Gloucester Seeds Direct - Tel: 01452 723 727
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP SCHEMES
Managing the countryside under the new stewardship schemes is necessary in order to comply with the requirements supporting the Single Farm Payment system.
- There are three stewardship elements
- Entry Level (ELS 5 year)
- Organic Entry Level (OELS 5 year)
- Higher Level Stewardship (HLS 10 year)
EE 1/ EE 2 2m and 4m buffer strips on cultivated land.
Establish or maintain a grassy strip during the first 12 months of your agreement. The sward will need regular defoliation in the first 12 months to assist establishment and control weed species.
EE 3 6m Buffer strip extending existing 3m strip by a further 3m
Management as for the above plus after 12 months cut the 3m next to the crop edge annually after mid July. Only cut the other 3m to control woody growth, and no more than one year in five. (Where next to woodland one year in ten) You may sow all or part of the margin with a mixture of fine leaved grasses and wild flowers.
OPTIONS FOR ARABLE LANDEF 1 Field Corner Management (max 1ha in 20ha of arable land)
The provision for a grassy area has an enhanced benefit and provides interest for a wide variety of wildlife. These areas will provide a habitat for invertebrates, birds, reptiles and amphibians.
EF 7 Beetle Banks
Beetle banks are tussocky grass ridges, generally about 2m wide that run from one side of a field to the other whilst still allowing the field to be farmed. They provide habitat for ground nesting birds, small mammals and insects including those that feed on crop pests.
SEED MIXTURE OPTIONS to suit above requirements
| BGM 1 with Cocksfoot 20 Kg | BGM 2 No Cocksfoot 20 Kg |
| 20% Meadow Fescue | 20% Meadow Fescue |
| 20% Creeping Red Fescue | 20% Creeping Red Fescue |
| 20% Cocksfoot | 20% Chewing Fescue |
| 20% Timothy | 20% Timothy |
| 20% Tall Fescue | 20% Sheeps Fescue |
WF 1 Wild Flower Mixture
A wide selection of wild flowers which may be added to the grass mixtures BGM1 and BGM2 to provide variety and colour to encourage insects and birds.
7% Black Knapweed, 13% Red Clover,13% Birdsfoot Trefoil, 7% Ox Eye Daisy, 7% Yarrow
3.5% Cow Parsley, 32% Sanfoin,10.5% Black Medick,7% Self Heal. 1Kg
WILD BIRD SEED AND POLLEN AND NECTAR MIXTURES
These special mixtures provide variety and colour along with food supplies for birds and insects.
EF 2 Wild Bird Seed Mixture strips or block ( max 0.5ha in 20ha )
This type of crop will provide a food source for seed eating birds in an arable landscape. The aim is to provide a year round supply of food and sowing a combination of at least 3 seed bearing species as a mixture or in alternate rows. WBS 1, WBS 2, WBA 1
EF 3 Wild Bird Seed Mixture on Set-Aside Land
You can only locate this option on Set-Aside land if you do have an obligation to sow a green cover crop (ie Following maize ) Any sowings must be sown in a mixture rather than in alternate rows.WBS 1, WBS 2, WBA1
EF4 Pollen & Nectar Flower Mixture ( Max 0.5 ha in 20ha )
The incorporation of flowering species producing both pollen and nectar will enhance the food source for feeding insects, butterflies, bees and bumblebees. BPN
EF 5 Pollen & Nectar Flower Mix on Set-Aside Land
Management as for EF 4. Can only be located on Set-Aside land if you do not have an obligation to sow a green cover crop (e.g following maize) BPN
| WBS 1 Annual Mix | WBS 2 2 Year Mix | WBA 1 Autumn Mix |
| 30% Spring Triticale | 35% Spring Triticale | 40% Winter Barley |
| 35% Spring Barley | 35% Spring Wheat | 30% Winter Triticale |
| 10% Linseed | 10% T.H.Kale | 10% Oil seed Rape |
| 10%Millet | 10% Quinoa | Double low |
| 15% Mustard | 10% Yellow Blossom Clover | 20% Winter Veitch |
| 20Kg* | 20Kg * | 20Kg * |
*Sow at 40Kg / Ha
BPN 20% Meadow Fescue, 15%Creeping Red Fescue,12.5% Cocksfoot, 12.5% Timothy,15% Tall Fescue, 5% Smooth Meadow Grass,3% Red Clover,3% Alsike,3%Birdsfoot Trefoil,3%Black Medick,3%Early English Winter Veitch,5%Sainfoin 10Kg Sow at 20Kg / Ha