On farm nature-based solutions to the nature and climate emergency

In February as part of the NI Science Festival, RSPB NI took a trip with conservation officer Mark McCormick to two farms in County Down to share what can be done to protect and restore nature on farmland.
Our first stop is at Ballynaskeagh, near Banbridge in County Down, where Fiona and Shaw Hanna have worked with RSPB NI to provide ‘winter stubble’ and ‘wild bird cover’. These two schemes provide food for birds and other wildlife over the winter months and help them stay strong and healthy for breeding season in the spring.
On to Jack Kelly’s River Farm near Downpatrick, where nature-friendly hedge maintenance in winter provides a vital nesting site for some of County Down’s priority farmland bird species. Not only can good hedgerow maintenance help birds find food and shelter it also helps store carbon and is a valuable nature-based solution to the nature and climate emergency.

[Nigel-nar]

I live across the channel in Northern France where the enlightened Farmers & Councils still cut the hedges twice a year! I don't suppose the RSPB could convince them to do otherwise? Keep up the good work. Cheers... 👍

[djonfonsteen]

Excellent work and thank you. I love conservation, especially that of rare and wild animals. Can we please question the media push for a climate emergency.. not as deniers, but in the midst of weather experiments. Atmospheric experiments from ground level to satellites. Why are "they" conducting such activities?.. then assuming WE, the general public, need to change our behaviours!?🤔 Also, in the area I live in, the majority of people are far too religious to care about anything other than themselves and their faith. Moderation plesse fgs. The street is full of litter. God's own children are exempt from behaving like humans apparently. God loves litter. They've removed all the dense greenery and trees. Replaced by concrete and breeze block walls. Removed old nesting sites and brought in artificial grass ffs. Schools need to pick up where some parents are failing... big time. Or we lose it all to nonsensical, blinded beliefs and ignorance. 😢🤘❤🌍