Farmland Habitats

Farming shaped our lowland landscape. For centuries, hedgerows and arable land have been important habitats for wildlife. But the recent shift to livestock farming threatens this harmony.

Hedgerows

Hedgerows are part and parcel of the Welsh countryside. They are important for landscape, cultural, archaeological and agricultural reasons.

But these threads of shrubs and trees are also important for wildlife. They provide refuge and resources for native flora and fauna in the middle of a continuous swathes of grassland. Records show that over 600 plant, 1500 insect, 65 bird and 20 mammal species live or feed in hedgerows. And these green boundaries are a primary habitat for at least 47 Species of Conservation Concern in the UK.

Arable Land

Ever since mankind first cultivated the land to grow crops, many species of plants and animals have taken advantage of these manmade habitats.

Many specialist annual plants depend on the bare soil that cultivation creates. A range of invertebrates and small mammals, as well as several species of nesting and over-wintering birds, make use of the crop and arable weeds for shelter and food.

But over the last few decades, as farms specialise more in livestock, arable farming has virtually disappeared in many areas of Wales. Meanwhile, intensification has reduced the wildlife value of remaining arable land. As a result, many species of arable weed are now rare and the farmland birds that depend on mixed farming are in decline.