Environmental Schemes

The potential benefits from drilling buffer strips are creating new habitat for small mammals, invertebrates and birds: protecting habitats from sprays, fertilisers and cultivation.

EE1/ EE2/ EE3 2m / 4m / 6m buffer strips on cultivated land
EE7 / EE8 buffering in – field ponds

Establish a grassy strip during the first 12 months of your agreement. Control of annual weeds and encourage grass to tiller may require frequent cutting. No fertiliser or manures are to be applied. Herbicides can be applied only to spot treat or weed wipe injurious weeds. (Other Conditions Apply)

Seed rate = 20 kg/ha. Packed in ½ ha packs.

10% Browntop Bent 10 % Cocksfoot
20 % Meadow Fescue 10 % Smooth Stalked Meadow Grass
20 % Timothy 30 % Creeping Red Fescue

EF4 Nectar flower mixture

Sowing an area of flowering plants into the farmed landscape will boost the availability of essential food sources for a range of nectar-feeding insects, including butterflies and bumblebees.

Sow in strips or a block, not more than 0.5 ha per 20ha between mid March to Mid April or July to August.

Re-establish as necessary to maintain a sustained pollen nectar supply. To stimulate late flowering, cut half the area to 20cm in June and the whole area to 10cm between mid September to end October, ideally removing the cuttings. (Other conditions apply)

Seed rate =20 kg/ha. Packed in ½ ha packs.

40 % Altraswede red Clover
40 % Alsike Red Clover
10 % Sainfoin
10 % Birdsfoot Trefoil

EF2 Wild Bird Seed Mixture

This mixture is designed to feed seed eating birds in arable landscapes, where there is little remaining food source. The aim of this mix is to provide year round supply of food. Sow annually or every other year and drill in strips or blocks of a maximum of 0.5 ha and no more than one block per 20 ha. Spot treat or weed wipe injurious weeds. A non residual product may be used prior to spring re-sowing to facilitate re-establishment. For establishment the use of seed treatments to control pests and diseases are permitted. Only apply fertiliser or manure if necessary for establishment.

Seed rate = 35 – 50kg/ha. Packed in 25kg bags. 17.5 kg Spring Triticale or spring Barley

1.25 kg Kale
2.50 kg Quinoa
2.00 kg White Millet
1.75 kg Linseed
25 kg