STONE curlews and lapwings across Wiltshire have good reason to celebrate the International Day for Biological Diversity tomorrow.

These are just two of the bird species that have benefited from Country Stewardship Schemes, which have set up 141 special project plots across the county. The plots resulted in at least 13 stone curlew chicks fledging.

The results exceeded the UK Biodiversity Action Plan target ahead of schedule.

The work was carried out with the co-operation of the RSPB and local farmers.

Tree sparrow populations in Wiltshire have also benefited from the programme.

Farmers and landowners in the south west have been signing up to agri-environment schemes such as the government's Countryside Stewardship Scheme.

The recently-launched Environ-mental Stewardship Schemes encourage them to use environmentally friendly measures to improve habitats and encourage wildlife.

Phil Tolerton, senior ecologist with the Rural Development Service, said: "Through agri-environment schemes, landowners are making a contribution to conserving biodiversity.

"It is essential we protect and enhance the region's natural assets because they have intrinsic value and the quality of the environment has enormous economic value too."