Keith Stedman

​

I first became involved with the Hopyard Farm Project in 2009 when I took part as a volunteer in the RSPB Farmer and Volunteer Alliance Scheme. The object of this national scheme was for volunteers to record the birds present on participating farms over three visits during the spring season when breeding was in full swing. The birds were recorded onto a map of the farm and surrounding fields with symbols attached to each record showing the type of breeding activity of the bird. Although not definitive, these maps and lists provided a good indication of the range of species present during the breeding season and thus enabled the RSPB to advise Farmers on actions that could be taken to help stem the decline of many ‘farmland’ birds 

 

The results from that initial year’s (2009) survey at HopyardFarm showed that some 52 species were recorded as being present at some time during the survey period. The total was made up of : 

 

                   9 Red Listed - Species of high conservation concern

                   15 Amber Listed - Species of medium conservation concern

                   28 Green Listed - All Other Species

 

At Stuart’s invitation, I have been pleased to continue the survey each year, although not in quite such a detailed way. Most of the visits are made early morning whilst bird activity is at its peak but others have been made throughout the day or early evening.

Nothing remains static and the intervening years, since the initial survey was undertaken, have seen changes, both good and bad, for the wildlife recorded at Hopyard Farm e.g.

 

1. In line with their decline nationally, since that initial year of 2009, the Willow Tit has not been recorded again.

2. 2010 saw the Little Owls relocating after their nesting tree had been blown over. Unfortunately I have not been able to locate them since.

3. Following work by Stuart to create an undisturbed damp area specifically for them, 2011 saw the arrival of the first pair of Lapwing attempting to breed. Their numbers have subsequently increased and they have since bred successfully on site.

4. In the spring of 2015 a splendid male Whinchat in full breeding plumage stopped over on passage to its breeding grounds.

5. The arrival in 2016 of a Grasshopper Warbler. A male bird has been recorded ‘reeling’ away at dusk each spring since that year. On the same evening as the Grasshopper Warbler was first heard in 2016 an unexpected (by me) sighting of a pair of badgers and their cubs.     

 

Walking quietly around the farm, and experiencing the sights and sounds it has to offer, from the explosive song of the Wren hidden in the hedgerow or the urgent chatter of the Sedge Warblers in the reed bed to the singing of Skylarks overhead, combined with sightings of various butterfly species, and Badger, Fox, and Brown Hare (and the occasional farm cat) I can say that I have thoroughly enjoyed my visits to Hopyard Farm during the years of my survey work.