Arable field margins. Strips of land around arable fields, between crops and field boundaries, are sometimes deliberately managed to benefit key farmland species including birds, mammals and insects; they are excluded from crop spraying and other similar activities.

They provide wildlife corridors which allow wildlife to move freely between habitats and also buffer ditches, streams and hedgerows from agricultural activity.

Arable field margins managed to benefit wildlife

The wildflowers in field margins are important sources of nectar and pollen for bees, wasps, hoverflies and butterflies. Grasshoppers and beetles take cover in the grasses, along with many beneficial predators, such as spiders and ladybirds, which feed on crop pests like aphids.

Field margins can provide refuge for Brown Hare, Harvest Mouse and small mammals like Field Vole which attract Barn Owl and Kestrel.

They also offer feeding and nesting sites for birds such as Grey Partridge and Skylark, as well as feeding sites for Linnet and Tree Sparrow, all of which are identified as priority species.

The arable field crops themselves help support wildlife such as

• crop-nesting bird species for example: Reed Bunting or Lapwing.
• bird species that nest within grass margins and hedges, and feed within arable fields - eg Grey Partridge, Tree Sparrow.
• a range of bumblebee and other invertebrate species.
• a number of arable crop wildflowers.

When arable field provide over-wintered stubbles or are set-aside for a period, they also provide support for wildlife

The following links give more information on arable field margins

Priority habitat details.

Arable field margins are a local priority habitat because of their importance in supporting wildlife.

Arable field margin is a UK BAP priority habitat.

‘Arable Field Margin’ is a general term referring to herbaceous strips or blocks of land around arable fields, lying between crops and the field boundary, that are deliberately managed to benefit key farmland species.

Some arable field margins merge with hedge banks.

The types of arable field margins include:

• Margins sown with wild flowers or legumes allowed to seed
• Margins or blocks sown to provide seed for wild birds
• Cultivated low-input margins
• Land managed for annual wild arable plants.
• Margins providing permanent grass-strips of tussocky and fine-leaved grasses .

Other measures used in arable fields to benefit wildlife include:

• Skylark / Lapwing plots
• Beetle Banks
• Conservation Headlands

Our biodiversity action plan promotes infield areas in arable fields, as well as arable field margins managed to benefit key farmland species.

Arable Field Margins