Chirrup.ai are proud to announce the launch of a pilot project: Birdsong for Biodiversity, between Wyke Farms and Chirrup.ai. The objective: bring AI-powered birdsong monitoring into the heart of dairy farming. Over the next three years, Birdsong for Biodiversity will benchmark and enhance biodiversity across farms that supply 25% of Wyke’s milk — a pioneering step for nature-positive food production.
Wyke Farms, based in Bruton, Somerset, is UK’s largest independent cheese producer. They have launched a groundbreaking three-year collaboration with Chirrup.ai to measure and improve farmland biodiversity across the Southwest.
The initiative will deploy Chirrup.ai’s bioacoustic devices across Wyke Farms and ten pilot farms, transforming birdsong into real-time biodiversity insights. Farmers and land managers will be able to track bird species, assess ecosystem health, and report on their regenerative farming practices with ease.
“This project gives us the ability to baseline the health of nature on our farms in a scientific and consistent way—and then work to improve it,” said Rich Clothier, 3rd generation cheesemaker and Managing Director at Wyke Farms. “With Chirrup.ai’s technology, we can see how our land stewardship is making a real difference year after year.”
Birds are powerful indicators of ecosystem health. By using them as bio-indicators, the project will generate insights not only into wildlife, but also soil quality, water health, and overall biodiversity.
Conrad Young, Founder of Chirrup.ai, added:
“Wyke Farms represents an iconic group of West Country dairy farms, and is the first dairy processor to take advantage of Chirrup’s low-cost service under the UK Dairy Roadmap, which sets a target of 50% of farms monitoring biodiversity by 2030. We’re delighted to be working with pioneers like Rich and his team in 2025.”
Monitoring will begin this month, with annual reporting on metrics such as the Chirrup.ai Bio-indicator™, species richness, and biodiversity trends. These insights will directly support Wyke Farms’ award-winning Green by Nature programme. It will reinforce their goal to leave the environment in better condition for future generations.
This collaboration demonstrates how tradition and innovation can come together to deliver real change for farming, wildlife, and future generations.