Following the shock announcement last week that the Sustainable Farming Incentive is to be paused until 2026, we have tried to pull together some constructive pointers for nature-friendly farmers on how to progress through this hiatus👇

The Brimstone is one of the first butterflies to be seen in spring and with a lifespan of approx. 12 months, it is the longest-lived species of butterfly in Europe 🧵

One of the many perks of our work is when a farmer sends you pictures like this. Lovely flock of Yellowhammers on an Essex farm today, with a Goldfinch tucked in the bottom of the frame. Pic expertly taken by Maddie Lord.

Want to get involved and support #naturefriendlyfarming? We're currently recruiting for Water Vole surveyors for 2025! 🔗Apply here: shorturl.at/WPmss. Farm Wildlife People's Trust for Endangered Species Bumblebee Conservation Trust RSPB England Fair to Nature RSPB Hope Farm

We're still recruiting for #WaterVole surveyors for 2025! Interested in getting out in #nature? Want to support #naturefriendlyfarming? Apply now! Farm Wildlife Fair to Nature RSPB Hope Farm People's Trust for Endangered Species Bumblebee Conservation Trust RSPB England

The Common Nightingale - a 🧵 So named because the species frequently sings at night, as well as during the day. The word nightingale derives from night and ‘galan’ which historically meant to sing in Old English

We can't wait for another amazing Open Farm Sunday, tickets go fast so register here to join us tinyurl.com/HopeFarmOFS25

A 3-year rotation is probably optimal for maintaining the bushy structure whilst ensuring plenty of flowering for the pollinators: cutting 1/3 of them every year rather than all of them every 3 years

Not long to go ... only a few tickets left if you want to join us tinyurl.com/HopeFarmOFS25

Urgent! Volunteers needed! Live near Ely, Cambridgeshire? Time to make 2 visits (1 in June, other in Sept) to a farm ditch? Then why not help RSPB England survey Water Voles to help farmers conserve them? volunteer.rspb.org.uk/opportunities/… Fen Scene Magazine @watervole Ely Standard Topping & Company Booksellers of Ely

The Dog Rose is a vigorous, commonplace shrub that has pretty pink flowers in the summer. It is fast-growing and given enough support, will climb other shrubs or trees.

We need rain!!

What a fantastic event! #naturefriendlyfarming

The teasel belongs to a genus of tall, biennial plants which can reach the height of a person and probably best-known for the brown, prickly stems and conical seed heads, which persist long after the plants have died back for the winter.

Beetle banks are a brilliant way to provide essential over-winter habitat for beneficial predatory insects, spiders, ground-nesting birds, small mammals, amphibians & reptiles. Aug and Sept is the best time to establish the grass sward - more advice 👇 tinyurl.com/4kuuybc3

📢Farmers of East Anglia! We're inviting you to join Frontier Agriculture and RSPB advisors on a farmland wildlife walk on 5th Sept in Norfolk. What makes a good habitat? 20 free spaces, first come first served. Book before 1st Sept to secure a place: forms.office.com/e/H3vhvgcnVf

Barn Swallows - a🧵 It's that time of year - the swallows are beginning to line up before migration, so we thought we'd share some fun facts about this small but mighty bird!

It's 1 Sept & hedgerow management can begin. But wait.... Where possible, cutting on rotation in Jan/Feb can provide valuable resources for wildlife: 🪶🫐Berries over winter for birds 🌲🌳Diverse structure 🐝🌼Flowers for insects in spring Advice here👇 farmwildlife.info/how-to-do-it-5…

Red admirals can hang around until as late as Nov - some remain for winter. In Sept they are still happily on the wing. Hedgerow & fallen fruit is a great source of food during autumn. Leaving ivy to flower can provide a good source of nectar when little else is flowering 📷RSPB