WAITROSE DAIRY FARMERS LEAD THE WAY
Waitrose Dairy Farmers Lead the Way on the Campaign for Farmed Environment: Considerate farming practices benefit the environment and endangered species.
Environmental stewardship targets outlined in today’s announcement by the Campaign for the Farmed Environment are already being achieved by one group of UK farmers.
The sixty members of the Waitrose dairy farmer pool have adopted farming practices that benefit wildlife through simple but highly effective measures laid out by the WildCare scheme.
The scheme sets out environmental standards that will improve wildlife habitats, increase biodiversity and the numbers of species on each of the farms producing milk for Waitrose. WildCare’s principle focus is to create ‘wildlife corridors’ through the careful management of hedgerows, ditches, water courses and field margins, providing the necessary habitats for many species of plants, insects, birds and mammals to thrive.
Sir Don Curry, Chairman of the Waitrose Leckford Estate, said: “Waitrose dairy farmers are leading the field in environmental best practice. The WildCare scheme encourages farming in a way that benefits wildlife and allows farmers to significantly improve conditions for wildlife across the UK. I hope other farmers introducing the practices recommended in the Campaign for the Farmed Environment will look to Waitrose dairy farmers to see what can be achieved.”
WildCare focuses on the following areas of habitat enhancement, focusing on the following areas:
* Participating farmers must dedicate a minimum of 10% of their dairy farm area as wildlife habitat.
* The WildCare standards have been approved by The Wildlife Trusts and each farm draws up and follows a personalised Farm Wildlife Action Plan. The wildlife habitat on the farm is assessed annually by an independent specialist wildlife advisor.
* Figures released in November 2008 showed that many species that are in decline nationally are, in fact, increasing on the Waitrose dairy farms operating the WildCare standards. These include the spotted flycatcher, reed bunting, yellowhammer and brown hare.
* The contribution WildCare has made to improving wildlife habitat on Waitrose dairy farms in the past two years was recognised by the achievement of an environmental Green Apple Award in 2008 and the Environmental Heroes Award in 2009.
Mark Price, Managing Director of Waitrose, adds: “The Waitrose dairy pool has committed to enhancing their on farm environmental practices thanks to the bespoke standards set by the WildCare scheme. By farming in a manner that benefits wildlife, our farmers further improve conditions for wildlife across the UK. I believe the Campaign for the Farmed Environment can look to Waitrose dairy farmers to leading the way in agri-environmental practices and inspire best practice around the country”.
The Waitrose dairy scheme celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Its success is testament to the benefit of developing long-term, mutually beneficial relationships with its farmers and providing financial security. Waitrose dairy farmers have the confidence to invest in their farms and develop their businesses.
The standards carry the full endorsement of the Wildlife Trust whose objective it is ‘to engage people in their environment’. AB Agri (Associated British Agriculture) provide independent auditing of the standards and the association with The Wildlife Trusts. The dairy farm standards set are exclusive to the Waitrose dairy pool.
Waitrose Dairy Farmers (www.waitrose.co.uk)
WildCare works with Waitrose Dairy Farmers, to encourage farming practices that benefit wildlife. The Waitrose Dairy Farmers group, launched in 1999 (originally called the Select Farm Milk Group), now includes 60 farms – producing high quality milk, through efficient, ethical and sustainable farming practices. Waitrose has consistently paid one of the market’s highest prices for milk. By paying a premium, Waitrose enables its dairy farmers to meet costs, make a profit and reinvest in their dairies. The Waitrose Dairy Farmers Milk Scheme reflects the long-term commitment Waitrose has with Dairy Crest and this forward-thinking group of dairy farmers. The scheme also demonstrates Waitrose’s support for the Government’s strategy of balancing high quality with efficiency, in order to create a profitable and sustainable dairy farming economy.
The group’s milk is sold under the new brand – essential Waitrose.
WildCare http://www.wildcare.co.uk
WildCare is part of White Gold, which is a trading division of AB Agri Ltd (Associated British Agriculture), the Agriculture Group of Associated British Foods plc. The White Gold Service has been in existence since 1995 as a specialist consultancy operation helping Dairy Crest producers attain the Assured Dairy Farm Scheme standards. They also regularly help farmers with key Cross Compliance, waste management and environmental issues. The members of the White Gold Service team are fully qualified LANTRA-approved farm assessors. Under the WildCare programme, specialist wildlife assessors visit farms to produce the individual Farm Wildlife Action Plans, the backbone of the scheme.
The Wildlife Trusts (TWT) http://www.wildlifetrusts.org
There are 47 local Wildlife Trusts across the whole of the UK, the Isle of Man and Alderney, working for an environment rich in wildlife for everyone. With 726,000 members, TWT is the largest UK voluntary organisation dedicated to conserving the full range of the UK’s habitats and species, whether they be in the countryside, in cities or at sea. 135,000 of TWT’s members belong to the junior branch, Wildlife Watch. TWT manages 2,200 nature reserves covering more than 84,000 hectares; TWT stands up for wildlife; TWT inspires people about the natural world and fosters sustainable living.
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