24

Mixture Options Straight Options

ELS & HLS Description Buffer strip Mixtures Nectar rich Mixtures Wild Bird seed Mixtures Not Winter Hardy Winter Hardy

ELS Code

CFE ELS Option

HLS Code Description EL

S &

HLS

Po

ints

/ha

BGM

1 w

ith

Cock

sfoo

t

BGM

2 n

o Co

cksf

oot

BGM

3 w

ith

Cock

sfoo

t & C

love

r

BGM

4 w

ith

Wild

flow

ers

BGM

1 R

C

BGM

2 R

C

SRG

Spec

ies

Ri

ch G

rass

SRG

with

5%

W

ildflo

wer

s

SRG

with

10%

W

ildflo

wer

s

SRG

with

15%

W

ildflo

wer

s

Legu

me

& He

rb

Rich

Mix

ture

Butte

rfly

&

Bum

bleb

ee M

ixtur

e

WF1

Polle

n &

Nect

ar

with

Gra

ss

Nect

ar R

ich

Bron

ze

Nect

ar R

ich

Gold

WBS

1

WBS

2

WBS

3

North

ern

WBS

1

WBA

1

Phac

elia

Mus

tard

Fodd

er R

adis

h

Vetc

h

Fora

ge R

ye

Barle

y

Italia

n Ca

tch

Crop

Sprin

g Oi

lsee

d Ra

pe

Options for trees and woodland

EC24 HC24 Hedgerow tree buffer strips on cultivated land 400 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Options for buffer stripsEE1 HE1 2m Buffer strips on cultivated land 225 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

EE2 HE2 4m Buffer strips on cultivated land 340 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

EE3 HE3 6m Buffer strips on cultivated land 340 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

EE8 HE8 Buffering in-field ponds in arable land 400 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

EE9 HE9 6m buffer strips on intensive grassland next to a watercourse 400 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

HE10 Floristically enhanced grass buffer strips (non-rotational) 485 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

EE12 Supplement to add wildflowers to field corners & buffer strip 63 ✓ ✓

Options for arable landEF1 HF1 Management of field corners 400 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

EF2 HF12 Wild bird seed mixture 450 ✓ ✓ ✓

EF4 HF4 Nectar flower mixture 450 ✓ ✓

EF7 HF7 Beetle banks 580 ✓ ✓

EF22 Extended overwintered stubble (no more than 0.5ha per 10ha stubble) 410 ✓ ✓ ✓

Options to encourage a range of crop typesEG1 HG1 Undersown spring cereals 200 Special grass and legume mixture designed to order

Options to protect soil and waterEJ2 HJ2 Management of maize crops to reduce soil erosion 18 ✓

EJ9 HJ9 12m buffer strips for watercourses on culitvated land 400 ✓ ✓ ✓

EJ10 HJ10 Enhanced mgnt of maize crops to reduce soil erosion & run off 94 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

EJ13 HJ13 Winter cover crops 65 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Options for grassland outside the severely disadvantaged areas (SDAs)EK21 Legume & Herb Rich sward 200 ✓

DISCLAIMER Any Information provided in this table is given in good faith and to the best of our knowledge. If you would like any further advice please contact your local Natural England AdvisorCompatible with current CFE Schemes

Entry Level Stewardship table with options that are also available under Higher Level Stewardship Scheme

environmental stewardship selector

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“We have achieved great success with our enhanced wild bird mixture areas in attracting many of the target bird species to our farm such as corn buntings, bramblings, yellow hammers, linnets, goldfinch, chaffinches, greenfinches and many others. It is also a good habitat for many mammals including brown hares.

delayed drilling and waiting for the soil temperature to warm up, plus drilling not too deeply, gave us excellent establishment providing phenomenal quantities of seed for the small seed eating birds. The crops stood well too with no signs of lodging.”

