One Year Winter Bird Food Survival Mixture (AHL2/AB9)
Ref: mixsm
CSS/SFI Codes: AB9, AHL2 br>
br>This mixture should be sited on field margins or adjacent to hedges or woodland. It contains a good range of species which provides a food source for birds including finches and sparrows. It is also a good food source for smaller mammals. The mixture can be sown from late April until June. It is essential to sow into a warm, well-prepared seedbed which is free of weeds. Call for availability
Contents per Kg | % | kg | |
certified linseed | 16.0 | 0.160 | |
certified ORGANIC spring wheat | 14.0 | 0.140 | |
white millet | 26.0 | 0.260 | |
certified Fodder Radish | 10.0 | 0.100 | |
certified mustard | 10.0 | 0.100 | |
certified brassica carinata | 10.0 | 0.100 | |
Gold of Pleasure | 10.0 | 0.100 | |
quinoa | 4.0 | 0.040 |
Brown Mustard
This is a quick growing winter hardy brassica, sometimes known as Indian mustard. It has had more interest recently due to its ability to supress certain soil borne nematodes in high value cash crops like potatoes and sugar beet, it could potentially be an alternative way of dealing with pest without using artificial nematicides, using a technique called bio-fumigation.
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.
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.
Mustard
Mustard is a rapidly growing, high biomass, nitrogen lifter for growing over the summer. It is one of the quickest growing, green manuring species and is very good at suppressing weeds.
Quinoa
Quinoa has been cultivated for centuries for its small grains. Recently we have seen an emerging market to grow the crop in the Uk. While this market may expand, most commonly the plant is used as a seed bearing species for game covers and wild bird food mixtures under environmental stewardship.
Wheat
Wheat is one of the most widely produced cereals in the world, it is grown on more land than any other food crop. It is used for human consumption and livestock feed. The straw is a useful commodity bi product, normally used for livestock bedding.
White Millet
White millet is a warm season, cultivated grass species. It has been grown for centuries for it seed, as a forage and human consumption. In the UK it is generally used as a game cover component, or in a winter bird food mixture to provide food during the hungry gap, when natural resources are exhausted.