Wildlife is thriving due to deal with the farmers

Wednesday 10th November 2010, 2:29PM GMT.

Andrew Casebow A SCHEME that helps farmers preserve the countryside and its wildlife has been a great success, according to a States adviser.

Agriculture and environment adviser Dr Andrew Casebow (pictured) said the dairy farm management contract, which makes payments to farmers who comply with the Guernsey countryside management scheme, had worked well since its introduction in 2002.

Biodiversity action plans for farms, which detail and set targets for conservation, also form part of the scheme.

Up until 2000, he said, there were concerns that farming was becoming more intensive and wildlife habitats were being lost, but the programme was now having real benefits for wildlife.