AB16 Enhanced Autumn Sown Bumblebird
Ref: AB162021
Designed for the Countryside Stewardship Scheme, it will provide food resources for farmland birds and nectar feeding insects, including butterflies and bumblebees on arable land and mixed farms. A mixture of flowering and seed bearing plants should be established after harvest but before 7th September, it should be retained for 2 years.
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Contents per Kg | % | kg | |
![]() | certified forage rye | 27.8 | 0.278 |
![]() | certified winter oats | 20.8 | 0.208 |
![]() | 16.7 | 0.167 | |
![]() | certified vetch | 8.2 | 0.082 |
![]() | 6.8 | 0.068 | |
![]() | certified kale | 5.5 | 0.055 |
![]() | certified crimson clover | 2.7 | 0.027 |
![]() | certified lucerne (rhizobium inoculated) | 2.2 | 0.022 |
![]() | certified fodder radish | 1.8 | 0.018 |
![]() | Fennel | 1.2 | 0.012 |
![]() | certified birdsfoot trefoil | 1.2 | 0.012 |
![]() | commercial gold of pleasure | 1.2 | 0.012 |
![]() | certified alsike clover | 0.5 | 0.005 |
![]() | cerified phacelia | 1.7 | 0.017 |
![]() | certified red clover | 0.8 | 0.008 |
![]() | certified late flowering red clover | 0.8 | 0.008 |
Alsike Clover
Alsike clover is a short term perennial that fixes nitrogen. It is a true clover, not a hybrid as the name suggests. Compared to many annual clovers it can be the slowest to flower after a spring sowing.
Barley
Barely is a member of the grass family, it is grown as a cereal grain crop throughout the UK and worldwide. If the grain reaches the correct quality it may be used in the brewing process, alternatively it can be used for animal feed. Barley straw is also a useful commodity for livestock fodder.
Birdsfoot Trefoil
Birdsfoot Trefoil is a legume, it grows from a basal crown, with numerous stems that can vary from prostrate to erect in growth habit. In some parts of the country it is called the 'eggs and bacon' plant.
Birdsfoot Trefoil Species Guide Buy Birdsfoot Trefoil Straight
Crimson Clover
An annual legume and true clover, traditionally sown in the south east of England for over-winter sheep keep.
Fodder Radish
Also commonly known as oil radish, fodder radish is a brassica, it is not a legume but it will hold any residual nitrogen in the soil, which it will then release as it breaks down over time. This species is slower to flower and go to seed than mustard and produces a deeper root system.
Gold of Pleasure
Gold of Pleasure may also be known as camelina or false flax. It is a multi branched, seed bearing, member of the mustard family. Historically it has been cultivated as an agricultural crop. In the Uk it is generally used as a component of sown over-winter wild bird seed mixtures and game cover, due to its ability to produce lots of small seed bearing pods.
Gold of Pleasure Species Guide Buy Gold of Pleasure Straight
Kale
Kale is the highest yielding brassica and being winter hardy, can relieve pressure on winter forage. It has a high protein content and is usually grazed between September and March, depending on sowing time. It can be grazed by most livestock including sheep and cattle.
Late Flowering Red Clover
Red clover is one of the most popularly used true clovers in the UK. Once established it’s capable of rapid growth and shows reasonably good persistence up to three years, although ongoing breeding work is being carried out to increase plant persistence. The 'single cut' or 'late' strains of red clover, notably the diploid variety altaswede provide one large cut per season, flowering once per season, approximately 10 - 18 days later than the 'double cut' early strains.
Linseed
For many years linseed, as known as flax was an important component of fabric and linen yarn, it is also important because of its seeds, from which linseed oil is obtained. In the Uk linseed can be a component of game cover mixtures and over-winter wild bird seed mixtures.
Lucerne
Also known as alfalfa in the states, lucerne benefits animal health and soil fertility. It is a high protein forage crop which is usually grown on its own and is very good on drought-prone soils. It establishes relatively slowly, producing significantly more biomass in the second and third years. Lucerne should only be grown on free-draining, alkaline soil. Lucerne requires the correct strain of rhizobia (known as an inoculant) to efficiently fix atmospheric nitrogen and get the most growth.
Oats
A popular cereal crop and member of the grass family. Oats are often known as common oats, which can be used for human consumption, and livestock feed. Oats may also be used as a component of a winter bird food mixture and as a soil improving crop, usually combined with other species.
Phacelia
Phacelia is a rapidly growing, high biomass plant. It is a nitrogen holder and weed suppressor. Its eye catching purple flowers are particularly good at attracting bees and other beneficial insects.
Red Clover
Red clover is one of the most popularly used true clovers in the UK. Once established it’s capable of rapid growth and shows reasonably good persistence up to three years, although ongoing breeding work is being carried out to increase plant persistence. The highest yielding strains of red clover are called 'double cut' varieties, normally providing quick regrowth after cutting and several flushes or cuts per season. The 'single cut' strains of red clover, notably the variety altaswede provide one large cut per season, flowering approximately 10 days later than the 'double cut' strains.
Rye
Also known as grazing or cereal rye, this is one of the most effective crops for reducing nitrogen leaching over the winter and it also has good early winter growth, making it one of the best winter green manures. It will also give the earliest spring growth, which may be used for clean early spring grazing. It should not be confused with Ryegrass, as this is a different species, with different characteristics
Vetch
Vetch is a well known legume also known as common vetch or tares. It scrambling, smothering growth habit and frost tolerance make it a very useful winter cover crop or green manure.