Countryside Stewardship

Use this mixture for Flower-Rich Margins and Plots (AB8), to provide an abundant supply of pollen and nectar-rich flowers for pollinators and beneficial insects including bumblebees, solitary bees, butterflies, hoverflies.

• Also attractive to farmland birds
• Annual production of flowers for the length of the agreement.
• Suitable for Countryside Stewardship (CSS): AB8 GS8 GS14 SW1 SW2 SW3 SW4 SW7 SW8 WT1 WT2 
• Contains: 40% Strong Creeping Red Fescue, 25% Chewings Fescue, 15% Hard Fescue, 5% Smooth Stalk Meadow Grass, 3.75% Sainfoin, 3.75% Common Vetch, 3% Crimson Clover, 2.5% Red Clover, 0.5% Birdsfoot Trefoil, 0.5% Ribwort Plantain, 0.25% Lucerne, 0.25% Alsike Clover, 0.25% Yarrow, 0.25% White Clover
• Sowing rate: 20kg/ha. Pack size: 20kg

Use this mixture for GS4 Countryside Stewardship (Legume and Herb-Rich Swards), to establish a mixed sward of grasses, legumes and herbs and wildflowers.

• A vigorous sward with abundant legumes and herbs, suitable for productive cattle and sheep 
• Provides habitat and food for invertebrates and crop pollinators
• Improves soil structure and water infiltration.
• Suitable for Countryside Stewardship (CSS): GS1 GS4 GS8 GS14 SW1 SW2 SW3 SW4 SW7 SW8 WT1 WT2
• Contains: 40% Strong Creeping Red Fescue, 15% Perennial Ryegrass, 13% Meadow Fescue, 10% Sainfoin, 7% Timothy, 5% Smooth Stalk Meadow Grass, 5% Red Clover, 2% Alsike Clover, 1.25% Lucerne, 0.5% Sheep's Parsley, 0.5% Birdsfoot Trefoil, 0.5% Sheep’s Burnet, 0.25% Ribwort Plantain
• Sowing rate: 20kg/ha. Pack size: 20kg

Use this mixture for wildflower meadows, to provide rich habitat for butterflies, insects, birds & small mammals. Enhance mixture to comply with Flower-Rich Margins and Plots (AB8).

• An extended number of species of grass, legumes and wildflowers
• Can be sown on its own or with other wildflower mixtures
• Suitable for Countryside Stewardship AB8 GS4 GS8 GS14 SW1 SW2 SW3 SW4 SW7 SW8 WT1 WT2
  Contains: 30% Strong Creeping Red Fescue, 10.75% Chewing's Fescue, 10% Hard Fescue, 10% Timothy, 10% Slender Creeping Red Fescue, 6% Smooth Stalk Meadow Grass, 5% Red Clover, 5% Sainfoin, 4% Sheep's Fescue, 2.5% Alsike Clover, 1.5% Ribwort Plantain, 1.5% Birdsfoot Trefoil, 0.75% Yarrow, 0.5% Meadow Foxtail, 0.5% Selfheal, 0.5% Oxeye Daisy, 0.5% Sheep's Sorrel, 0.5% Common Knapweed, 0.5% Wild Carrot
• Previously known as BSWF10
• Sowing rate: 20kg/ha.

Use this mixture for Nectar Flower Mix (AB1), to provide food source and habitat for pollinating insects such as bumblebees, solitary bees, butterflies and hoverflies.

• Suitable for Countryside Stewardship (CSS): AB1
• Contains: 50% Common Vetch, 37.5% Sainfoin, 7.5% Red Clover, 3% Alsike Clover, 1% Birdsfoot Trefoil, 0.5% Wild Carrot, 0.5% Yarrow
• Sowing rate: 20-40kg/ha. Pack size: 20kg

Use this premium mix, preferred by Natural England, for Nectar Flower Mix (AB1), providing food source and habitat for pollinating insects such as bumblebees, solitary bees, butterflies and hoverflies.

• Premium mix, exactly as prescribed by Natural England
• Suitable for Countryside Stewardship (CSS): AB1
• Contains: 40% Common Vetch, 15% Alsike Clover, 12% Sainfoin, 10% Red Clover, 5% Birdsfoot Trefoil, 5% Black Medick, 5% Lucerne, 5% Yellow Blossom Clover, 1.4% Yarrow, 0.4% Common Knapweed, 0.4% Musk Mallow, 0.4% Oxeye Daisy, 0.4% Wild Carrot
• Sowing rate: 15kg/ha. Pack size: 20kg 

Use this grass and legume mixture for Two Year Sown Legume Fallow Mixture AB15 (2021 onwards).

• Mixture also available without grass - see CSS6/21 
• Recommended for schemes that began from 2021 onwards.
• Reduces flowering blackgrass and provides an abundant supply of sown pollen and nectar-rich flowers between early and late summer in year 3 and year 5 of the agreement.
• Suitable for Countryside Stewardship (CSS): AB15 GS8 SW1 SW2 SW3 SW4 WT1 WT2
• Contains: 40% Perennial Ryegrass, 40% Common Vetch, 5% Crimson Clover, 5% Lucerne, 5% Red Clover, 2.5% Alsike Clover, 2.5% Birdsfoot Trefoil
• Sowing rate: 15-20kg/ha. Pack size: 20kg

Use this grass-free, pure legume mixture for Two Year Sown Legume Fallow AB15 (2021 onwards).

