DECLINING farmland bird populations are being halted by landowners receiving funding through an agri-environment scheme.

Iconic species such as the curlew, grey partridge, lapwing, snipe and skylark are almost entirely dependent upon farming practices to provide them with suitable habitat and a food source, particularly during winter.

Starvation has led to a drop of more than 50 per cent in the number of farmland birds since the 1970s – the number of grey partridge in Cumbria has seen an 84 per cent decrease, for example.

But thanks to funding through Natural England’s Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) scheme, farmers and landowners are seeing an upturn in numbers.

The payments allow farmers to plant seed bearing plants such as kale, quinoa and millet, and that means overwintering cereal stub-bles, food and habitat are now more widely available for farmland birds.

James Carr, of Holmegate Farms, Warwick-on-Eden, has been working on restoring the grey partridge since he bought the farm in 1986, when it had just three pairs.

The farmer – who chairs the Cumbria/North Lancs grey partridge group – has been part of the HLS scheme for 10 years and before that encouraged wild bird plots under the Countryside Stewardship scheme.

“Our autumn count produced 140 partridges, which is about as many as the area of land can sustain,” he said. “This normally drops to around 20 breeding pairs in the spring after winter deaths and spring disbursement.

“As well as partridges we have seen significant growth in numbers of lapwings, and the indication is that although no count has been carried out, there have been increases in other birds.”

Liz Newton, Natural England’s north west director, said that the average value of an HLS agreement was £22,500 per farmer, with agreements lasting ten years.

“The freezing temperatures we have seen recently illustrate just how important it is to manage our land in a way that provides food for birds,” said Ms Newton.

“Where farmers and landowners are committed to the management of farmland bird habitats results can be spectacular, with large flocks of birds visiting the seed mixes and stubbles.”

The story of decline over 30 years

Farmland birds are one of the barometers by which Government measures the health of the countryside. This fact file shows the decline in populations of six species since the 1970s.

Tree sparrow - appears on red list of birds of high conservation concern. Its numbers are DOWN 96%.

Lapwing – Wading bird also found on farmland and low moorland. DOWN 37%.

Skylark – Renowned for its display of flight and song. DOWN 53%.

Corn Bunting – Once common in open farmland. DOWN 90%.

Grey partridge – Badly hit be intensive farming methods. DOWN 86%.

Yellow hammer – Hedgerow dweller. DOWN 55%.