We now know that the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) will be opening again in two stages this year. Window 1 in June, for farms between 3 and 50 hectares and those that are not currently in an Environmental Land Management (ELM) revenue agreement. This window is planned to be open for two months, but it […]
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Water = Life. Restoring ponds to help nature thrive on farms
Whilst providing accessible and abundant seed-rich habitat is the most crucial element for Turtle Dove conservation in the UK, access to fresh water is also important. Mark Nowers, Operation Turtle Dove’s adviser for Essex, explores our work with farmers and partners in Eastern England. There is something magnificent about a pond, especially on a sunny, […]
Continue readingDouble your impact for Turtle Doves
5th December 2024 6pm update: We’ve just hit £60,000! Thanks to everyone that has donated so far. Please help us hit our £100,000 target by next Tuesday! Getting the UK ‘Turtle Dove Ready’ Between 3 and 10 December, we’re joining the Big Give’s Christmas Challenge. That means for one week only, your festive donation to […]
Continue readingBon voyage and see you next spring!
Bramble bushes are laden with berries, spiders’ webs are catching early morning dew and the flowers of earlier in the year have transformed into crisp seedheads – summer is slowly drifting into autumn. For us that means seeing the countryside shift from the greens and yellows of spring and summer to the reds and oranges […]
Continue readingTurtle Doves – Can you hear them yet?
Spring means one thing for anyone involved in Turtle Dove conservation – Turtle Doves are returning! As we write this in early April, the birds will have already spread their wings and be well into their long voyage from the savannahs of West Africa, across the Sahara and the Mediterranean Sea and into Iberia and […]
Continue readingGiving the gift of hope: How hundreds of farmers and volunteers across South East and Eastern England are helping to save rare Turtle Doves
As 2023 comes to a close, we’re reflecting on the fantastic efforts that have been made this year to support Turtle Dove conservation. Hundreds of UK farmers, landowners and volunteers are helping to give the gift of hope for Turtle Doves, working with Operation Turtle Dove to provide better nesting and feeding habitat for the […]
Continue readingTurtle Doves are back – and we’re celebrating some great news
The arrival of warmer weather and brighter days brings with it the arrival of much-loved migratory birds, including the Turtle Dove. In the past few days we’ve heard from excited colleagues who have spotted their first Turtle Doves of the year – what a joyful sight! We can once again listen out for the Turtle […]
Continue readingWorking with farmers to provide seed-rich feeding habitat for Turtle Doves
Turtle Doves will be heading off on their autumn migration to West Africa over the next few weeks. We’ve just had the great news that their migration will again be safer owing to continued hunting bans in France and Spain. Now is a great time to think about what you can do to welcome them […]
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