• Mixture also available containing grass - see CSS6/21R
• Recommended for schemes that began from 2021 onwards.
• Reduces flowering blackgrass and provides an abundant supply of sown pollen and nectar-rich flowers between early and late summer in year 3 and year 5 of the agreement.
• Suitable for Countryside Stewardship (CSS): AB15 GS8 SW1 SW2 SW3 SW4 WT1 WT2
• Contains: 55% Common Vetch, 15% Red Clover, 10% Alsike Clover, 10% Lucerne, 7.5% Crimson Clover, 2.5% Birdsfoot Trefoil
• Sowing rate: 15-20kg/ha. Pack size: 20kg

Use this mixture for Two Year Sown Legume Fallow AB15 (agreements beginning in 2020 or before):

• Recommended for schemes that began in or before 2020. For schemes in 2021 and onwards, see our CSS6/21 Two Year Sown Legume Fallow Mix 
• Reduces flowering blackgrass and provides an abundant supply of sown pollen and nectar-rich flowers between early and late summer in year 3 and year 5 of the agreement.
• Suitable for Countryside Stewardship (CSS): AB15 GS8 SW1 SW2 SW3 SW4 WT1 WT2
• Contains: 66% Perennial Ryegrass, 15% Red Clover, 10% Vetch, 7% Birdsfoot Trefoil, 2% Common Knapweed
• Sowing rate: 30kg/ha. Pack size: 20kg

Use this mixture for Autumn Sown Bumblebird Mix AB16, providing an abundant supply of small seeds during the winter months for farmland birds such as tree sparrow and corn bunting.

• Provides pollen and nectar-rich flowers for pollinating and beneficial insects including bees, butterflies and hoverflies
• Suitable for Countryside Stewardship (CSS): GS8, GS14, AB16
• Contains: 34% Winter Triticale, 34% Wheat, 8% Linseed, 7% Common Vetch, 5% Crimson Clover, 3% Gold of Pleasure, 2% Fodder Radish, 2% Kale, 1% Alsike Clover, 1% Birdsfoot Trefoil, 1% Lucerne, 1% Phacelia, 1% Red Clover
• Sowing rate: 50kg/ha. Pack size: 20kg

Use this mixture (including cocksfoot) for Beetle Banks AB3, 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 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

Use this mixture (without cocksfoot) for Beetle Banks AB3, to provides nesting and foraging habitats for, insects, bumblebees, small mammals and farmland birds.

• Dense cover providing warm and dry areas for invertebrates and pollinators
• Suitable for Countryside Stewardship (CSS): AB3 SW1 SW2 SW3 SW4 
• Contains: 60% Strong Creeping Red Fescue, 20% Tall Fescue, 10% Hard Fescue, 10% Slender Creeping Red Fescue
• Sowing rate: 20kg/ha. Pack size: 20kg

Use this mixture for Winter Bird Food AB9, to provide important food resources for farmland birds, especially Grey Partridges, during autumn and winter.

• Farmland birds eat the seeds from October and beneficial insects including bees and butterflies use the flowers during the summer
• Suitable for Countryside Stewardship (CCS): AB9  
• Spring sown - one or two year mixture
• Contains: 50% Spring Triticale, 30% Spring Barley, 5% White Millet, 5% Kale, 5% Linseed, 5% Fodder Radish
• Pack size: 20kg. Sow minimum 50kg per hectare

Use this mixture for Winter Bird Food AB9 to provide important food resources for farmland birds, especially Finches and Corn Buntings, during autumn and winter.

• Farmland birds eat the seeds from October and beneficial insects including bees and butterflies use the flowers during the summer
• Suitable for Countryside Stewardship (CSS): AB9
• Spring sown - one year mixture
• Contains: 50% Spring Triticale, 30% Spring Barley, 7% Sunflower, 5% Red Millet, 5% White Millet, 3% Quinoa
• Sow minimum 50kg per hectare. Pack size: 20kg

Use this mixture for Winter Bird Food AB9, to provide important food resources for farmland birds, especially Tree Sparrows, during autumn and winter.

• Farmland birds eat the seeds from October and beneficial insects including bees and butterflies use the flowers during the summer
• Suitable for Countryside Stewardship (CSS): AB9
• Spring sown - one year mixture
• Contains: 50% Spring Triticale, 30% Spring Barley, 7% Fodder Radish, 5% Linseed, 5% White Millet, 3% Quinoa
•  Sow minimum 50kg per hectare. Pack size: 20kg

Use this mix for habitat creation and compliance with AB3. This premium, species-rich grassland mix provides an abundance of high-value plant species, with a range of plant heights suitable for invertebrates, birds and small mammals.

• Low maintenance and suitable for light grazing
• Suitable for Countryside Stewardship (CSS): AB3 SW1 SW2 SW3 SW4 SW7 SW8 WT1 WT2
• Contains: 27% Strong Creeping Red Fescue, 15% Meadow Fescue, 15% Chewing's Fescue, 10% Hard Fescue, 10% Tall Fescue, 8% Smooth Stalk Meadow Grass, 6% Sheep’s Fescue, 5% Highland Bent, 4% Smaller Cat's Tail
• Sowing rate: 20kg/ha  Pack size: 20kg