10 MAY 2006

An estate in Lincolnshire is the regional winner in the RSPB’s fourth annual ‘Lapwing Champion’ competition.

Sir Richard Sutton’s Settled Estates near Market Rasen had 37 pairs of nesting lapwings in 2005, attracted by four specially created ‘fallow plots’. These have boosted lapwing numbers already attracted by the estate’s spring-sown crops, which held 27 pairs in 2004.

Counts this year have revealed 31 pairs so far, including one field with a remarkable 10 pairs. Some already have chicks, which have made their way to feed by a newly created wetland.

Next to the fallow plots are specially sown 20 metre pollen and nectar strips – flowers to encourage insects which also provide cover for young lapwings. Many young lapwings then go to feed at a recently created wetland. It’s the effort to provide this mix of habitats for lapwing that impressed the RSPB – and has led to a remarkably high count of one of the country’s favourite farmland birds.

Chris Durdin, from the RSPB’s Eastern England office, said: “Sutton Estates has created a wildlife-friendly farm with a wonderful and increasing concentration of nesting lapwings. I’m delighted by their enthusiasm and it’s great to know that their conservation work is helping to increase wildlife on the estate.”

Regional winners receive a plaque, a goody bag and a cheque for £200, kindly donated by the competition’s sponsors, Jordans Cereals.

Lapwing by Andy Hay

Ends

Sir Richard Sutton’s Settled Estates, Stainton le Vale, Market Rasen, Lincolnshire
Contact: Chris Dowse, 01472 398367
Sutton Estates farms some 2,950 hectares (7,300 acres) in the Lincolnshire Wolds and South Humber bank. The majority is arable, including an unusually high proportion of spring-sown crops: spring barley (1,000 acres), peas and sugar beet. There are also more than 200 hectares of grassland providing grazing for 650 sheep and Lincoln Red cattle. Organic conversion of 120 hectares (300 acres) is complete, with a Norfolk four-course arable rotation of cereals, root crops (eg turnips) and clover, all spring-sown crops. The Estate surveys for lapwings annually and, in 2005, found 37 pairs, an excellent result! The birds nest in spring-sown crops and fallow plots, lapwing nesting patches that have been prepared in four separate two-hectare (five acre) blocks. The fallow plots are supported by the Rural Development Service, through the Countryside Stewardship scheme. Twenty metre (in width) pollen and nectar strips by the fallow plots have been sown by the estate and are in addition to what is funded through Stewardship. Also in Countryside Stewardship is a 15 hectare area of chalky grassland, wet scrapes and a permanent wetland that could attract lapwings to take their chicks for feeding. Other interesting birds on the estate include corn buntings, tree sparrows, grey partridges and barn owls. In 2005, 29 young barn owls from nests in owl boxes were ringed.

The 5,000 acres of Hall Farm, part of the Sutton Estates, is a LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming) demonstration farm. See also: http://www.rspb.org.uk/countryside/farming/spotlight/chrisdowse.asp and

www.farmwildlife.info has several case studies from Hall Farm, Lincolnshire on the estate

For further information, please contact:
Chris Durdin or Andy Cotton, RSPB Eastern England office 01603 660066

Pictures: a jpg image of a lapwing is available free for this story from Pat Knibb pat.knibb@rspb.org.uk or Chris Durdin chris.durdin@rspb.org.uk on 01603 660066

Additional notes:

225 farmers took part in Operation Lapwing this year. There were 20 entries to the competition in the RSPB’s Eastern and Central England regions, from the Welsh border to the East Anglian coast. The national award is made at the Royal Show at Stoneleigh on 2 - 5 July.

2. The UK population of lapwings as a breeding bird fell by at least 40% between 1970 and 1998 (Data source: British Trust for Ornithology). Declines were higher in lowland areas like East Anglia - population change from 1987 to 1998: minus 54%.

3. Lapwings typically nest on open land where there is sparse vegetation. This can be short grass, spring sown cereals or field beans, root crops such as carrots or sugar beet, or on specially prepared plots on set-aside. A damp area within walking distance helps as this provides areas for feeding, especially for chicks.

4. Lapwings prefer to nest in small groups as they can then ‘gang up’ on predators such as crows. A suitable breeding area of two hectares could hold up to five pairs of lapwings. This can be done on set-aside land: Defra is sympathetic to derogations (exemptions) to set-aside rules to benefit wildlife and the RSPB can support farmers’ applications to manage land to help nesting lapwings. A lapwing plot on set-aside would have to be created in autumn on ‘heavy’ farmland or February on ‘light’ (e.g. sandy) farmland.

5. Lapwings are around in winter in flocks, often in hundreds and sometimes thousands, which sometimes causes confusion with their decline as a breeding bird. Late wintering birds may be around into April, and the first non-breeding birds return in June.

6. Judges for the regional heats of the RSPB’s lapwing competition were Andy Cotton, from the RSPB’s Eastern England office in Norwich; Barry Hancock, Volunteer Farmland Adviser for Lincolnshire; Nick Bruce-White, Site Manager for the RSPB’s Rainham, Wennington and Aveley Marshes nature reserve in Essex; and Nick Droy from the RSPB’s Central England office in Banbury.

7. The Eastern England runner-up in 2006 was Rory Turner of Rainham Lodge Farm, Upminster, Essex. George Munns, from Westmoor Farm, Chatteris, in the Fens was the regional winner and national runner-up in the ‘Lapwing Champion’ competition in 2005.

Chris Durdin
Public Affairs Officer
RSPB Eastern England Office
www.rspb.org.uk
e-mail: chris.durdin@rspb.org.uk
tel 01603 660066 direct line 01603 697521

The RSPB is the UK charity working to secure a healthy environment for birds and wildlife, helping to create a better world for us all.