Lapwing: Nesting Welfare on Farmland

Key Welfare Facts

Lapwing populations in the UK have declined by over 80% since the 1970s due to changes in agricultural practice.
Ground-nesting on arable fields makes eggs and chicks vulnerable to early silage cuts and mechanical cultivation.
Adult lapwings perform distraction displays and active chick defence that cause significant energy expenditure.
Mixed farming systems with spring-sown cereals and wet grassland provide optimal breeding habitat for lapwings.
Predator pressure from foxes and corvids is a significant limiting factor at many breeding sites.
Wader scrapes and wet flushes created through agri-environment schemes measurably improve chick survival rates.

Welfare Assessment

Lapwing welfare is closely linked to farming practices that allow successful breeding. Supporting agri-environment schemes and choosing food from farms managing wet grassland and spring-sown cereals directly funds the habitat management this species needs.

What You Can Do

Support agri-environment schemes providing wader-friendly farming grants
Choose food from farms with independent environmental assurance schemes
Create or support wet grassland and scrape habitat on suitable land
Advocate for predator management strategies at key lapwing breeding sites