Philip Mann, Cheltenham, gloucestershire. december 2013

Bird

Pho

tos b

y Ti

m M

arlo

w

25Wild Bird seed Mixtures

WBS 1 1 Year Spring SownAttracts Tree Sparrows 55% Spring Triticale 25% Spring Barley 7% Linseed 5% White Millet 3% Red Millet 2% White Mustard 2% Quinoa 1% Fodder Radish100%Sowing Rate 40kg/ha Pack size 20kg

SPRIng SOWn MIXTuRES

AuTuMn SOWn MIXTuRE

WBA 1 1 Year Autumn Sown 40% Winter Triticale 30% Winter Barley 20% Winter Vetch 10% Winter Oilseed Rape 100%Sowing Rate 40kg/ha Pack Size 20kg

Wild Bird seed Mixtures

WBS 3 1 Year Spring SownAttracts Finches & Buntings60% Spring Triticale 20% Spring Barley 8% White Millet 6% Spring Linseed 3% Japanese Reed Millet 3% Red Millet100%Sowing Rate 40kg/haPack size 20kg

organic Mixture

Organic Wild Bird Seed Mixture2 Year Spring Sown70% Organic Spring Triticale10% Spring Barley 7% Kale 4% Fodder Radish 4% White Millet 3% Quinoa 2% Red Millet100%Sowing Rate 40kg/haPack size 20kg

rsPB - Supporting wildlife-friendly farmers.The RSPB fully supports the integrated environmental land management package for arable farmers developed by the Voluntary Initiative and Campaign for the Farmed Environment.

When you are considering an agri-environment scheme application or planning voluntary management, a balance of the following 8 points should ensure maximum value for the environment:

1 Look after existing wildlife habitats

2 Maximise the value of your field boundaries

3 Create a network of margin habitats, especially to buffer watercourses

4 Establish flower-rich habitats

5 Provide seed-rich habitats for birds

6 Ensure there is suitable in-field nesting habitat for birds

7 Evaluate whether you need a winter cover crop to prevent nitrate leaching from fallow land over winter

8 use in-field grass areas to prevent the creation of potential channels for erosion and run-off

For advice and support on how to adopt this package, and to sign up for the RSPB farming e-newsletter to receive updates to help you do this, visit www.rspb.org.uk/farming

Other mixtures that also may be suitable:

Partridge Mixture – page 21Decoy Mixture – page 22Northern WBS1 – page 31Northern WBS2 – page 31

These mixtures must be agreed with the local Natural England Advisor before ordering seed.

WBS 2 2 Year Spring SownAttracts Grey Partridge 55% Spring Triticale 25% Spring Barley 7% Kale 4% Fodder Radish 4% White Millet 3% Quinoa 2% Red Millet100%Sowing Rate 40kg/ha Pack Size 20kg

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Herbicide tolerant, but please discuss with your agronomist for current specific products and recommendations.

NEWRECIPE2014

26

BgM1 with Cocksfoot 20% Hard Fescue 20% Creeping Red Fescue 20% Cocksfoot 20% Timothy 20% Tall Fescue100%Sowing rate 20kg/haPack size 20kg

BgM2 no Cocksfoot 20% Hard Fescue 20% Creeping Red Fescue 20% Chewings Fescue 20% Timothy 20% Tall Fescue100%Sowing rate 20kg/haPack size 20kg

BgM 1 RC Red Cloverand Cocksfoot 20% Hard Fescue 20% Creeping Red Fescue 20% Timothy 20% Tall Fescue 15% Cocksfoot 5% Red Clover 100%Sowing rate 20 kg/ha Pack size 20kg

BgM 2 RC Red Cloverno Cocksfoot 20% Hard Fescue 20% Creeping Red Fescue 20% Timothy 20% Chewings Fescue 15% Tall Fescue 5% Red Clover100%Sowing rate 20 kg/ha Pack size 20kg

Species-Rich grass (SRg)* 20% SSMG 20% Red Fescue 20% Meadow Fescue 20% Browntop Bent 10% Sheeps Fescue 10% Hard Fescue100%Pack size 20kg

Species-Rich Wild flowers(SRWf)* native 15% Black Medick (N) 15% Black Knapweed (N) 10% Self Heal (N) 10% Ribwort Plantain (N) 7.5% Ox-eye Daisy (N) 7.5% Common Sorrel (N) 7.5% Red/White Campion (N) 5% Yellow Rattle (N) 5% Field Scabious (N) 5% Kidney Vetch (N) 5% St Johns Wort (N) 5% Lady’s Bedstraw (N) 2.5% Yarrow (N)100%Pack size 1kg

Natural England is here to conserve and enhance the

natural environment for its intrinsic value, the well-being and enjoyment of people and the economic prosperity that it brings.

