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How nature-friendly farmers in Kent & Sussex are helping save the turtle dove

England
biodiversity
Sustainable Farming Incentive
wildlife
arable

Turtle doves have been a part of Britain’s landscape for centuries, but they have suffered catastrophic declines. Here’s how our NFFN farmers have joined the fight to save the bird.

The turtle dove has a long history in Britain’s countryside, heritage and culture. Generations grew up hearing their soft call in summer, while Shakespeare mentioned them in his plays. Every year, millions of people sing about them during the festive season, thanks to the song The 12 Days of Christmas.

However, these elusive wanderers have faced major challenges. The turtle dove has suffered a catastrophic decline in its UK population, with numbers falling by 99% since the late 1960s. The main cause was the intensification of arable farming after World War II, which destroyed much of its habitat and food.

Today, nature-friendly farmers are at the heart of efforts to secure a future for the turtle dove. Through its work with Operation Turtle Dove (OTD), the NFFN is playing a vital role in ensuring the bird’s survival.  

What is OTD and why is the NFFN involved?

OTD is a partnership between the RSPB, Natural England, Fair to Nature and the Pensthorpe Conservation Trust. The project uses scientific research to understand why turtle doves have declined so dramatically and implements measures aimed at reversing this trend.

The NFFN joined OTD in 2023 with the recruitment of Stuart Harris, South East Sustainable Farming Officer. Our contribution has been two-fold: identifying nature-friendly farmers across Kent and Sussex whose land could support turtle doves, and implementing measures to actively help the birds.

Why have turtle doves declined and what can be done?

Turtle dove numbers have plummeted over the past 50 years due to three main factors: hunting along migration routes, trichomoniasis, a disease caused by a parasite, and the loss of suitable habitats. Of these, habitat loss is the most pressing issue in the UK, and it can be directly addressed by working with landowners in the turtle dove’s core range of south-east England.

Finding suitable feeding habitat when the birds arrive in late spring is a crucial factor after a long migration journey. “Turtle doves feed on arable plant seeds, which have become scarce due to the intensification of farming,” Stuart explains. “There’s simply not enough natural forage for them any more. They also have short, stubby legs, which means they need patches of open, bare ground where they can feed by picking seeds off the soil.”

It's great to be able to help shape a new, positive narrative about these remarkable birds.

Stuart Harris

Intensified arable farming has also led to the removal of much of the dense, thorny hedgerows and scrubby areas of shrubs like blackthorn or dog rose, where the turtle doves like to nest. “For turtle doves to feel secure, the hedge or area of shrub needs to be at least three by four metres in height and depth,” Stuart adds.

Finally, turtle doves need access to water sources with gentle sloping sides, as they are at risk of falling into steep-sided watercourses and drowning.  

Has OTD been successful?

The NFFN’s first year with OTD has been a considerable success. “We’ve been raising awareness at rural events and worked closely with around 20 nature-friendly farmers to help them become ‘turtle dove ready’ by maintaining or creating the essential habitats the bird needs,” Stuart explains. 

Farmers involved in the project receive seeds to scatter in suitable areas to establish feeding areas for turtle doves, and Stuart has also encouraged them to take advantage of options in the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) which help in creating areas of native arable plants.

This summer, Stuart contacted all NFFN farmers in Kent and Sussex to ask if they had seen or heard turtle doves. Nine positive responses followed, and some new farmers are now keen to join the initiative to help the birds.

One farmer, who recently joined the scheme and began supplementary feeding, started monitoring his site. After a couple of weeks with no sightings, Stuart suggested moving the camera to a different part of the farm. The following week, turtle doves were captured on camera. “It was very exciting for both us and the landowner,” Stuart recalls. “He couldn’t wait to share the good news.”

One positive outcome of NFFN’s involvement has been the expansion of the project’s reach. NFFN farmer members in areas around Faversham, Ashford and East Sussex are now participating, with orchards, vineyards and mixed farming estates all working together.

This is very good news, especially since turtle dove numbers in western Europe have increased by 25% following a hunting ban in 2021. The ban has made the migration routes through Spain, Portugal and France safer, easing the journey between their summer homes in South East England and their wintering grounds in West Africa.

“For years, the headlines around turtle doves have been doom and gloom, but now we’re seeing their numbers grow. We’re hopeful the same will happen in southern parts of the UK,” Stuart says. “It’s great to be able to help shape a new, positive narrative about these remarkable birds.”