Many farmers will be planning to sow wild bird seed areas this spring as part of their HLS options. Guidance on these for new agreements is now much stricter than previously and Natural England dictate that wild bird areas should amount to 7% of the arable area and provide three opportunities for birds – they call them the Big Three! These are:
- Winter-seed food (or weed-rich stubbles)
- Spring/summer invertebrate food (e.g. nectar and pollen mixes)
- In-field nest sites (e.g. fallow plots)
Arbor Vitae can advise on choice of options, choice of seed mixes and husbandry techniques. And see the Natural England website