Environmental Stewardship, the current agri-environment scheme for England includes a variety of options that require specialist seed mixes.

Environmental Stewardship has a proven track record of helping farmers deliver a range of environmental benefits on their land. Scheme options that require seed mixes include pollen and nectar strips for pollinating insects, grassland mixes to help conserve soil and water, and forage mixes for farmland birds. The example on page 28 illustrates how to get the best results for farmland birds with Environmental Stewardship. A similar approach can be applied to achieve other environmental objectives.

Legume & herbRich Mixture 25% Late Perennial Diploid 20% Meadow Fescue 15% Timothy 10% SSMG 10% Creeping Red Fescue 10% Red Clover 5.6% Sainfoin 1% Lucerne (inoculated) 1% Birdsfoot Trefoil 1% Sheeps Burnet 0.5% Ribwort Plantain 0.5% Black Knapweed (N) 0.25% Yarrow 0.15% Sheeps Sorrel (N)100%Sowing rate 16kg/haPack size 20kg

BgM4 with Wildflowers& fine grasses 25% Chewings Fescue 15% Slender Red Fescue 15% Creeping Red Fescue 15% Hard Fescue 10% SSMG 5% Browntop Bent 5% Crested Dogstail 5% Sainfoin 1% Birdsfoot Trefoil 1% Black Medick 1% Red Clover 0.5% Ox-eye Daisy (N) 0.5% Wild Carrot (N) 0.5% Black Knapweed (N) 0.25% Yarrow 0.25% Selfheal (N)100%Sowing rate 16kg/haPack size 20kg

BgM3 with Cocksfoot and Clover 20% Hard Fescue 20% Creeping Red Fescue 20% Timothy 15% Cocksfoot 15% Tall Fescue 5% Birdsfoot Trefoil 5% Small White Clover100%Sowing rate 20kg/haPack size 20kg

Buffer strips Mixtures

Buffer strip Mixtures

* Species-Rich grass and Species-Rich Wild flowers are available separately or as a mixture of grasses (SRg) and flowers (SRWf) together in the following ratios: 95% SRg with 5% SRWf • 90% SRg with 10% SRWf • 85% SRg with 15% SRWf Sowing Rate 16kg/ha Pack size 20kg

(n) = native Seed

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organic Mixture

27

Pollen & nectar with grass 10% Meadow Fescue 10% Tall Oat Grass 10% Cocksfoot 10% Timothy 10% Tall Fescue 10% Sainfoin 8% Birdsfoot Trefoil 6% Alsike 6% Early English Winter Vetch 5% Creeping Red Fescue 5% Hard Fescue 5% Red Clover 3.5% Yellow Trefoil 1% Black Knapweed (N) 0.5% Musk Mallow (N)100%Sowing rate 20kg/ha Pack Size 10kg

nectar Rich Bronze 50% Sainfoin 18% Early English Winter Vetch 10.5% Alsike 10% Birdsfoot Trefoil 8.5% Red Clover 3% Lucerne (inoculated)100%Sowing rate 10kg/ha Pack Size 10kg

nectar Rich gold 40% Sainfoin 17% Early English Winter Vetch 10% Red Clover 10% Alsike 10% Birdsfoot Trefoil 10% Lucerne (inoculated) 2% Black Knapweed (N) 1% Musk Mallow (N)100%Sowing rate 10kg /haPack Size 10kg

