With so many of our native bird species in sharp decline and being added to the 'Red List' - offering them highest priority for protection - it's refreshing when one bucks the trend and numbers increase. 

Buzzards have been making a huge comeback and are now Britain's most abundant bird of prey, breeding in every single county since the year 2000.

Numbers have now reached the region of 68,000 breeding pairs, as opposed to a low of 1000 in the early 1900s when they were widely culled by gamekeepers who wrongly believed they were a huge threat to their game birds; thankfully this practice is now illegal.

Would you like to attract more birds into your garden? Perhaps your garden has been looking a little lifeless and in need of some feathered friends?

Wild birds are appreciative of food, water and space to shelter, particularly if you live in a built-up residential area where greenery is sparse.

That's why we want to inspire you to turn your garden into a haven for birds! Adding some simple features to your garden can make all the difference.

Today is the first day of the Butterly Conservation's 'Big Butterfly Count 2019' and this year it's running until 11th August (plenty of time to get involved!)

All you have to do is find a place to sit for 15 minutes and record the number of butterflies of each species that you see, plus two species of day-flying moth. 

There are a few places that are particularly good if you want to look for butterflies including your garden, a park or a wooded area.

Arguably more important than providing food for our garden birds is ensuring they have access to fresh, clean water for bathing and drinking.

You'd be forgiven for thinking that their need for water is met elsewhere, particularly if you live near a river or lake, but these large bodies of water don't always suit smaller birds.

Providing a bird bath is a great way to attract birds into your garden. If you have a water feature or running water, they will thank you all the more!

We were expecting June to be a scorching month but it’s been surprisingly damp! We can’t complain because it’s kept our crops happy and healthy. So, what’s been going happening on the farm this month?

Mud Glorious Mud at The Cereals Event

On the 17th June Richard headed off to the annual 'Cereals Event' at Boothby Graffoe, just south of Lincoln. This is the main technical event of the year for arable farmers, and the best opportunity to learn about advances in arable farming.

A much-loved garden-dweller across the globe, the songful sparrow is a welcome addition to any garden, providing a cheery sight and a wholesome ambience.

However, a decline in numbers has led to concern over the humble sparrow’s ability to survive in the UK. 

In fact, certain areas of the UK (such as Yorkshire and London) have seen the population of House Sparrows in particular drop by a staggering 70% between 1995 and 2017, according to the Breeding Bird Survey 2018.

The humble bumblebee is one of the most important pollinators in the world, playing a vital part in the global ecosystem in terms of food - including fruits and vegetables - as well as other useful crops, like cotton and flax.

The pollinatory power of bees also has a profound influence on both the meat and dairy industries, as they also help pollinate clover and alfalfa - two primary food sources for cattle.

Here at Street End Farm, we are constantly reviewing our environmental position. Although not an organic farm, we do try to use as little chemicals as possible, favouring other farming methods like crop rotation and companion cropping to manage pests and other risks to the harvest.

Being a mail-order company, the issue we have is getting the balance right between strong, durable, weather-resistant packaging and our environmental responsibility.

We want your bird seed products to arrive safely but remain protected during delivery.