Burnham Farms, near Burnham Market, was named winner of the Norfolk Grey Partridge Farmland and Biodiversity Award for its “significant contribution to conservation” across the estate.
The mixed arable farm has dedicated 210 acres to conservation, and in the last five years it has succeeded in boosting native grey partridge populations from 21 breeding pairs to a peak of 71.
Grey partridge at Burnham Farms in west Norfolk (Image: Burnham Farms)
But there have also been significant wider biodiversity gains, with annual bird surveys recording 97 different species compared to just 51 in 2021.
Of these, 24 are red-listed and 39 amber-listed species on the BTO’s birds of conservation concern list.
New species on the farm include quail, stone chat and turtle dove, while oystercatcher, lapwing fledglings and wild pheasant have all substantially increased as a result of a comprehensive programme of habitat creation, conservation and land management since 2021.
It includes the planting of 11,435m of hedging, the creation of wildflower margins, bumblebird mixes and winter bird food plots, the installation of 11 water scrapes and a rolling 10-year woodland management plan.
Conservation manager Harvey Forder, who led the five-yeare project, said he was proud to accept the award for the estate’s hard-won wildlife successes.
“I get an immense amount of pleasure out of it every day,” he said. “It is not easy, there are lots of highs and lows because you are working with nature, but I get lots of support.”
The 1,700-acre farmland estate is part of the RG Carter group, whose chairman Robert Carter said: “We are delighted to receive this award.
“It is a great credit to Harvey Forder and the farming team and those who have contributed advice and wise counsel.
“Over the past five years it has been very encouraging to witness the positive impact of the work carried out by Burnham Farms.
“Our objective is to protect the environment and improve biodiversity wherever possible and practical.
“The key focus for the future is that we continue to enhance the environment for current and future generations.”
A spokesperson for law firm Mills & Reeve, which sponsored the award, said: “Burnham Farms is a standout example of what can be achieved through forethought and long-term commitment to biodiversity.
“Their success in restoring grey partridge numbers and enhancing habitats across the estate made them very deserving winners.”
Dr Roger Draycott, director of advisory and education at the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) said: “We all know that the grey partridge is very much a barometer of the health of the countryside, but I think Burnham Farms is a really good example of that in practice because a focus on grey partridges has without doubt led to a wider increase in biodiversity.”