Wf1 42% Sainfoin 11% Red Clover 10% Birds Foot Trefoil 6% Yarrow 6% Vetch 5% Black Knapweed (N) 5% Lucerne (inoculated) 4% Alsike 4% Ox-eye Daisy (N) 3% Black Medick 1.5% Red / White Campion (N) 1% Cow Parsley (N) 1% Wild Carrot (N) 0.5% Lady’s Bedstraw (N)100%Pack Size 1kg

Butterfly & Bumblebee Mixture 15% Creeping Red Fescue 15% Sheeps Fescue 10% Browntop Bent 10% Hard Fescue 9% SSMG 6% Lucerne (inoculated) 5% Rough Stalked Meadow Grass 5% Yorkshire Fog 4% Kidney Vetch (N) 3% Tufted Hair Grass 3% Birdsfoot Trefoil 2% Agrimony (N) 2% Early English Winter Vetch 2% Ribwort Plantain (N) 2% Sheeps Sorrel (N) 1.75% Devils Bit Scabious (N)1.75% Red Clover 1% Alsike 1% Phacelia 1% Field Pansy (N) 0.25% Betony (N) 0.25% Black Knapweed (N)100%Sowing rate 16kg/haPack Size 1kg

We also have a range of Pro Flora Wild Flower mixtures that will cater for most situations. We are always pleased to advise upon and produce mixtures to suit individual specifications. Pro flora 1 Cornfield Annuals (N)Pro flora 2 Acid Soils (N)Pro flora 3 Damp Loamy Soils (N)Pro flora 4 Calcareous Soils (N)Pro flora 5 Wet Loamy Soils (N)Pro flora 6 Dry Loamy Soils (N)Pro flora 7 Hedgerow & Light Shade (N)Pro flora 8 Legacy Country Meadow (N)Pro flora 9 Heritage General Purpose (N)Pro flora 10 General Purpose (N)Pro flora 11 Woodland & Heavy Shade (N)Pro flora 12 Water Margin & Pond Edges (N)Pro flora 110 General Purpose Economy (N)

Nectar rich Mixtures Wildflower Mixtures Bumblebee Conservation trust Supporting wild pollinators on your land.

Bumblebees and solitary bees are very important pollinators of both commercial agricultural crops and wild flowers. Many UK species have declined in recent years due to habitat loss.

Bumblebees rely on flower rich habitats from March to September to provide essential nectar resources for colony growth. They also require undisturbed tussocky grassland for nesting.

There are a number of ways these habitats can be provided through Entry Level and Higher Level Stewardship on arable and livestock farms, including planting dedicated pollen and nectar margins or wildflower buffer strips. Two new options that could provide significant benefit for pollinators are a supplement for adding wildflowers to field corners and buffer strips and sowing legume and herb rich swards on temporary grasslands.

For further advice and information please visit: www.bumblebeeconservation.org/get-involved and view our series of land management factsheets. We can also offer tailored advice in our target areas. Please contact advice@bumblebeeconservation.org

Nectar rich Mixtures

(n) = native Seed

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Organic nectar flower Mixture 32.5% Organic Early English Winter Vetch 27.5% Organic Lucerne (Inoculated)18% Sainfoin 10% Organic Red Clover 6% Birdsfoot Trefoil 6% Alsike100%Sowing Rate 10kg/haPack Size 10kg

On my farm I have created a diverse range of habitats that attract a fantastic variety of wildlife which use these areas for food, forage and shelter.

You too can create your own wildlife haven using these specially formulated seed mixtures.

I am passionate about farming and conservation.

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2014

28Make the Most of environmental stewardship

Farmers and the farming community play a vital role in reversing the fortunes of farmland birds and wildlife across England. The land management skills and knowledge that farmers use to run their farm businesses are crucial to this. Farmland birds and wildlife need your continued help and expertise.

The birds on your farm are a good indicator of the overall health of biodiversity, as they sit high up the food chain. If bird populations are doing well then it indicates that the plants and insects on which they feed are thriving too.

Research and past experience of schemes show that farmland bird populations can respond positively and quickly when these simple measures are put in place across the farmed landscape. These measures can work alongside existing farm practices and fit within the needs of your farming business.

