The recovery of the Turtle Dove, an integral part of the popular Christmas carol, ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ could soon be accelerating across farmland in East Anglia after the launch of a new partnership between Tesco and the RSPB.
The retailer and nature conservation charity will work together to provide dedicated conservation and habitat advice, with an ambition to support more than 300 farmers and landowners in East Anglia to adopt nature-friendly farming approaches. The area is one of Tesco’s key sourcing regions for fresh produce, and the partnership will create essential habitats for Turtle Doves and other at-risk bird species, including Lapwings and Stone Curlews.
Expert advisors will support farmers, including those supplying Tesco, and local community owned land with advice on creating and enhancing spaces for nature including planting trees and hedgerows, creating and restoring ponds, establishing grass and scrub buffer strips, and adding flower-rich field boundaries.
Providing good quality wildlife habitats not only improve biodiversity and support a range of species, but also support farm resilience by boosting pollination, offering natural pest management, and improving soil health, allowing it to hold water for longer which can provide protection against extreme weather caused by climate change such as drought and flooding.
Advisors will also signpost farmers on how to access existing funding opportunities to achieve this, such as the recently updated Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI).
Speaking about the launch of the new partnership, Ashwin Prasad, Tesco’s Chief Commercial Officer said:
“Our farmers and suppliers in East Anglia want to do as much as they can to help protect and restore nature in the area, so we’re delighted to be working in partnership with the RSPB on such a crucial project. They will bring a huge amount of expertise and experience, and I’m sure will play a pivotal role in encouraging many of these at-risk species back to the farmland of the region.”
Katie-Jo Luxton, Director of Conservation at the RSPB, said:
“In our lifetimes, almost half of our farmland birds, mammals, amphibians, insects and invertebrates have disappeared, along with 97% of our wildflower meadows. Thankfully, dedicated nature-friendly farmers and conservationists are already taking action to bring habitats and wildlife back across the UK, but support for their actions from across the supply chain – from consumers to supermarkets – will be crucial if we are to deliver at the scale nature needs. We know we can’t reverse the tide for nature without farmers, and we’re looking forward to working together with Tesco, their suppliers and farmers, and community groups to help wildlife flourish in our countryside once more.”
The partnership is the latest to be announced as part of Tesco’s Nature Programme, a series of initiatives and partnerships which will help to protect and restore nature in some of Tesco’s key sourcing landscapes. Support will also be provided to the RSPB’s Big Give Christmas Challenge 2024, a 1-week matched fundraising campaign aimed at raising funds to support Operation Turtle Dove.
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