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UK Lead Organisation:
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
County Lead Organisation:
West Midland Bird Club
Objectives
- In the short term, to halt the decline in breeding numbers on lowland farmland and other habitats where found to be declining.
- In the medium term, to enhance the breeding population of skylark in all habitats in which the species occurs.
Policy
- Seek to consider the requirements of the skylark when establishing and reviewing agri-environment schemes. (DEFRA)
- Lobby for increased funding to support organic and mixed farm systems. (Nature Conservation Organisations)
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Lobby for changes in agri-environment schemes for the retention of stubble fields for as long as possible over winter, to provide a source of seeds. (Nature Conservation Organisations)
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Ensure any examples of sites containing populations of this species and that meet the required criteria are given SBI status. (SBI Grading Committee)
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Seek to incorporate beneficial farmland bird management practices into Staffordshire County Council farms estate tenancy agreements. (County Farm Estates)
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Lobby for development of a pilot Dairy Stewardship Scheme, to deliver benefits for this species and other farmland wildlife into intensive dairy areas. (Nature Conservation Organisations)
Protection
- The skylark is protected under the EC Birds Directive and the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981.
- Skylark has been listed as a costed, key species in the UK Steering Group Report.
Management, Monitoring, Research and Survey
- The DEFRA Countryside Stewardship Scheme provides grant aid to farmers to encourage environmentally sensitive management and from 2002, this scheme will include new arable options which will benefit this species. A range of options under this scheme has the potential to provide nest sites and increase food supplies for skylarks. DEFRA and FWAG actively promote this scheme throughout the county.
- Encourage sympathetic management of rotational set aside, with regard to reducing the harmful effects of cutting and wide-spectrum pesticide use. (RSPB)
- Promote an increase in both the diversity of arable crops sown and the area under spring cereals, especially barley. (RSPB, NFU)
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Encourage the establishment of grass margins, beetle banks and ley grassland as both nesting sites and insect rich feeding areas. (GCT, RSPB)
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Seek to target the use of the new arable options within the Countryside Stewardship Scheme to benefit skylark. (DEFRA, FWAG, RSPB)
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Promote full use of the new multi-annual set aside option to deliver 5 year management plans to benefit farmland birds including skylark. (RSPB, DEFRA, FWAG)
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Seek to encourage a more targeted and cautious use of pesticides on farmland, as opposed to prophylactic treatment of crops. (DEFRA)
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Encourage the establishment demonstration farms to highlight beneficial management practices for skylark. (RSPB, SWT)
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Promote volunteer participation in national monitoring schemes currently operating in the county i.e. Breeding Bird Survey. (BTO, WMBC, RSPB)
Advisory
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