Wildlife

Twite Welfare in Upland Farmland

The twite is a small finch of upland areas, now rare in England and declining in Scotland. Its dependence on hay meadows and weed-rich farmland makes it vulnerable to agricultural change.

Key Facts

Twite populations have declined over 70% in England since 1970
Breeding requires traditionally managed hay meadows with abundant seeds
Winter flocks depend on coastal saltmarshes and weedy arable fields
Loss of traditional upland farming practices is the primary threat
Agri-environment scheme uptake has benefited some UK populations

Welfare Considerations

Twite face food shortages caused by agricultural intensification removing seed-bearing plants from hay meadows and moorland edges. In harsh upland winters, energy depletion from inadequate food supply leads to poor body condition. Supporting traditional hay meadow management and providing supplementary seed on farms in winter directly improves welfare.

What You Can Do

Support agri-environment schemes for upland hay meadow restoration
Participate in BTO surveys to track twite populations
Donate to RSPB upland farming conservation programmes
Encourage local landowners to adopt traditional hay meadow management