The Lapwing Project
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The Lapwing Project is a partnership between RuralScapes, Shropshire Wildlife Trust and the Environment Agency. The collaboration has been running since 2002 with the aim of halting the current trend of declining Lapwing numbers in Shropshire.
To date we have focused much of our work in the Severn Vyrnwy confluence area, Maesbury Marsh and Baggymoor. The project has also begun work around Newport and the Wealdmoors and we have links to a project running in south Shropshire. Basically if you’ve got nesting Lapwings we would like to talk to you!
What’s on offer:
- Assistance with Higher Level Stewardship applications
- Wetland creation through the EA
- Advice on managing land for Lapwings
- Monitoring & recording nest sites
Project achievements to date:
- The creation of 9 wetland sites in collaboration with the Environment Agency designed to provide feeding areas near to nesting sites.
- 9 HLS applications submitted, including 47 hectares of wet grassland options, 60 hectares of spring cropping and 100 hectares of extensively managed grassland options
- 16 Countryside Stewardship applications submitted
- 7 individual lapwing management agreements set up
Corvid control with BASC
Listening to the farmers in a particular area is essential in understanding why different species are in decline. With the Lapwing Project predation was cited as a key reason why Lapwings were declining in numbers even when habitat conditions were right. So RuralScapes took advice from the British Association for Shooting & Conservation (BASC) and we have set up a programme to control crows & magpies in Baggymoor, where the predator pressure is very high. Hopefully the hard work of BASC volunteers will be paid off with nesting success in the coming years.