Wildlife Welfare

Wild Lapwing Farmland Welfare

Lapwings have declined dramatically on UK farmland due to agricultural intensification, with targeted conservation delivering welfare benefits.

Key Facts

Lapwing populations in the UK have declined by 80% since the 1960s
Loss of wet grassland, early silage cutting, and predation are primary causes
Agri-environment scheme payments for wet grassland management support lapwing breeding
Nest protection through field monitoring reduces tractor-caused nest failures
Lapwing chicks are precocial but require open, short vegetation to find invertebrate food

Welfare Considerations

Lapwing welfare on farmland is determined by agricultural practice. Individual breeding pairs need wet grassland, delayed cutting, and reduced predator pressure to successfully rear chicks.

What You Can Do

Support agri-environment schemes paying for lapwing-friendly farming
Donate to RSPB or equivalent organizations coordinating lapwing conservation
Advocate for strong agri-environment scheme funding in agricultural policy