For the past three years ECM have been running a ‘Help the Hedgehog’ scheme designed to boost the numbers of animals living in the wild.

The last hedgehogs to be released back into the wild by Peter Clare before winter sets in

The scheme, which is on-going, addresses the problem of declining hedgehog numbers, which have dropped by over 25% in the past ten years. There is a real danger that hedgehogs could become extinct by 2050. Their decline is due to road kill, loss of hedgerows, loss of rough grassland margins and predation by badgers. Hedgehogs have moved into a more urban environment but this has an increased risk of road kill and problems associated with highly fenced and manicured gardens.

Hedgehogs live on a diet of worms, slugs, spiders and grubs which are most commonly found in hedgerows and rough grassland. ECM has helped farmers improve and increase these important habitats in the past 20 years and has detailed local knowledge of their location in the North West of England on our clients’ farms.

Record number of visitors to the ECM marquee

Thanks to everybody who joined us for lunch at The Cheshire Ploughing Match on 30 September – a glorious day and some terrific demonstrations. It was good to catch up with so many people.

Above: Barney, our entry for the Show’s ‘Best Scarecrow’ competition

View Parliamentary Review online

Press release from the Parliamentary Review:

ECM has been selected to represent agriculture alongside David Cameron in the 2014 Parliamentary Review. The publication, which has several versions based on key policy areas, has the involvement of the Prime Minister, leading Cabinet ministers including George Osborne and Matthew Hancock, and other outstanding executives who have been selected to showcase best practice as a learning tool to their peers.

The Agriculture Edition of The Parliamentary Review consists of a political commentary, summarizing the year in agriculture along with a look back at the events in Westminster. The commentary is written by several of the UK’s leading journalists – Mark Kinver – the BBC’s Environment correspondent and Mark D’Arcy – the BBC’s Parliamentary correspondent.

View here

Professor Pete Dunleavy (recently Pro-Vice Chancellor of Manchester Metropolitan University) and currently Pro- Vice Chancellor of the University of Central Lancashire has joined ECM as a research consultant.

Television

Environmental Crop Management Limited has featured on television with our ‘Save the Barn Owl’ campaign in the early 1990’s.

National Press

ECM has featured in the Daily Express, Sunday Express and The Times for our conservation work. In addition, our work has also been shown in the New Scientist.

Farming Press

Many articles on our conservation research have features in Farmers Weekly, Crops, Arable Farming News and the Bayer Four Seasons publication.

Local Press

ECM has extensive local media coverage which encourages local farmers to become involved on our conservation effort.