Hawk and Owl Trust Working with Farmers and Landowners

The Babcary and Area Farm Cluster Owl Project – A Better Future for Farming and Nature

The Babcary and Area Farm Cluster Owl Project is a collaborative initiative between local farmers, landowners and the Hawk and Owl Trust, working together to create a stronger future for both farming and nature in South Somerset.

This project aims to bring farmers and landowners together to create a connected network of wildlife corridors across the landscape. By linking farms and landholdings through carefully managed habitats, the project moves away from isolated pockets of nature and instead creates a joined-up area that allows wildlife to thrive.

The Hawk and Owl Trust has already hosted a well-attended local evening talk, inviting surrounding farmers and landowners to learn more about the project. The strong turnout and positive response clearly demonstrated both enthusiasm and the urgent need for this work.

Project Objectives

The core objectives of the project are to:

• Build a close working relationship between farmers, landowners and conservation specialists

• Provide site visits and tailored advice by request, whether or not land management changes are required

• Create wildlife habitat corridors that link farms and landholdings, turning individual efforts into a landscape-scale conservation project

The primary focus species for the project are Barn Owl, Little Owl, Tawny Owl and Kestrel. All of these birds have experienced significant population declines, either due to the general background decline of nature or species-specific pressures.

Supporting Owls and Kestrels

The project will create suitable habitat and install proven nesting boxes for each target species. Little Owl boxes will be erected in clusters while a remnant local population still exists, concentrating effort where the species is currently present and expanding outwards. Farmers are particularly keen to support this species through coordinated habitat creation and box placement.

Barn Owls and Kestrels will benefit from interlinking, prey-rich foraging areas, combined with well-sited nest boxes installed on farms and along corridor routes. These measures will provide safe nesting opportunities and help these birds re-establish across the landscape they once dominated.

Wider Benefits for Nature Recovery

The benefits of this project extend far beyond owls and kestrels. The creation of rough grassland corridors will support a wide range of butterfly and moth species, which in turn will benefit bat populations. Where these grassland areas are near water, amphibians will also benefit from increased cover and higher invertebrate numbers. Insect- and seed-feeding birds will gain directly from improved habitat and food availability.

All the species at the heart of this project are predators, making them excellent indicators of a healthy and resilient ecosystem. By unlocking biodiversity that is currently suppressed, this project will contribute meaningfully to nature recovery across the wider area.

The Farm Cluster

The cluster covers over 2,000 acres in the Sparkford Vale, north of the Podimore roundabout on the A303. The land has been surveyed by Chris Sperring and Joel Cox from the Hawk and Owl Trust (Charity Number 1058565). Working alongside the knowledge of local landowners and existing bird records, a detailed and practical plan has been developed.

The project will install:

• 12 Kestrel boxes

• 10 Tawny Owl boxes

• 13 Barn Owl boxes

• 25 Little Owl boxes

Nest boxes are now essential. Modern land management and health and safety requirements mean fewer trees are allowed to age naturally and develop the crevices that once provided nesting sites. As a result, artificial boxes are often the only viable option for these species to breed successfully.

Funding and the Future

We are currently raising funds for Phase 1 of the project, which covers the purchase, installation and monitoring of nest boxes, along with advisory visits from the Hawk and Owl Trust. Phase 2 will see the project expanded into neighbouring districts.

We are a group of farmers and landowners committed to supporting and increasing our native owl and kestrel populations by working in partnership with the Hawk and Owl Trust. Sponsoring this project will make a lasting impact on raptors, wildlife and biodiversity across this landscape.

Supporters will receive updates on progress as the nest boxes are monitored over time. Together, through cooperation between farmers, landowners, conservation experts and the wider community, this project will deliver real and lasting benefits for nature recovery in South Somerset.