The paper, in the avian science journal IBIS, looks at the number of wintering birds feeding on fields planted with plots of wild bird seed mix.

RSPB conservation director Mark Avery said: “This research clearly shows the value of Environmental Stewardship in providing a much greater variety of the seeds that small farmland birds need.

“The RSPB, Natural England and the industry’s Campaign for the Farmed Environment, are urging more farmers to include wild bird cover and other measures on their land to help wintering birds.”