Urgent action to save birds 'that define Britain'

Farmland birds that "define Britain's countryside" are on the brink of being lost forever, a wildlife charity has warned.

Experts at Wiltshire Wildlife Trust say species including lapwings, snipes, and grey partridges have seen declines of about 90% in some areas where their habitats have been destroyed or damaged.

The charity is now hoping to raise £20,000 to restore hedgerows and other habitats in Braydon Forest, which runs between Wiltshire and Gloucestershire.

Leo Henley-Lock, director of conservation and land management at the trust, said: "We are witnessing nature falling silent, which should be treated as an emergency and urgent action taken to halt the decline."

"The song of the skylark and the flash of a lapwing's wing should be synonymous with spring in Wiltshire, not a memory.

"Farmland birds are a vital part of our natural heritage, yet many are now in serious decline," he added.

The campaign aims to raise £10,000 in seven days. This will be matched to increase the total to £20,000.

A charity spokesperson said the statistics are a stark warning, and species that once defined the British countryside have seen declines of 90% in some areas.

"The good news is that we know what works - by restoring habitats and working in partnership with farmers and landowners, we can give these birds a fighting chance and bring them back into our landscape.

"It's a chance to make a real difference for nature at a critical moment," Henley-Lock added.

Farmers had previously received government funding to manage their land in a nature-friendly way and help maintain habitats. However the scheme, called the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), was closed last year.

A Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs spokesperson said earlier this year they are working on a new proposal and that more than half of farmers in the country are currently in farming schemes, "including 44,000 multi-year SFI agreements".

They added that the new SFI would be "simpler" and "fairer".

The charity's Protecting the Birds of Braydon Forest campaign will run from 22-29 April.

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