Four years ago Robert and Anne Gardner entered their farm into the Countryside Stewardship Scheme in order to improve the habitat for breeding wader birds. In fact 83% of Lower Fairsnape Farm, which is located in Bleasdale, has been put into the Stewardship Scheme or woodland management. New wetland areas have been created and the farm is established as an important hotspot for breeding Lapwing, Redshank, Curlew and Snipe. Earlier this year the RSPB carried out a study of Lapwing at several breeding hotspots, including Lower Fairsnape Farm. This study highlighted that Lower Fairsnape had 25 breeding pairs out of the study’s total of 69 breeding pairs. There was a total of 17 fledgling raised throughout the whole study, 14 of which were raised at Lower Fairsnape. These figures highlight the contribution made at Lower Fairsnape to the overall breeding of Lapwing. With the Lapwing species being in serious decline, the work of Robert and Anne Gardner has been recognised by the RSPB and as a result of their outstanding contribution, they have been awarded the honour of “Northern England Lapwing Champion”.

With the new wetland habitat having been created, there is now a large area of rush and wetland to manage. An environmental report in autumn 2003 identified the encroachment of rush as detrimental to Lapwing breeding grounds. The rush at Fairsnape Farm therefore needs to be well managed. Earlier in 2004 Robert and Anne attended a Rush Management training day, which was run by the RSPB. This training day demonstrated several ways of managing rush, including methods using different types of weed management machinery. As a result of this training day, the Gardners decided to purchase the appropriate weed management equipment for their farm.

The farm has also opened permissive footpaths to allow breeding birds to be seen by the public. This feature of the farm is enjoyed by visitors to nearby accommodation providers as well as local and day visitors.

Our photo shows a demonstration of machinery managing rush on a training day, which was part funded by the Rural Sustainable Marketing Programme.

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