@alicegroom.bsky.social : In winning the argument with treasury, there's an opportunity to talk about capital vs revenue. They're more open to capital investment and more nervous about revenue. So that's an in.

#GAevent

@alicegroom.bsky.social : the government are missing a trick. There are opportunities to take some of the well paying options within the SFI and start that transition.

#GAevent

Lydia is now joined for a panel by two farmers featured in today's report Tim Coates and Naomi Oakley, from Dunthrop Farm and Challacombe Farm, respectively, and @alicegroom.bsky.social , head of farming at @rspb.bsky.social .

#GAevent

Q: What did you want to hear in the ministers speech that you didn't hear?

@alicegroom.bsky.social : Need a metric system that can give certainty on what's needed, and some confidence.

#GAevent

8/ This study highlights the importance of scaling up and refining ELM to deliver real benefits for biodiversity. With the right support, farmers can play a crucial role in reversing the decline of nature🐦💚

7/ Lessons Learned:
🔸 Entry Level measures alone won't stabilise bird populations.
🔸 Broader adoption of tailored Higher Tier measures is key.
🔸 Some species, like the Turtle Dove, need additional bespoke recovery efforts beyond agri-environment schemes.

6/ Current Schemes Fall Short:
Existing schemes (SFI & Countryside Stewardship) aren't delivering enough bird-friendly habitat. To address this, we need:
- A targeted 7% wildlife-friendly package in SFI with expert advice.
- Expand access to the Higher Tier

5/ Why Higher Tier Matters:
Higher Tier measures involve tailored, targeted measures and expert advice. This specificity make them much more effective than Entry Level schemes.

4/ Key Findings:
🔹 Stopping Decline: 36% of lowland farms need Higher Tier measures & 50% need Entry Level to stabilise farmland bird populations.
🔹 Recovery: Requires Higher Tier adoption on 50%-65% of farms.

3/ The Farmland Bird Index tracks the abundance of 19 bird species. It's a key measure of biodiversity health in agricultural areas. Stabilising or increasing this index is vital for reversing nature loss.

2/ Background:
The study evaluated past Environmental Stewardship agreements across three English landscapes. It modelled how "Higher Tier" (7% targeted bird-friendly habitats with advice) & "Entry Level" (3% habitats without targeting/advice) impacts the Farmland Bird population

1/ A new study demonstrates the levels of agri-environment provision needed to halt and reverse farmland bird declines in England. Here's what they found: 👇https://tinyurl.com/yynjju9y @rspb.bsky.social

11/ So all in all government still have a lot to do to support a transition to resilient nature friendly farming

10/ 🌍 With mounting pressures on rural communities, investing in nature-friendly farming isn’t just good for farmers—it benefits us all, securing clean air, water, and a stable climate.

#SustainableFarming #NatureRecovery #ClimateAction #ELMs

9/ 🔧 What’s needed?

- ring-fenced Higher Tier budget
- A nature-friendly farming advice service to help farmers adapt.
-An accessible, scaled-up Higher Tier scheme to unlock the potential of England’s farms with 3000-4000 new agreements a year