The lapwing has declined dramatically on UK farmland but responds well to targeted habitat management, providing both conservation and individual welfare benefits.
Lapwing welfare is affected by nest failure from agricultural operations, chick starvation from loss of wet grassland invertebrate habitat, and predation. Agricultural intensification eliminated suitable nesting conditions across most of lowland England. Targeted habitat management including wet scrapes, reduced grass management, and sympathetic cutting regimes directly benefits individual lapwing welfare by enabling successful nesting and chick survival. Conservation success stories where lapwing populations have recovered demonstrate the direct welfare benefit of habitat management.