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CSS9 Beetle Bank AB3 without cocksfoot
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: 10% Hard fescue, 20% Tall fescue, 60% Strong Creeping red fescue, 10% Slender Creeping red fescue
- Sowing rate: 20kg/ha. Pack size: 20kg
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Mixture Specification
10% Hard Fescue
20% Tall Fescue
60% Strong Creeping Red Fescue
10% Slender Creeping Red Fescue
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.
