Wildlife

Wild Skylark: Skylark Plots and Agricultural Support

Skylark populations have declined dramatically due to changes in farming practices, but targeted agri-environment measures show strong recovery.

Key Facts

UK skylark numbers have declined by over 60% since the 1970s
Loss of winter stubble and autumn sowing are primary drivers of decline
Skylark plots - small unseeded gaps in winter cereals - increase nesting success
Entry Level Stewardship payments for skylark plots drove measurable recovery

Welfare Considerations

Skylark chicks in winter cereal fields face dramatically reduced survival from predation and food scarcity. Skylark plots, beetle banks, and mixed farming practices directly address these welfare pressures at landscape scale.

What You Can Do

Support agri-environment schemes that fund skylark and farmland bird measures
Advocate for continued post-Brexit farmland bird payments in England and devolved nations
Visit RSPB Skylark pages for guidance on farm-scale interventions