Corncrake friendly Topping

Most corncrake field management refers to Hay-making, on the Nene it now applies to general pasture topping where the vegetation has been left un-managed until after August 1st to benefit corncrake breeding. The basic principle is to mow from the centre of the field outwards pushing the birds to the margin, which is left un-cut, - the above picture illustrates a former hay-field cut this morning. Typically in Aug/Sept large numbers of swallows feast upon the flushed insects, sand and house martin and 2 swifts also joined in today easy pickings.