Mad March hares boxing early

24/02/2009 13:01:41 Brown hares boxing clever - thanks to wildlife-friendly farmers

February 2009. Sightings of "Mad March" hares have increased by more than a third on wildlife-friendly farms.

Figures released by WildCare, the farm wildlife habitat scheme, reveal brown hare numbers have increased by 35 per cent on participating farms. The data, collated from two independent audits of each farm per year, involves detailed field measurements and recordings of sightings. WildCare assessors recorded sightings of 225 brown hares across the Waitrose Select Farms, compared with 167 during the first round.

Field margins & delayed cutting
The WildCare scheme works with the 60 farmers in the Waitrose Select Farm dairy pool, helping them enhance wildlife habitat on their farms. All maintain wide field margins in arable fields, where the grass is allowed to grow long and provide shelter for resting adults and for young. Delaying grass cutting is important as, although adult hares will run, leverets are at most danger at this time. The natural regeneration of wild plants in spring and early summer provides an ideal habitat and food sources.

Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Somerset, Dorset and Hampshire
Currently the farm with the biggest population is in Oxfordshire but farms in Wiltshire, Somerset, Dorset and Hampshire are also strongholds. Smaller populations are also evident on pool farms in Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Gloucestershire and Stirlingshire.

Waitrose pays these farmers a premium for their milk in return for maintaining high standards of milk quality and farming in a manner which benefits wildlife. This extra cost is not passed on to the consumer.

John Cousins, head of agricultural policy for The Wildlife Trusts, said: "WildCare is a beacon project and this news - that the brown hare is flourishing on these farms - is both encouraging and rewarding evidence farmers can make a difference. Dairy farming is a demanding industry which has experienced poor returns over the last few years. WildCare farmers are looking to help wildlife, such as the brown hare, through simple but highly effective measures. The participating farmers are aware their work is a vital support to The Wildlife Trusts' efforts to further improve conditions for wildlife across the UK. Our vision for A Living Landscape is dependent on close working relationships with farmers; as they deliver many of the environmental benefits we seek, for people and wildlife."

Tim Oliver, business services manager, said: "Brown hares have been associated with farmland for thousands of years, as fields replicate their favourite natural environment. They do, however, need cover too. Buffer zones and naturalised field corners, created under the WildCare scheme provide shelter out of harms way and, once again, the Waitrose Dairy Farmers have demonstrated that with a little thought and consideration, a lot of good can be done for wildlife."

Boxing hares - 75% decline
The sight of brown hares ‘boxing' in the countryside could have become a thing of the past as the species suffered a 75 per cent decline over the past 50 years. Concern about declining numbers led to a government UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP), which aims to raise the brown hare population to around two million by 2010 and, after several years of stable population, total numbers remain at about one and a quarter million.