24 arable farms in the east were recruited Winter 2006, 12 with EF2 (wild bird seed) and 12 with EF4 (pollen & nectar). These farms are situated throughout Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and South Lincolnshire with the majority in The Fens. (CEH)
24 arable farms in the south-west were also recruited in Winter 2006, again 12 with EF2 and 12 with EF4. The farms were spread over a wider geographical area including Dorset, North Somerset, Wiltshire and Devon but all are in comparatively arable parts of this region. (Reading)
All 48 farmers were interviewed during early Spring 2007 to gather baseline data and to assess initial attitudes to the ELS scheme. (Exeter)
During late Spring 2007, a number of specially targeted training days were run both in the South West and in the East. (CEH, Reading & Exeter)
During July and August an intensive field campaign collected baseline ecological data relating to vegetation, flower counts and habitat in two transects in each survey patch as well as in matched control patches. Butterflies and bees were also recorded along these transects. Two visits to each farm were completed during this phase. (CEH & Reading)
This was followed in September by an additional visit to all of the EF2 farms (24 in total) to collect seed samples. These samples are currently being processed and weighed. (CEH & Reading)
Further on-farm training is now underway which is subject to further observation and assessment. (Exeter)
Over the winter months bird surveys will be completed on all of the 24, EF2 farms (2 visits). (Reading & CEH)
In addition to the field survey campaign all 48 farms and their surrounding areas have been mapped for land cover at a scale of 1:2500 using Ordnance Survey Mastermap data as a baseline and colour aerial photography as a data source, similarly all boundaries have been mapped at each site. A GIS database of all 48 sites is now complete and ready for the next stage of analysis (CEH).
