The Award was collected at a presentation held in Heysham EDF Power Station by Syngenta’s Peter Edwards (Product Safety Group, Jealott’s Hill), who is himself a highly respected ornithological expert.
“The Award recognises many years of conservation efforts on the Jealott’s Hill farm, with the willing participation of successive farm managers,” said Peter. “That work ranges from specific skylark research and conservation, to hedgerow management and now the sown margin, field corner and overwinter bird food plots that we see on the farm today.”
Special mention was made of the recent winter return of Tree sparrows and also the ‘Life in the Landscape’ book of biodiversity images based on staff photography, created to celebrate Syngenta’s 10th anniversary. Syngenta has a long-standing working relationship with BTO – one that is valued thanks to a shared belief in the value of evidence-based research in the development of solutions to issues of importance to both organisations.
“The BTO model fosters individual participation by enthusiastic amateurs to monitor wildlife, especially farmland birds, and to define and organise studies to identify the causes of change,” adds Peter. “This allows an analysis of the consequences of our farming methods towards improvements in a more sustainable future.”
