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Bill Oddie Goes Wild
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Before you venture on to farmland, the first thing you should do is check that you have right of access: either via a public road or footpath, or with the farmer's permission. Exploring farmland is more difficult than many other habitats, because few farms have the paraphernalia of nature reserves such as hides, trails and information boards! So you will need to get an eye for good habitats, and areas where wildlife may be concentrated.
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ignore areas which use modern farming techniques, which have turned the countryside into a sterile wasteland |
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instead, seek out traditionally managed farms, with ancient trees and hedgerows and a variety of crops and livestock in a small area |
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look out for 'messy' places: overgrown farmyards with old, rusting machinery - often used by nesting birds such as house sparrows |
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seek out areas of fresh water: ponds and even puddles act as a magnet for wildlife |
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scan fields carefully: birds and mammals such as partridges and hares often hide in dips or furrows |
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fields with livestock are often full of wildlife too: taking advantage of a plentiful supply of invertebrate food |
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dawn and dusk are a good time to look for shy creatures such as roe deer and barn owls |
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