Boston Gold Mix AB12

Our premium AB12 mix includes a wide variety of small seeds to be added to 70% of your own cereals. Designed to provide essential feed over the 'Hungry Gap' for farmland birds such as Yellowhammers, Grey Partridge and Tree Sparrows.

Provides valuable feed source for farmland birds over December-April
Fed to farmland birds at least once a week
Suitable for Countryside Stewardship (CSS): AB12
Contains: 40% White Millet, 10% Canary Seed, 20% Red Dari, 10% Red Millet, 10% Rape, 5% Sunflower Hearts, 5% Black Sunflowers
Packsize: 25kg (can also be packed into 500kg bags)

Click here for delivery information and charges.

Mixture Specification

40% White Millet
10% Canary Seed
20% Red Dari
10% Red Millet
10% Rape
5% Sunflower Hearts
5% Black Sunflowers

Sowing & Establishment

COUNTRYSIDE STEWARDSHIP AB12 - SUPPLEMENTARY WINTER FEEDING FOR FARMLAND BIRDS

What To Feed

Ensure that the mix contains both cereals and other small seeds. The small seed component must be a minimum of 30% of the total mix by weight and contain at least three of the following species:

canary seed
linseed
oilseed rape
red millet
sunflower hearts
white millet

No individual species should be more than 50% of the total small seed component by weight;

Where To Feed

Selected feeding areas should be firm and free-draining such as farm tracks or hard-standing areas. Ensure that the feeding sites are rotated around the farm and that the areas are maintained regularly. Each site should be near existing sown resources to provide additional food sources for farmland birds such as enhanced overwinter stubble, game cover or wild bird seed mixtures.

How To Feed

Spread the winter supplementary feeding mix at a rate of 25kg once a week for a period of 20 weeks from 1st December through until 30th April. These must be at 2 separate feeding locations. As demand alters, the amount fed can be altered by up to 5kg per week.

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 AB12 - SUPPLEMENTARY WINTER FEEDING FOR FARMLAND BIRDS

Maintenance and Management

Distribute enough supplementary food to match the birds' consumption, to avoid seed being left uneaten and ensure a fresh supply of food is maintained. Where possible, stagger feeding at different feeding locations to reduce non-target species such as crows and pigeons from eating the feed. Ensure the seed is well dispersed and not left in piles as this can attract rodents.

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