Golden Plovers at Tuesley Farm

Since 2000, Tuesley Farm has supported a large flock of wintering golden plover, and as many as 5,000 birds have been recorded using the farm. This is the largest golden plover flock anywhere within Surrey and, possibly, within Hampshire and Sussex.

The farm is currently undergoing a transformation from cereal to soft-fruit production, raising concerns about the impact that changes in farming practice might have on the plovers. Particular concerns are the reduction in the field sizes through the planting of new hedges.

Consequently, David Smith, Conservation Officer of the Surrey Bird Club, contacted Harry Hall, the farm’s owner, to discuss how the impact on the wintering plover flock might be minimised. He also hoped to grasp new opportunities that might introduce more bird?friendly farming practices to the area.

Harry responded positively to suggestions and was keen to keep the plovers on the farm as well as helping other farmland bird species. He recognises that the introduction of smaller, 10 acre fields may cause the birds to move, but they are essential for growing soft fruit.

However, Harry is a establishing banks and margins around each field with indigenous hedge species to encourage wildlife including beetles and other insects that will help control damaging pests (and help reduce the level of pesticides used to protect the crops).

In total, 6km of wildlife banks and margins have been planted, along with. 5km of hedgerows and trees including hawthorn, dogwood, blackwood, hazel, alder, field maple, buckthorn, ash, lime, beech and guelder rose. These plantings should create a favourable environment for birds.

Moreover, the farm still contains a number of large fields that, hopefully, will still support the wintering flock. Working with a local birder, David and Harry also identified other ways to keep the wintering flock of golden plover on the farm.

The main one has been to delay to drilling of the winter wheat on a field known to be favoured by the birds. By delaying drilling, they hope that the crop height will be reduced during the period that the plovers use the farm, because plovers prefer short rather than longer vegetation.

They have also identified areas in which spring grown cereals will be sown, which are known to be favour skylarks, and other areas where over-winter stubble and uncut areas will be left to provide important food resources for seed?eating birds.

The farm will be monitored over the coming years to assess how the birds are responding these bird?friendly management practises.

To find out more about birds in Surrey, visit the Surrey Bird Club’s website: www.sbclub.ukonline.co.uk