AHL3 / AB3 Buffer Strip and Beetle Bank with cocksfoot (CSS8)
Use this mixture (including cocksfoot) for AHL3 Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) - Grassy Field Corners and AB3 Countryside Stewardship - Beetle Banks, to provide nesting and foraging habitats for insects, bumblebees, small mammals and some farmland birds.
- Dense, tussocky cover provides warm, dry areas for invertebrates and pollinators
- Suitable for Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI): AHL3 AHL4 IGL3
- Suitable for Countryside Stewardship Scheme (CSS): AB3 SW1 SW2 SW3 SW4 WT1 WT2
- Contains: 60% Strong Creeping Red Fescue, 20% Tall Fescue, 15% Slender Creeping Red Fescue, 5% Cocksfoot
- Sowing rate: 20kg/ha. Pack size: 20kg
Mixture Specification
60% Strong Creeping Red Fescue
20% Tall Fescue
15% Slender Creeping Red Fescue
5% Cocksfoot
Sowing & Establishment
COUNTRYSIDE STEWARDSHIP AB3 - BEETLE BANKS
What To Sow
Sow a mix that includes fine-leaved grasses such as red fescue, alongside tussock-forming varieties such as tall fescue, timothy and cocksfoot.
Where To Sow
This option will suit a wide range of soil types, however, it is best located in areas where it is possible to form a free-draining raised bank; this will ensure the top of the bank stays dry for insects to hibernate.
How To Sow
To establish the bank, plough in two directions towards each furrow until you have created the desired size. Shallow cultivate the bank after to produce a firm, fine seedbed. The seed should then be broadcast with a roll after to keep moisture in the soil.
Information in this article is given in good faith but should not be seen as a substitute for complete guidance issued at www.gov.uk/countryside-stewardship-grants. Don’t hesitate to get in touch for further information.
Maintenance
COUNTRYSIDE STEWARDSHIP AB3 - BEETLE BANKS
Maintenance and Management
Cut the grass several times during the first summer after establishment, but avoid cutting when the bank is wet as this will cause soil compaction. After year 1, only cut after the 1st August to protect any nesting invertebrates and insects.
Records and Evidence
Keep records as evidence of establishment and maintenance such as, but not limited to, the list below:
- Seed invoices
- Field operations at parcel level
- Contractor invoices
- Records of grazing activity
- Photographs of the established seed mix
Information in this article is given in good faith but should not be seen as a substitute for complete guidance issued at www.gov.uk/countryside-stewardship-grants. Don’t hesitate to get in touch for further information.
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