Vine House Farm owl tower by Nicholas Watts
Vine House Farm
Vine House Farm is a family-run farm in the Lincolnshire Fens, and has a close relationship with The Wildlife Trusts. But how did this come about?
The Watts family, who have run the farm since 1883, are dedicated to managing their land in a wildlife-friendly way. They started managing the farm with wildlife in mind 30 years ago, when Nicholas stopped filling in drainage dykes and started to reverse the decline in biodiversity, in particular of farmland birds, on their land.
The work has developed to involve a wide range of measures, such as hedgerow planting, creation of numerous ponds, wild flower meadows, sympathetic management of drainage dykes, generous field margins to allow seed-rich weeds to grow, and old farm buildings restored for barn owls to nest in.
Checking nest boxes on Vine House Farm by Nicholas Watts
Nicholas keeps a close eye on bird populations on the farm and has recorded barn owl, tree sparrow, whitethroat, sedge warbler, meadow pipit, yellow wagtail and lapwing among many others! He has also generously shared his archive of wild bird photography with us.
"I like to see the birds about and help other people look after the birds on their farms. I am a farmer as well as a conservationist. It goes hand in hand.”Vine House Farm
This passion for wildlife – and birds in particular – inspired Nicholas and the next generation of the family to create a thriving wild bird food business. As much of their bird food as possible is grown in the local area and packaged on site.
The business operates with the environment in mind in other ways too - they also run a biomass burner, eight wind turbines, a waste oil burner and have solar panels producing a surplus of energy, feeding back into the national grid!
Buy your bird food direct from the farm
Since 2007, Vine House Farm has raised nearly £2.5 million for Wildlife Trusts across the UK through the sales of bird food and bird feeders. Our partnership has now raised more than £130,000 for BBOWT!
To order online with free delivery to mainland UK, visit the Vine House Farm website or telephone 01775 630208.
Enter BBOWTNM10 at the checkout and get 10% off your first order.
Tree sparrows on feeders by Nicholas Watts
Bird seed mixes
Bird seed mixes have the advantage of combining a number of different foods, most of which are seeds but may also contain other ingredients such as suet pellets. They can be used for both table and ground feeding as well as hanging bird feeders, and some mixes contain seeds with the husk removed, redicung waste and mess.
Robin with mealworm by Nicholas Watts
Live bird food
Live bird foods are energy rich, making them popular in both summer and winter. VHF British-bred live mealworms and wax worms are an essential food during the busy breeding season, enabling adult birds to take moist and energy-rich food to their nestling family. Live foods, especially mealworms, are a favourite of many species including robins, blackbirds and sparrows. Due to their popularity we recommend that you feed them from a specialist live food feeder.
Great spotted woodpecker by Nicholas Watts
Bird feeders
It’s not just the selection of food that is important in determining which species of bird you attract to your garden - it is also the type of feeder used. There are many different types of bird feeders, including those designed to hold peanuts or suet pellets, and seed or seed mixes. Others are available for the tiny niger seed, suet block holders, plus a whole range to keep squirrels and larger birds out, whilst still allowing small garden birds in to feed. There's also a range of ground feeders suitable for ground feeding birds which are suitable for foods like sunflower hearts, suet pellets and husk-free mixes.
Checking nest boxes on Vine House Farm by Nicholas Watts
Nest boxes, houses & baths
VHF has a wide range of bird houses and nest boxes to help encourage birds to make your garden their home, including types for different species, everything from sparrow, tree creeper and tawny owl boxes to nests suitable for swifts and swallows. The nest boxes and bird houses are made from sustainable wood or woodcrete so they are safe and well insulated.
