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Hares on the rebound with friendly farmers’ help
Oxfordshire: Numbers of brown hares have increased by more than a third on farms with wildlife-friendly schemes, according to the Wildlife Trusts.
Brown hares, which are noted for “boxing” in spring – like these pictured – have declined by around 75 per cent in the past 50 years.
The decline has been caused mainly by the conversion of grassland to crop fields and the loss of various hare-friendly habitats in the countryside, the trusts said.
But on 60 farms managed under Wildcare, a wildlife habitat scheme, the population of hares has increased by 35 per cent – from 167 last year to 225 this year. Under the scheme, farmers leave wide grass margins in arable fields where the grass grows long and provides shelter for resting adults and their young – known as leverets.
The farmers also delay grass cutting to reduce the danger to leverets and, when they do cut, they start in the centre and work out to give hares the best chance of escape.
John Cousins, head of agricultural policy for the Wildlife Trusts, said: “Our vision for a living landscape is dependent on close working relationships with farmers as they deliver many of the environmental benefits we seek, for people and wildlife.”
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