THE Lancashire Wildlife Trust is urging wildlife-friendly farmers and landowners to apply for green government subsidies before it is too late.

Funding through the government's Countryside Stewardship Scheme has increased in England from £35million in 1999 to £51million for 2001 - but applicants will lose out if they do not apply before May 31 this year.

The Wildlife Trust says the cash could help to address the serious decline in wildlife on farmland and help farmers pay for wildlife-friendly farming.

Intensive agriculture, driven by production subsidies, is the biggest threat to Britain's wildlife.

Since 1945, four tenths of ancient hedgerows and a third to half of ancient woodlands and flower-rich hay meadows have disappeared.

As a result the wildlife found on farmed land has declined dramatically.

David Dunlop, conservation officer for the Lancashire Wildlife Trust, said: "The government is holding a pot of cash for farmers just waiting to be used.

"These funds could offer a little extra cash to farmers, and we want to encourage as many of them as possible to help our wildlife while helping themselves.

"With so many farmers facing financial pressure there is a real danger that environmental work on farms will cease. We would like to see a continuing flow of funds to encourage everyone into greener and more sustainable methods of farming."

The Countryside Stewardship Scheme is administered by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

The cash can be used for a range of projects, including the restoration of hedgerows, the sensitive management of meadows and pastures and the conversion of arable land into species-rich grassland.

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