The RSPB and insect and invertebrates charity Buglife have announced plans to work together to deliver advice on adopting more wildlife-friendly methods of agriculture. The two conservation charities will work in partnership in the East of England to provide a "one-stop-shop" to help farmers protect a variety of wildlife on their land.

image expired

The RSPB, which already works with many farmers in the East to promote wildlife friendly farming and protect habitats, will share its expertise with Buglife, which is devoted to the conservation of creatures including bees, beetles, spiders, butterflies and snails.

The two charities said they hope that, by pairing up, they can increase the number of farmers in the East receiving practical advice. Specifically, Buglife has hopes of protecting a range of rare farmland invertebrate species in the region, including the Shining Ram’s-Horn Snail, which is found in ditches, and the Large Garden Bumblebee that needs wildflower-rich meadow land and wetland.

Invertebrates are vital to farming systems and the wider environment; they pollinate crops and wild plants, and help to maintain healthy soil. By providing farmers with the appropriate advice, the RSPB and Buglife said they hope to help conserve our essential farmland invertebrates.

Buglife spokesperson Simon Tonkin explained the reasoning behind the partnership, "East Anglia is dominated by arable farmland, an area on which many species rely for their survival. With 1.47 million hectares of land in the region dedicated to agriculture, to ensure a healthy future for some of our most vulnerable creatures, it is crucial that the management of this landscape takes the needs of wildlife into account.

"If we are to support the EU governments to halt the loss of biodiversity by 2020, it is increasingly important for conservation organisations like the RSPB and Buglife to work together."

Tweet