There have long been subsidies and allowances for leaving a 10m or so strip alongside a field planted out for crops. This strip then being appropriately planted to encourage wildlife.
Now our experience of this in practice is that the strips tend to turn into weed beds. Come August they turn into a launch site for a million (literally) weed seeds, which are spread far and wide…..including over gardens.
Whilst visiting some old friends this weekend we passed through Steeple Bumpstead and saw the most beautiful wild flower strip alongside a field. It clearly took care and money to keep like this, but it just zinged with colour and insects. Well done Mr/Mrs Farmer, you are a credit to the community.