Gerald Needham farms 400 acres at Coleby, just south of Lincoln, and the grey partridge provides a focus for his passion for conservation. His farm lies on what is known locally as the "Lincoln Edge", a major limestone escarpment that runs from north to south through central Lincolnshire and divides Gerald's land between stony heathland on the top and heavier flatland below.
Gerald took over the farm from his father, and in 2006 embarked on the Entry Level Stewardship scheme before gaining the Higher Level the following year. This is a partnership with Natural England whereby help and assistance is given to improve the habitat and make it more wildlife friendly. This fits in perfectly with the grey partridge because what benefits this little bird also benefits many other species. Gerald's farm management system is now tailored with the bird's future in mind, but this does not mean it cannot be run effi ciently and still provide a living.
Working with Natural England and the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT), Gerald monitors the number of pairs as well as chick survival rates, which he explained can be frustrating. He said: "Having done so much work to create the right environment, we would expect to see a steady increase in population, but it does not always work that way. In May 2011 we had 26 pairs and these produced 270 chicks, making me very optimistic. In May 2012 we counted 30 pairs, but due to the wet spring and summer, only 60 chicks were seen. That was a disappointing blow. This year we have 20 pairs, and though I have seen a few pairs with chicks, it is a little early to get a true picture."


[ Ссылка ]

свернуть