‘Events such as the Bowland Festival encourage A selection of guided walks and events showed at first hand what farmers contributions to the local economy through spending on accommodation, and landowners are doing to manage the land for the benefit of wildlife, local goods and services. This proves that agricultural and commercial or allowed people to explore the area’s newly-open access land. In addition, businesses can thrive while conserving and enhancing the environment.’ evening presentations and a tour of Bowland Brewery were added to a diverse programme of 58 events. The fourth annual Bowland Festival will be held 3—11 June 2006. For more information or to receive a booking form, please contact Anna A wide range of individuals and organisations, all experts in their field guided Sugrue at the RSPB North West England Regional Office on 01484 the events. Last year’s favourites such as the moorland safaris to see one 861148 (during office hours) or e-mail: [email protected]

Birds of Bowland contacts: Peter Wilson: 01200 446425 Gary Woodburn: 01200 426433 Anna Sugrue: 01484 861148

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Westleigh Mews, Wakefield Road, Denby Dale, Huddersfield HD8 8QD Tel: 01484 861148 Fax: 01484 862018 Designed by FDA 01484 861611 Printed by Cherry Print RSPB regd charity no 207076