Farmer Alastair Leake is leading an experimental farm, the Allerton Project, which is successfully reversing the decline in UK bird populations. His methods include drilling crops directly into the earth, allowing crop residue from previous harvests to remain, which provides a rich feeding ground for birds.
This approach has shown that birds prefer to feed on the "trashy" side of the field compared to the ploughed side, demonstrating a robust recipe for attracting abundant wildlife. The project's success offers valuable insights into reversing the sharp drop in bird populations across the UK.