'Wow, it works' (From Gazette & Herald)

'Wow, it works'

WORLD-FAMOUS environmentalist David Bellamy has applauded a project to bring birds, butterflies and insects back to a North Yorkshire farm.

Mr Bellamy was asked to assess a pilot scheme which saw wildflowers and grasses planted at the edge of fields at Manor Farm, in Eddlethorpe, near Malton. At an event in London, he told Environment Minister Michael Meacher: "All I can say is wow it works!"

Traditionally, farmers have planted crops to the edge of their fields in a bid to maximise profits or attract full production subsidies. According to Mr Bellamy, this has led to the widespread destruction of biodiversity in the UK.

But, under the industry-sponsored BUZZ project, fields at Manor Farm have not been planted to the edge. Instead, five sample sites were created.

Three were sown with tussocky grass mix; grass and wildflower mix and a diverse mixture of 21 herb species and agricultural legumes. One was left to natural regeneration and another was set aside as "conservation headland", with restricted use of herbicide and insecticides.

In each case, the number of birds and insects at the site was greater than if traditional methods had been used. A sixth site was planted as normal to measure progress. The number of farmland birds was, on average 38 times higher than if winter crops had been planted.

"This offers a major opportunity for the environmental transformation of British agriculture in a manner which is also wholly beneficial economically," Mr Meacher said.

It is not the first time Mr Bellamy has praised Manor Farm for its pioneering work. In July 2000, the famous botanist monitored a project allowing less fertile and difficult farming areas to be managed for wildlife. The results saw profits increase despite arable land being taken out of production.

Manor Farm also helps farmers identify which crops to grow in which areas of a farm, and how best to manage them.

Marek Nowakowski, of the Farmed Environment Company which has managed the Manor Farm project, said: "Farmers are often overlooked as environmental managers but by using many of the farming skills they possess they can deliver quality habitats that provide an enhanced opportunity for wildlife."

Mr Meacher hopes to roll out the project across the UK in 2005.

Updated: 13:01 Wednesday, May 21, 2003