NSA Breakfast Club - Is shabby the new chic? An exploration of nature recovery on sheep farms

Date: 1st September 2021

Time: 8.30am

Location: Online - zoom webinar

Below is a report on the contents of this webinar. To watch the webinar on demand please click here.

We live in a diverse, spectacular and productive countryside, which was emphatically demonstrated by the passionate and inspirational talks from the speakers in September’s NSA Breakfast Club webinar.

Focus at the forthcoming COP26 conference will be on global climate change, with attention given to relative biodiversity changes and to start NSA’s countdown to the conference, this webinar provided a forum to highlight how nature-based solutions and the crucial role nature plays in combating climate change and sustaining national economies underpins much work that comes as farm management practices on sheep farms.

Chaired by NSA Chief Executive Phil Stocker who set the scene by describing how, for a few generations, we have been expected to keep our farms ‘tidy’, but what we see as ‘shabby’ now should be considered as a haven for the species which contribute to the rich diversity to be found across the many different landscapes in which sheep are farmed. Speakers John Pawsey, Hywel Morgan & Davy MacCracken portrayed views of diverse habitats, providing food, shelter and conditions enabling wildlife populations to thrive, alongside productive, efficient and high quality farming.

The clear message from the speakers is: the right combination of quality actions opens up the opportunity of “…finding the sweet spot between biodiversity and productivity.” Recognizing the outcomes desired, enables good planning to establish strong foundations upon which to build the most appropriate habitats to support and protect nature. The passion shown for being able to observe wildlife being nurtured was hugely evident in the short presentations given by each speaker.

Further emphasis was given on how important it is understand the species present and how, by engaging with local wildlife groups or organisations, regular surveys can measure the respective populations and demonstrate the benefits, year on year, by recording their increases – the excitement shown for being able to see endangered, threatened or just uncommon birdlife highlighted to the audience how gratified each speaker was to witness this as part of their working life.

Not forgetting how important it is for sheep farming to continue to be financially viable it was clearly demonstrated how connecting with consumers also allowed feedback to be gained and ensured the continued production and supply of high quality lamb and beef was not compromised, but in fact was enhanced by this balance of nature and farming.

Following the presentations a wide ranging debate covered, among other topics, grassland management, how livestock contribute to rotational systems, the maintenance of soil health, the role of hedges in habitat and shelter, through to managing water and all of the relative benefits in protecting wildlife while producing high quality lamb.