Wader Conservation at Blakelaw

Joe Scott Plummer manages a mixed arable/beef farm at Blakelaw near Kelso. He came along to one of our Farmer Events during the summer, and we caught up with him to find out what he’s been doing for waders on his land since we saw him last.

Q. Joe, why did you go along to the Working for Waders event at Threepwood in June?

I’ve always been interested in farmland wildlife and I’ve been very concerned to see species declining on my land and elsewhere in the Borders over the past few years. Curlews and lapwings used to be common on our farm, and now they’ve almost completely disappeared. I went to the event at Threepwood because I’d like to do something for wading birds, and I wanted to see how farming can work alongside their conservation.

Q. What did you learn on the day?

We had a really good discussion on a whole range of different subjects. Our host [Colin Strang Steel] has done a great deal of proactive conservation work on his farm, and it was interesting to see a range of different techniques being used to attract and protect lapwings and curlews. We were shown a network of wader scrapes which had been designed to help lapwings and oystercatchers, and it was encouraging to hear that these have led to an increase in both species.

Q. Did you know about wader scrapes before the event?

Yes, but until you see one and hear a little more about how they work, it’s not easy to imagine how a wader scrape might look on your own land. I think it was useful to hear that wader scrapes work best when they’re dug on ground which is already wet and unproductive. I can understand why farmers would be turned off by the idea of putting wader scrapes on good land, but this is more about making the best of areas which have always been boggy and of limited value.

Q. What made you decide to make wader scrapes at Blakelaw?

We have a few wet, soggy areas where waders used to breed. We’d love to have them back, and having taken a look at the scrapes at Threepwood, it was pretty straightforward to take that idea and roll it out at home. We had a digger doing some drainage work elsewhere on the farm, and the contractor soon grasped what I was looking for. Now we have two wader scrapes, and it will be exciting to see what good they will do for waders over the next few years. Looking at the nature of the land, the scrapes are more likely to help snipe and curlews, but we will be keeping an eye out for other species too.

Q. Have the scrapes worked as you expected them to?

Yes and no – one of the scrapes was made in a field where cattle have been grazing, and the beasts have poached the muddy slopes around the edges. This will probably heal over by next spring, but I’m keen to keep animals grazing in this habitat and I hope that these are just teething troubles. The other scrape has not had any livestock around it, and it looks very neat and tidy. It will be interesting to see how the two scrapes heal and blend back in to their environment.

Q. Why do you think Working for Waders is an important project?

Of course it’s better when we all work together! It’s good to see a wide range of projects with different partners all pulling in the same direction, and it’s really encouraging that there is an opportunity  for farmers and landowners to get involved and take ownership of conservation on their own land. 

The farmer event was really useful because it was being run by people who actually understand agriculture. It’s so important to be realistic about the balance between agricultural productivity and conservation; everybody wants to help waders, but birds have to fit as part of a profitable business. Focusing on ideas which come at little or no cost to the farmer makes the project feel much more relevant and attainable.

It’s also great to feel that you’re working as part of a wider network and that other farmers are just as concerned about wading birds as you are.