Farming and Wildlife

Farming and Wildlife

Farming has been the headland’s dominant land use for centuries. The rich boulder clay, and underlying geology, makes the area both productive and easy to work.

Many small farms exist side by side, with holdings ranging from 200ha down to less than 7ha, and the once mixed practices have now been replaced with mainly arable farming. Flamborough farmers take great pride in their land, and with the help of agri-environment schemes many wildlife friendly practices have been adopted. Sensitive farming techniques are helping declining farmland birds such as corn buntings, yellowhammer and lapwing, and providing vital habitats for other animals like dragonflies, bats and butterflies.

The Farming and Wildlife Storyboard can be found on the cliff-top footpath between North Landing and the Lighthouse.  From here, you can look inland across the fields towards Flamborough village, with the churning sea and steep cliffs behind you.  Look out for yellowhammers flitting amongst the hedgerows and listen for the skylark’s distinctive song as it flies high above you.  In winter, you might be able to spot flocks of lapwing gathering in ploughed fields or the occasional snow bunting as it hops amongst the bare earth.

© Martin Jones Gill

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