SFI Seed Mixtures for AHL2:
Winter Bird Food on Arable and Horticultural Land

These seed mixtures produce a supply of small seeds for smaller farmland birds from late autumn until winter on land entered into the AHL2 SFI action.

For more information about the application of these AHL2 SFI seed mixtures or to place an order, please call 01233 720871 or email Andrew Bourne or Anelia Clarkson.

AHL2/WBS4 | 1 Year Mix Spring Sown

45% | 18kg/ha | SPRING TRITICALE

25% |  10kg/ha | SPRING BARLEY

8.5% | 3.4kg/ha | DWARF SORGHUM

7% | 2.8kg/ha | WHITE MILLET

5% | 2kg/ha| LINSEED

4% | 1.6kg/ha | JAPANESE REED MILLET

3% | 1.2kg/ha | RED MILLET

2.5% | 1kg/ha | GOLD OF PLEASURE (CAMELINA SATIVA)

100% | 40kg/ha

SOWING RATE: 40kg/ha

SFI PAYMENT: £853/ha

KEY BENEFITS: Provides cover and feed for seed-feeding birds, mammals, and game throughout the year. Annual mix.

KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM SFI GUIDANCE:

If you’re doing this action on the same area of land for the 3-year duration of your SFI agreement, you must establish the winter bird food blocks or strips within the first 12 months of your SFI agreement, and maintain the area of winter bird food blocks or strips in each subsequent year of your 3-year SFI agreement.

If you’re rotating this action around your farm, each year of your SFI agreement you must do it for a period of time that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim.

AHL2/WBS2 | 1-2 Year Spring Sown

45% | 18kg/ha | SPRING TRITICALE

20% |  8kg/ha | SPRING BARLEY

15% | 6kg/ha | SPRING WHEAT

7% | 2.8kg/ha | KALE

4% | 1.6kg/ha | FODDER RADISH

4% | 1.6kg/ha | WHITE MILLET

3% | 1.2kg/ha | QUINOA

2% | 0.8kg/ha | RED MILLET

100% | 40kg/ha

SOWING RATE: 40kg/ha

SFI PAYMENT: £853/ha

KEY BENEFITS: Provides autumn and winter feed from fallen seeds, and the kale and cereal volunteers will provide feed cover in the second year. Be aware that the second year cover can be unreliable depending on the season.

KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM SFI GUIDANCE:

If you’re doing this action on the same area of land for the 3-year duration of your SFI agreement, you must establish the winter bird food blocks or strips within the first 12 months of your SFI agreement, and maintain the area of winter bird food blocks or strips in each subsequent year of your 3-year SFI agreement.

If you’re rotating this action around your farm, each year of your SFI agreement you must do it for a period of time that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim.

AHL2: Winter Bird Food on Arable and Horticultural Land FAQs

What is the aim of the AHL2 SFI action?

This action’s aim is that there are areas of winter bird food that produce a supply of small seeds for smaller farmland birds from late autumn until late winter.

The purpose of this is to provide food resources for farmland birds, especially in late autumn and winter. Encourage flowering plants in the summer, which will benefit insects including bumblebees, solitary bees, butterflies, and hoverflies. And to support an IPM approach if located close to cropped areas.

What land is eligible for AHL2 SFI applications?

You can do this action on eligible agricultural land located below the moorland line.

You can apply for this action on either the total SFI available area in each land parcel shown in your SFI application, or part of that area.

This action is rotational. You can do this action on the same area of eligible land for the duration of your 3-year SFI agreement, or you can move the area each year.

Where is best to establish and maintain AHL2 Winter bird food on arable and horticultural land?

You must establish and maintain blocks or strips of winter bird food on land entered into this action.

To establish the winter bird food blocks or strips, you must sow a mix of at least 6 crops that will provide an extended supply of small seeds for farmland birds.

If you sow an annual mix, it can include a range of cereals, brassicas or other small-seeded crops. If you sow a 2-year mix, it can also include biennial crops such as kale, stubble turnip, or teasel.

Once established, you must maintain the winter bird food blocks or strips. To do this, you must manage them in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim. You may need to re-sow the blocks or strips, as necessary, so they continue to produce an extended supply of small seeds.

You can maintain existing winter bird food blocks or strips to meet this action if they meet the requirements explained above. And are not already being paid for under another environmental land management scheme option, such as CS option AB9 (wild bird food).

How do I complete the AHL2 SFI action?

It’s up to you how you complete this action, as long as you do it in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim.

You may find it helpful to read the voluntary guidance on how establish and maintain winter bird food on arable and horticultural land, but you do not have to follow it.

What evidence should I keep to prove I have completed AHL2 SFI action?

You should keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action. This will help if it’s not clear that you’ve completed the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim.

This evidence could include photographs and other documentation to show what you’ve done to complete this action. It could also include field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices. If you choose to take photographs, read the guidance on how to take photographic evidence for SFI actions.

Head Office

Email: info@tdenneandsons.co.uk

Phone: +44 1233 720871

Hanover Mill, Mersham

Church Rd, Mersham, Ashford TN25 6NU

Phone: +44 1233 720871

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Whitehill, Ashford, TN25 4HB

Phone: +44 1233 812237

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