The 10 most wanted farmland birdsThere are 10 species of birds associated with arable farmland which have declined greatly in recent decades and would benefit the most from these measures. These are: grey partridge, lapwing, turtle dove, skylark, yellow wagtail, tree sparrow, linnet, yellowhammer, reed bunting and corn bunting.

Making a differenceThrough the use of Environmental Stewardship, or voluntary options of the Campaign for the Farmed Environment (CFE), a number of simple management measures can be put in place that will make a huge difference to farmland birds and wildlife.For instance, by adopting the Farmland Bird Package you will provide the three main things needed by farmland birds to survive and thrive: winter bird seed, nesting habitat, and spring chick feed source.

If you provide each of the following three things per 100 hectares of arable farmland, then farmland birds will thrive on your farm:

1. Winter Seed Food. Sowing 2 ha of wild bird seed mixtures or/and leaving 5 ha of weedy overwintered stubbles will provide food during the winter and early spring.

2. Nesting Habitat. 20 skylark plots in winter cereals would help to halt the decline of skylarks and leaving a 1 ha fallow plot would greatly benefit lapwings, or 1 ha of extended overwintered stubbles (no chemicals).

3. Summer Insect Food. Sowing 1 ha of nectar-rich flower mixtures or managing 1 ha of land across the farm to provide an insect-rich habitat to help birds feed their young during the breeding season.

Why is your farm important for farmland birds? Why is your farm important for butterflies? Other Environmental Stewardship options to considerEnvironmental Stewardship options can also help encourage pollinating insects and other beneficial wildlife, conserve soil and water, protect the historic environment of your farm and help adapt and mitigate the effects of climate change. Other seed mixes that deliver these objectives include wildflower mixes to encourage pollinators and help restore traditional meadows and grass mixes to help conserve soil and water and protect the historic environment.Realise the wildlife potential of less productive areas.Make awkward corners, small fields and wet areas of your farm work better for you by entering them into ELS options. The least productive areas of your farm are often (with the correct management) the best for birds.

Campaign for the farmed Environment

T: 024 7685 8892E: cfeonline@nfu.org.ukwww.cfeonline.org.uk

DLF Stewardship mixtures are planted at Hailes Farm Gloucestershire to be used for training days

From 1st January 2016 the current Environmental Stewardship scheme in England (with its ELS and HLS agreements) will be succeeded by a new programme that will incorporate the best elements of Environmental Stewardship, Catchment Sensitive Farming and the England Woodland Grants Scheme. Work is already well in hand to develop the details of the new environmental land management scheme and more information will be available in 2014-15. It is likely that many of the options/mixes described in the 2014 DLF Trifolium catalogue will form part of the next scheme/s from 2016. Meanwhile, it’s business as usual for the ELS and HLS agreement holders who are already signed up to ES. Keep up to date with the latest scheme developments at www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/farming”

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Your farm is an important habitat for butterflies and a new project The Farmland Butterfly Initiative (FBI), aims to support farmers in managing their land to help seven of the country’s most endangered butterflies.The Duke of Burgundy has been reduced to around 100 sites, the High Brown Fritillary has declined to about 50 sites and the Heath Fritillary is only in existence on 40 remaining sites. The other species include the Marsh Fritillary, Lulworth Skipper, Pearl-bordered Fritillary and Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary.Butterflies play an important role in the natural ecosystem as pollinators and as food in the food chain, and they are often seen as indicators of a healthy environment. Through the use of Environmental Stewardship, providing the right habitat features will make a huge difference to farmland butterflies.Research shows that farmland butterfly populations can respond positively and quickly when the right habitat features are put in place across the farmed landscape. These measures can work alongside existing farm practices and fit within the needs of your farming business.

