Farm’s huge cash boost for wildlife

A Lincolnshire family farm has raised more than £1,250,000 for the Wildlife Trust after a 10-year partnership.

Vine House Farm grows 400 acres of bird seed including 100 acres of sunflowers, and is a haven for a host of wildlife.

Run by Nicholas Watts, the farm donates up to 5per cent of its sales to support wildlife conservation. A fourth-generation farmer, Mr Watts, who has worked on the farm since he was a boy, was awarded an MBE for his conservation work.

A pioneer of wildlife-friendly farm management, the farm has seen over the last 20 years a four-fold increase in barn owl and whitethroat numbers, and a 10-fold increase in tree sparrow and lapwing numbers.

Stephanie Hilborne, Wildlife Trusts chief, said: “People taking action in the places that are closest to them is a powerful force for change.” Samantha Herbert