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We have a similar experience at home. My wife co founded an agricultural technology business a couple of years ago as she became more interested in soil science and the environment. Through this we learned about the impact of livestock worming on the soil, the chemicals to kill the worms in sheep and cattle also kill insects in the soil. This helps turn fields into sterile dirt. Adding to this many farmers over graze land stripping nutrients from the soil and failing to sequester carbon back into the ground.
There are a couple of fields we were letting out to a farmer. We stopped doing this and have let the fields revert to rough grass. Two years later we now have a family of deer living on our land as they have cover to hide in the long grass, the grass itself has formed a thick mat filled with rodent holes, the field buzzes and whirs with insect activity, beetles crawl everywhere, more raptors overhead, huge anthills forming etc etc. I am aware we are privileged to be able to do this but it’s been an incredible change to watch. It reflects the John Lewis Stemple “March Hare” book which was a huge influence on us moving out of London into the countryside.
Given we walk our dogs daily through this we have seen a complete change in the biodiversity, even driving along the road it is noticeable the difference in insects in the air when passing our ex-field and neighbouring farmed land.
dancing james-
And in a few years time it will be reverting to woodland.
I used to manage a lot of land. Of that 3 arable fields were abandoned when the farmer gave up his tenancy. It is now a fascinating woodland. Deer and rabbits have diversified the structure. Paths have formed through it. 7 species of Orchid now grow there. It’s full of birds and insects. Nothing was ever planted.
adroit
I know the news seems to be unremittingly grim on the Environment front (just look back over the last few pages of news stories highlighted and associated commentary), but it shouldn't stop you taking local action. TL;DR - local environment action done properly does help.
The long version. Five years ago some people where I live approached the Parish Council and pointed out that a small area of land they owned was effectively unmanged waste ground of little biodiversity value. They asked if they could take over the management, set up a community orchard and under plant it with native wildflowers. The Parish Council was happy to support the initiative. Eighteen months ago another group of interested local pointed out that what had formally been a small stream adjacent to the orchard land and which had been culveted for best part of a century could be opened up again and made into a albeit very small stream/wetland area. Again the Parish Council were happy to support this. With a minimum of charity donations and a lot of hard work from the community both projects were completed. I've been recording invertebrates in this small area now for about a year and the diversity of species that has returned is fantastic to see. Many of those that were involved in both project probably still don't know what they've managed to accomplish so I think finding ways to show them what they've achieved for local biodiversity is also important.