Welcome to the Upper Thames Project...
Restoring wildlife species and their habitats across farmland is a major aim of many of the UK’s Biodiversity Action Plans. We believe that this is best achieved through a landscape approach that aims to link local populations, by enhancing the connectivity of habitat across neighbouring farms, rather than by working at single sites and in isolation. This will ensure the delivery of best practice, improved habitat management, enhancement and creation at a landscape scale. Conservation advice and activity at any one farm will not only consider the species and habitats found on that farm but also the context of the farm in relation to species and habitats on neighbouring farms and areas of wildlife importance (County Wildlife Sites and Nature Reserves).

The UTP has established a steering group with representatives from Defra, WildCRU, FWAG, BBOWT, RSPB, EN and EA to evaluate the Project progress by holding regular meetings and discussions. The Key partners (WildCRU, FWAG and BBOWT) will be working on the ground throughout the duration of the project to ensure targets for the various conservation plans are met and implemented.

Latest News
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. The UTP team are deeply concerned by the recent HPAI outbreak in East England. We are cautiously continuing fieldwork, with full consent of our farming colleagues, and employing appropriate biosecurity precautions (November 2007).

CAP Reform: Commission announces intention to introduce a proposal to set at 0% the obligatory set-aside rate for the 2008 scheme year. Read the FWAG news statement.

The Sustainable Arable Farming For an Improved Environment (SAFFIE) release their final report. From 2001 to 2006, the SAFFIE project aimed to develop and assess new ways to enhance biodiversity in winter cereals. The aim was to improve biodiversity and wildlife access within both field margins and crop. Novel management approaches were tested to improve food and habitat for a range of species important to UK farmland biodiversity.

Harvest mouse population decline in Upper Thames Region. A recent report by WildCRU has shown significant declines in harvest mouse populations across the region. Further work is to be undertaken to establish the extent and magnitude of this decline. The harvest mouse has recently been added to the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (see below) because of fears of more widespread decline.

UK Biodiversity Action Plan updated. The long awaited species and habitats update to the UKBAP has now been published. The report is available to download from the UKBAP web site.

Natural England searches for England's most innovative farmers. Natural England has launched its 'Future of Farming Awards' scheme, which celebrates environmental excellence and innovation in farming.