SEVEN Oxfordshire farmers have joined forces with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds to boost the county's wildlife wetlands.

A unique rotary digger, owned by the RSPB, has been in the county helping the farmers create wet pools and ditches that will encourage rare birds, such as lapwing and redshank, to feed and breed.

The work is part of the RSPB's Upper Thames Tributaries Wader project, which is funded by the society, the Waterways Trust, Cotswold Area of Natural Beauty, Cherwell District Council, and the Environment Agency.

The machine is around ten times faster than a conventional digger, and it chisels accurately through the land to create shallow ditches and pools that are excellent for wetland wildlife.

Most of Oxfordshire's wet meadows have disappeared over the past 50 years due to development, land drainage, and changes in agriculture - resulting in a decline in the number of breeding wading birds that were once widespread in the area.

Jeremy Taylor and George Fenemore, who farm in north Oxfordshire next to the River Cherwell, used the ditcher to improve their riverside meadows.

The neighbouring farmers are working together to create a 50-hectare complex of wet grassland with the hope of encouraging lapwing, redshank, golden plover, and snipe to return to the area.

Another Oxfordshire farmer David Honour also used the ditcher to create new pools and scrapes in his fields on the edge of Otmoor. The land adjoins the RSPB reserve and will provide valuable extra habitat in the area.

Further south on the River Thame, four farmers have joined forces to create a massive 94-hectares of new habitat for wading birds.

All seven farmers have entered Defra's new flagship environmental scheme Higher Level Stewardship, and the work is part funded through this.

The farmers have entered into a 10-year agreement with Defra with the aim of increasing the number of breeding birds on their land.

Drew McVey, RSPB's project officer, said: "Our vision is to see the county's special wetland landscapes being restored. Wading birds using the meadows this winter will be a great thumbs-up for the project and the farmers hard work."

Defra's Alison Muldal said: "With the help of the farmers we carried out a detailed survey to find the best locations to use the rotary ditcher. We are looking forward to seeing an increase in bird numbers in years to come.

Farmer Jeremy Taylor, of North Aston, said: "We are always happy to try things which will benefit the wildlife on this farm. We are looking forward to seeing the wading birds return.