The lapwing has declined dramatically from lowland farmland and now depends on agri-environment management to maintain viable breeding populations in England and Wales.
Lapwing welfare on lowland farmland depends on management that provides the open, wet conditions their breeding and feeding ecology requires. Drainage of wet grassland, early cutting, and intensive grazing all reduce breeding success. Targeted agri-environment management creating shallow pools and maintaining short swards directly improves welfare of breeding birds.