2025

As winter seems to be in full swing, many organisations are encouraging us to feed the birds. They are reminding everyone to maintain consistency, while also advising on what and how to feed for the best results. This is largely targeted towards garden birds, which can be significant when our gardens make up 4.6% of the land use in the UK. However, farmland makes up a huge 72% of the land use in the UK.

A group of around 60 farmers and families gathered for a special Big Farmland Bird Count social event at Adfa Village Hall in Powys, mid-Wales, in preparation the UK’s annual census of farmland birds.

As well as providing a snapshot of the bird population on UK farms, the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust’s Big Farmland Bird Count aims to raise awareness of the vital role Working Conservationists such as farmers and other land managers play in helping farmland birds. For children it is a chance to look, to listen, and to learn – not only about the birds and how to spot them, but also how counting them can help us understand which of our birds are in the most serious trouble and what we can do to help.

Join FWAG East advisors ahead of this year's Big Farmland Bird Count survey for a two-hour farm walk on the Herts/ Cambs/ Essex border to hone your farmland bird identifications skills.