An increase in the use of pesticides and fertilisers on farmland has been identified as the main cause for declines in most bird populations across the Europe, according to a major new study. That said, the study makes clear that a simple increase in forest cover can mask other changes, particularly in the quality and nature of forests; the planting of managed forests won’t produce the same benefits for birds as old-growth forests or ancient woodlands, for example. The adoption of nature-friendly farming practices has resulted in a 177% increase in the number of farmland breeding bird territories on site, while winter species have risen even more sharply – nearly 15 times higher