‘Big Three’ features for butterfly survival:1. Structural variety in the grassThis is needed as each butterfly species requires a variety of heights from long grasses to bare ground for egg laying and caterpillar survival. Correct conditions can be created by livestock grazing at the right stocking levels.2. Summer nectar sourcesFood for the adult butterflies can help them to survive for longer and produce the maximum number of eggs. Summer nectar is also good for a wide range of insects including pollinators of crops such as bees. Plentiful flowering can be created by reduced levels of grazing during the summer and careful control of sheep grazing as they can strip wildflowers even at low stocking densities.3. Patches of scrubScrub provides shelter and breeding areas where the host plant occurs for some butterfly species, however it does need to be managed to stop it from becoming too dense. The aim is to provide scattered patches of scrub across the grassland.By managing habitats to deliver the ‘Big Three’ features for butterflies, other invertebrates such as moths, bees and spiders will benefit too.

29

Higher level stewardship

Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) will be combined with Entry Level Stewardship (ELS) or Organic Entry Level Stewardship (OELS) options and aims to deliver significant environmental benefits in high priority situations and areas. HLS is discretionary and concentrates on the more complex types of management, where land managers need advice and support and where agreements need to be tailored to local circumstances.

The five primary aims of higher Level Stewardship are:• Wildlife conservation• Maintenance and enhancement of landscape quality and character• Natural resource protection• Protection of the historic environment• Promotion of public access and understanding of the countryside

There are two secondary objectives where spin off benefits are sought from management designed to achieve the five primary aims. These are:• Flood management• Conservation of genetic resources

The majority of sections which will involve the use of sown seed will be advised by the natural England project officers, who will design mixtures to promote the particular environmental object which has been identified as being in need of protection, or of improvement or replacement, so as to redress the balance within the environment.The options which come into this will be found in the sections that follow.

hE, hf & hg Options for arable land which include floristically enhanced margins, enhanced wild bird plots, low input scenarios, brassica over wintered stubbles and options for the re-creation of a more varied arable mosaic.

hJ Options for soil and water protection, which includes reversion mixtures for erosion prevention and this can be coupled to a low fertiliser input version. The prevention of soil erosion is a major part of the environmental concept; this prevents the blocking of water channels and in high fertiliser input situations helps to reduce the leaching of nitrates into major water courses.

hK Options are broken down into three basic sections, Species Rich and Semi Natural Grasslands, The Management of Wet Grasslands and the Management of Grassland for target species.

hK6, hK7 & hK8 Options cover the maintenance, restoration and creation of species rich semi-natural grassland. The creation of such habitats is usually prescriptive and it is always worth asking if there are options within the plant species required because of seasonal problems with native production.

hK9, hK10, hK11, hK12, hK13 & hK14 are options for wet grassland beneficial to wading birds and wildfowl. Once again the maintenance, restoration and creation of these habitats are covered by the above options.

hK15, hK16, hK17 are options for the management of grassland for target species. This covers the maintenance of existing grasslands, the restoration of grasslands and the creation of new grassland for specific target species.

hK18 provides a haymaking supplement which if to be beneficial to stock may have to be created and this may lead to an opportunity to use a more traditional mixture, based on the less aggressive grass species such as fescue, meadow grasses, timothy and some older native species.

hE11 option for target species on intensive grassland is used to provide additional wildlife habitat by managing buffer strips in intensive grass leys. Management involves using a specified seed mixture of wildflowers and grasses and is tailored to each site based on the species targeted.

The hLS Scheme is in the main prescriptive as we have mentioned before, especially where the need for new established grass or legumes is concerned. Many of the species of plants used in the ELS scheme will also be used in the higher scheme. For this reason we have for your help and guidance included wherever possible dual references within our tables as we feel this will help simplify some of the possible options.

