INCREASING numbers of farmers are being encouraged to improve habitats under a Government scheme that awards grants for better countryside management.

Countryside Stewardship has been helping farmers improve hedgerows for wildlife, leave unmown field margins for nesting birds and small creatures, plant trees, preserve grasslands and other projects that make their farm a better place for wildlife.

Jim Milner, Countryside Stewardship advisor for the Tees Valley, said: "We try to be flexible in what we do so that farmers can pick things which fit into their systems. At the moment, we are developing a number of schemes which will come in next year.

"It is a ten-year scheme, so we usually try to get all the hedge work done in the first five years so we have five years to maintain them and make sure they are established."

One farmer who has joined the scheme is Chris Hodgson, of Piercebridge Farm, near Darlington.

Mr Hodgson has converted to organic farming during the past five years and has completely changed his outlook on managing the land.

Since entering Countryside Stewardship seven years ago, Mr Hodgson has planted many hedges, improved others and introduced field margins. This not only improves conditions for the wildlife, it also means there are predators around to eat the pests in his crops. Natural pest control is important in the organic system.

Mr Milner said: "The hedges here are some of the best you will see for their age. They are at a stage where you can leave them a few years and maybe Chris will think about laying them in a few years time."

He said Stewardship was mostly about increasing the food for species such as song birds in the hope they would return.

Mr Hodgson said there were more flowers on his land because the farm cut its hay later. Yellowhammers, skylarks and lapwings are among the species of birds he sees.

The farm produces organic lamb, beef, chicken and eggs and has a shop that sells a range of organic fruit, vegetables and other foods.

Published: 08/06/2004