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White & Wild
“…enables farmers to make wildlife-friendly improvements.”
Can drinking milk help improve biodiversity in the countryside? Yes, if it`s “White & Wild” milk – a pilot scheme that is retailing initially in 60 Sainsbury`s stores.
“It`s a pioneering step,” says David Spivack of The Wildlife Trusts, which is leading the initiative. “Putting a small premium on milk – just 5p – could revolutionise the way dairy farming can carry forward environment schemes.”
By choosing to buy White & Wild milk, shoppers can channel money directly into wildlife protection and biodiversity activities. Three pence goes to the producer to help implement Whole Farm Biodiversity Action Plans. These are drawn up with the farmer by the local Wildlife Trust and the Farm Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG), and bring 10 per cent of the total farm in to wildlife-friendly management.
David is clear about what the scheme makes possible:
“Dairy farming is traditionally about maximising the area and amount of grass you grow – not very wildlife friendly. White & Wild enables farmers to make improvements such as restoring hedgerows, creating field margins, and making new ponds, as well as using less intensive production techniques.”
The other two pence of the money goes to The Wildlife Trusts themselves, to help run almost 2500 nature reserves from Scottish Islands to the heart of London.
The scheme is a partnership between The Wildlife Trusts and WildCare Dairy Group, a dairy farmers` buying consortium. If the pilot is successful it will be extended to other stores. “The scheme is up and running – it`s down to the shoppers now to help wildlife and make it a success,” says David.
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