Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what guidance her Department makes available to farmers on the management of arable field margins to provide benefits for wildlife.

Defra provides guidance to farmers and other land managers on the management of arable field margins as part of agri-environment schemes such as Environmental Stewardship. The new Countryside Stewardship scheme will continue and enhance this guidance.

Farmers not wanting to sign up to an agri-environment scheme can obtain advice from a variety of sources, including the Campaign for the Farmed Environment.