Gamecover & environmental mixture options

Gamecover Maize

Maize seed for game cover can be reasonably well planted up until mid-June. Maize is a very useful option as a Gamecover, offering cover as well as a feed value. Our Trigger Blend is a mix of different varieties, spreading maturity and the feed value throughout the season.

Sorghum

Sorghum can go in as late as the end of June, typically needing soil temperatures of over 14 degrees consistently. With three different height choices, Dwarf, Intermediate or Giant, they are suitable for a range of situations. Dwarf sorghum offers warmth to a maize crop and creates good flushing points.DP2 intermediate sorghum has similar growth to maize, a useful option where Badgers are a problem as there is no cob. Giant sorghum creates a good windbreak if used around a crop of maize.

Sunflowers

Sunflowers are an excellent feed source, and with good standing ability. Ideal to go in until the end of June, they are also a benefit to other wild birds.   We have dwarf or intermediate variety options.

Brassicas

Other late sown options could include using Interval Forage Rape. Interval has the benefit of sowing late, with excellent vigour and establishment to provide cover quickly. It is also winter hardy. Similarly, Carbon is suited to sowing in June and July, providing cover by November. Kales, such as Caledonian, offer extra height for birds to get cover. With the added benefit of having club root tolerance, Caledonian kale can be grown continuously on the same site. Opting for a shorter Kale such as Keeper have excellent lodging resistance as well as winter hardiness. 

Winter Bird food mixes

Under AB9 specifications, a seed mix which contains at least 6 seed bearing crops should be sown between 15 February and 15 June. These mixes may contain a maximum of 3 of the following cereal crops - barley, oats, rye, triticale and wheat, with no individual crop group exceeding 90% of the total mix by weight. 1-year mixes should be re-established annually, and 2-year mixes every other year, to maintain seed production.

We have several options that meet the requirements for AB9:

Magnet and Labrador are two other mixes that are suitable for proving cover and a feed source but are not AB9 compliant.

Rescue Mix 

The Spaniel Rescue mix is ideal for using if the previous crop has failed or there have been other problems with establishment, or there is a requirement for a later sown option. Containing fast growing species, the spaniel mix will provide cover into the season. It can be broadcast into stubble, with the fodder radish keeping its seed into the season. As this mix is fast growing and fast to establish, it can go in from the end of June into July.

Nectar Flower Mixes

These mixes are designed to provide a pollen and nectar supply and meet the requirements of AB1. Established between the 1 March and 15 September to be compliant, the mix should be a grass-free seed mix which contains a minimum of 6 flower species.

Our compliant mixes:

·         AB1 standard mix

·         Bee mix

Flower Rich Margins

To meet the requirements of AB8, the mix will need to contain a minimum of 4 grass species and 10 wildflower species  - the seed mix should contain both grasses and perennial flowering plants. Sowing the seed mix between April/May and early September (mid to late summer is usually the best time to sow wildflowers).

Our compliant mixes:

·         Flower Rich Margin

·         AB8 standard

Two year sown legume fallow

Establish by sowing a seed mix containing a minimum of 6 flower species as soon as possible after harvest and before 15 September and keep until 15 August in the second summer after sowing, to be compliant with AB15. Mixtures will vary depending on agreement start date.

Compliant mix – AB15

Autumn sown bumble bird

For the rules of AB16, this mix will need to be established as soon as possible after harvest & before 15th September. It should contain a mix with a minimum of six flower species and six seed-bearing crops. And should contain a maximum of three of the following cereal crops: Barley, Oats, Rye, Triticale, Wheat.

Compliant mix – Bumblebird

Legume and herb-rich swards

To meet the requirements of GS4, establish a mixed sward of grasses, legumes, herbs and wildflowers in the first 12 months of the agreement. The Mix must contain: a minimum 10% cover of red clover, an additional 10% cover of other legumes, herbs and wildflowers, at least 5 species of grass, 3 species of legume (including bird’s-foot trefoil) and 5 species of herb or wildflower.

Compliant mix – GS4 

Beetle banks

Sow a mixture of fine-leaved grasses such as red fescue together with some tussock-forming varieties like tall fescue, timothy and cocksfoot, to be compliant for AB3 rules.

Compliant mix – BSM1

If you wish to enquire, please call 01243 755620 or email seed@bartholomews.co.uk