Wildlife charity the RSPB will be showcasing its efforts to save farmland birds as it takes part in activities and opens up its own farm in Cambridgeshire as part of Open Farm Sunday tomorrow.

East Anglian Daily Times: A farm walk at RSPB Hope Farm.A farm walk at RSPB Hope Farm. (Image: Andy Hay)

Hope Farm, based at Knapwell, near Cambridge, will host a packed day of activities including wildlife walks, guided tractor and trailer farm wildlife tours, and bird ringing demonstrations from 10am to 2pm as part of the annual farm showcase, organised by Linking the Environment and Farming (LEAF). Admission is free.

RSPB Hope Farm manager Ian Dillon, said: “Open Farm Sunday is a great opportunity for the public to visit us at Hope Farm and see first-hand what we are doing here and how nature-friendly farming can help wildlife at the same time as growing the food we all eat – and of course to enjoy a day out on the farm.”

The RSPB will also be at other sites across East Anglia, including at Park Farm, an arable operation at Park Farm Drive, Stanton, north Suffolk, IP31 2DL, where RSPB farm conservation officer Kerry Skelhorn will be on hand. She will be helping farmer Ed Vipond with farm tours and a nature trial. There will also be arts and craft activities for kids, farm machinery exhibit and livestock, with food and refreshments available.

The RSPB has been working with farmers around the UK to find out why farmland birds and wildlife are declining, and to come up with solutions. Birds on the decline include turtle doves, corn buntings, yellow wagtails and skylarks.

East Anglian Daily Times: Ian Dillon, Farm Manager, RSPB Hope Farm, Cambridgeshire, England, June 2012Ian Dillon, Farm Manager, RSPB Hope Farm, Cambridgeshire, England, June 2012 (Image: © RSPB-IMAGES AND ITS IMAGE CONTRIBUTORS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This image is protected by international copyright laws and dist)

The charity started managing the 450 acre Hope Farm, an arable operation, 16 years ago and has used it to try to develop new farming techniques which benefit farmers and wildlife.

It says that between 2010 and 2015, it saw skylark territories increase from 10 to 43, and counted just two yellowhammers in 2000-01 compared to 723 in 2015. Numbers of butterflies increased by 224% from 2000 to 2015.

The Hope Farm visit includes arts and crafts activities, nature treasure hunts with prizes, farm animals to meet, farm machinery on show, and farm barbecue.

LEAF Open Farm Sunday manager Annabel Shackleton said: “LEAF Open Farm Sunday gives everyone the rare opportunity to see farming in real life and to learn about the hard work, care and pride that goes into the work farmers do.”

Visit www.rspb.org.uk/hopefarm, or farmsunday.org