Create a skylark plot

The fortune of one of our most iconic farmland birds, the skylark, is in farmer's hands.  While numbers have halved since 1970, largely due to the shift away from spring to winter-sown cereals, they can be easily helped. Skylarks struggle to feed effectively as a winter-sown sward grows too tall and dense. Skylark plots in winter cereals are simple to create and maintain important feeding areas during the breeding season, helping the birds to find vital insect food for their chicks.

Two small skylark plots per hectare in winter cereals can increase skylark productivity by 50% and could reverse the decline of skylarks if enough farmers take this option up. Now that skylark plots are in Entry Level Stewardship, they are the best-paid option in terms of payment per area out of production (£3125 per hectare!)

• Read more about how simple skylark plots are to create, and their economic and ecological benefits

• Get more advice on a range of other options at  Get advice on a range of other options on the RSPB's farming pages and www.farmwildlife.info

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