Higher level stewardship

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Wild Bird Seed Mix/ unharvested CropAxis 2 Option 2 5 YearThis option provides support for the practice of leaving areas unharvested over the winter after spring sowing a mixture of seed bearing crops. These areas provide both cover and feeding areas for wild birds. Either:

1. Spring sow a mixture of annual crops, including at least one cereal, which will provide seed for the targeted species and do not plough down until after 15 March the following year.Mixture Option: northern WBS 1 Sowing Rate 40kg/ha

2. Spring sow a mixture of at least two crops, one of which must seed in the first year and one in the second, e.g. Kale. Plough in after 15 March following last seeding year.Mixture Option: northern WBS 2 Sowing Rate 40kg/ha

grass Margins and BeetlebanksAxis 2 Option 35 5 YearYou must establish a grass margin strip (between 1.5m and 6m in width) by sowing a suitable mix of grass seed, including at least one species of a nectar-rich plant such as red clover.Mixture Option: BgM1 RC, BgM2 RC or BgM 3 Sowing Rate 20kg/ha

Creation & Management of native Species-Rich grassland Axis 2 Option 16 5 YearThe aim of this option is to convert arable ground to species-rich grassland. There are now two options:-

Option A Species Rich grassland for wildlifeThis option requires at least 15% mixed native wildflowers with a maximum of 85% non aggressive fine leaved grassesMixture Option: SRg + SRWf (native)Sowing Rate 20 kg/ha

Option B Species Rich grassland for Bees, Moths, Butterflies and other invertebratesThis option is more prescriptive so please contact our Scottish office in Leith.

Arable Reversion to grasslandAxis 2 Option 40 5 YearThe grassland must be established by sowing a suitable mix of grass seed, which should include one or more species of nectar-producing plants, such as red clover, into a sterile seed bed. A normal medium to long term grass ley mixture would be suitable, provided that it has a component of seeds of flowering plants. Examples of nectar plants are red clover, knapweed, ox-eye daisy, yarrow and common vetch.Mixture Option: BgM1 RC or BgM 2 RC or any standard mix + 5% Red Clover

30scottish agri-environmental Mixtures

rural Development Contracts (rDC) – rural Priorities (rP)scottish rural Development

The Scotland Rural Development Programme was a £1.2 billion programme of economic, environmental and social measures, designed to develop rural Scotland between 2007 and 2013.

The next stage of the SRDP is due to run from 2014-2020.

The Scottish Government has taken steps to ensure that transition arrangements are in place for as much as possible of the SRDP for 2014, until the new Common Agricultural Policy starts in 2015.

Vital support to continue in ‘gap’ year between rural programmes

Essential EU funding for farmers which was due to end in 2013 will continue for another year. Delays in Europe passing necessary legislation meant some streams of support faced a year-long gap until the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) can come into effect in 2015.

Direct (Pillar 1) payments to farmers worth approximately £0.5 billion will go ahead as normal and as much as possible of the £1.2 billion Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP) will continue next year.

Some of the elements of the transition arrangements for 2014 are as follows:

Pillar 1 of the CAP (direct payments to farmers) – the current system based on Single Farm Payments - will essentially remain in place for 2014, with the new system starting in 2015.

Agri-environment contracts (including organic agreements) that were due to expire on 31st December 2013 will be extended for another year.

There will be no new Land Managers Options (LMO) applications for 2014 as this type of non-competitive support will not be permitted under the new regulatory framework put in place by the European Commission. Instead, the Scottish Government is working on options to ensure the new SRDP in 2015 will provide effective and accessible support to farmers in Scotland.

farmers that are in existing schemes should continue with these arrangements.

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31

Species-Rich grass and Wildflower MixturesMinimum 15% Wildflower inclusion

Species-Rich Wild flowers(SRWf) native (n) 15% Black Medick (N) 15% Black Knapweed (N) 10% Self Heal (N) 10% Ribwort Plantain (N) 7.5% Ox-eye Daisy (N) 7.5% Common Sorrel (N) 7.5% Red/White Campion (N) 5% Yellow Rattle (N) 5% Field Scabious (N) 5% Kidney Vetch (N) 5% St Johns Wort (N) 5% Lady’s Bedstraw (N) 2.5% Yarrow (N) 100%

Species-Rich grass (SRg) 20% SSMG 20% Red Fescue 20% Meadow Fescue 20% Browntop Bent 10% Sheeps Fescue 10% Hard Fescue 100%

grass Margin/ BeetlebankMixtures

BgM 1 RC Red Cloverand Cocksfoot 20% Hard Fescue 20% Creeping Red Fescue 20% Timothy 20% Tall Fescue 15% Cocksfoot 5% Red Clover 100% Sow at 20 kg/ha BgM 2 RC Red Cloverno Cocksfoot 20% Hard Fescue 20% Creeping Red Fescue 20% Timothy 20% Chewings Fescue 15% Tall Fescue 5% Red Clover 100%Sow at 20 kg/ha

scottish Mixtures 2014

northern WBS11 Year Spring Sown

50% Spring Triticale 20% Spring Barley 15% Linseed 4% Mustard 4% Spring Oilseed Rape 3% Quinoa 3% Phacelia 1% Fodder Radish100%Sowing Rate 40kg/haPack size 20kg

northern WBS 21 Year Spring Sown

50% Spring Triticale 20% Spring Barley 10% Kale 10% Quinoa 5% Red Clover 5% Sweet Clover100%Sowing Rate 40kg/haPack size 20kg

northern WBS 2 - non cereal

33% Kale 33% Quinoa 17% Red Clover 17% Sweet Clover100%Sowing Rate 5kg/acPack size 5kg

This small seed mixture without cereals has been formulated for those who have access to home grown cereals and therefore only require the small seed element of WBS2.

WBS 3 1 Year Spring Sown

60% Spring Triticale 20% Spring Barley 8% White Millet 6% Spring Linseed 3% Japanese Reed Millet 3% Red Millet100%Sowing Rate 40kg/haPack size 20kg

Herbicide tolerant, but please discuss with your agronomist for current specific products and recommendations.

Northern Wild Bird MixturesThese WBS mixtures are recommended for those parts of the country where more frost hardy species are required and species such as millet are less likely to survive.These mixtures have been designed after consultation with both RSPB Scotland

and the Bumble Bee Conservation Trust.

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See pages 25 & 26 for mixtures BGM3, WBS1 and WBS2 as

per England

NEWRECIPE2014

glastir is the All-Wales Agri-Environment Scheme introduced by the Welsh Assembly Government. It is a 5 year whole farm sustainable land management scheme available to farmers and land managers across Wales. From 2012 it is replacing the four existing agri-environment schemes, Tir Gofal, Tir Cynnal, Tir Mynydd and the Organic Farming Schemes.

glastir will ensure that future environmental challenges can be met by:

• combating climate change

• improving water management

• maintaining and enhancing biodiversityIt is designed to deliver measurable outcomes at both a farm and landscape level in a cost effective way.

glastir consists of three elements:• All-Wales Element (AWE) - a whole farm land management scheme which is open to

application from all farmers and land managers throughout Wales. It is designed to provide support for the delivery of environmental benefits that meet today’s challenges and priorities. Successful applicants will make a commitment to deliver environmental goods for five years under a legally binding contract.

• Targeted Element (TE) – a part farm scheme intended to deliver significant improvements to the environmental status of a range of habitats, species, soils and water that might also require changes to current agricultural practices. In order to achieve these specific improvements and outcomes, financial support from the Welsh Government will be targeted at locations where action will lead to the required result.

• Common Land Element (CLE) - designed to provide support for the delivery of environmental benefits on common land.

There is also an additional funding source for an Agricultural Carbon Reduction and Efficiency Scheme (ACRES) available to farmers who have a contract under the All-Wales Element.

32Glastir Welsh environmental scheme

Option 32 Plant unsprayed root crops on improved grass and arable land

• White Turnips - see Stubble Turnip varieties and Green Globe Turnips on page 35

• Swedes - see page 38

• fodder Beet - see page 37

• Soft yellow turnips

• Hardy yellow turnips

Option 33 Establish a wildlife cover crop on improved grass and arable land

For mixture options see WBS 1, WBS 2 and WBS 3 on page 25, Partridge Mix page 21.

These mixtures are designed to provide both nesting sites and a food source for overwintering species such as Tree Sparrow, Finches, Buntings, Skylark, Grey Partridge, Yellow Hammer and Barn Owl.

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