The new Agri Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) and the lack of uptake for the winter bird food option is going to leave a lot of hungry finches in the country this winter according one of John Howard’s regular customers.
John. of Sunnyside Fruits, said farmers have been feeding these finches and building up great populations of them for the past 12 years under the various schemes, but because the winter bird food option is neither compulsory nor as attractive as others, most are not taking up that option under ACRES.
John sells gamecrops such as the hugely popular John’s Delight all over the country but this year, this beautiful wildlife attracting cover crop containing Triticale; Linseed; Gold of Pleasure (golden linseed type); Mustard; Crimson clover; Phacelia; Field Poppies; and Cornflower; which attracts finches, bees and butterflies by the thousand, will not be eligible because of the changes to the scheme.
Even though this particular mix is not qualifying for ACRES, John has many of his customers, including gun clubs, that are still demanding and going to sow an acre for wildlife and to enhance their holdings, such is its beauty and attractiveness.
Normally, John would be asking his supplier in the UK Bright Seeds to make a special mix for this new scheme – but not this year. If the uptake looks like improving for 2024 he hopes to have new special mix for ACRES.
He has adapted his old Green, Low-Carbon, Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS) mix to suit the ACRES scheme, and so will still be supplying any of his usual customer that have chosen the option.
Winter bird food
The requirements for the winter bird food have changed from a mix of two seed varieties to three varieties for ACRES, but John always had three varieties in his very successful GLAS mixture anyway. His bag comes ready mixed and can be direct drilled or broadcast.
The crows are the problem immediately after sowing as they will take the cereal seed if it is not covered and they kept off the plot for 10 days or so.
John will again be travelling the country during the month of April and early May offering a free delivery service at locations en route advertised on his website.
Present stockists for John’s ACRES-suitable winter bird food:
- McDonnell Bros, Coolagown, Castletownroche and Saleen, Co. Cork: 025 31166;
- Creamery Farm Supplies, Croom, Co. Limerick: 087 415 5233;
- O Sullivan’s Beaufort Bridge, Killarney, Co. Kerry: 064 664 4397;
- Pat Tierney Supplies, Kilkishen, Co. Clare. 086 240 6035;
- CC Agricultutal Consultants Ltd., Drumamry, Killeshandra, Co. Cavan: 049 433 4462;
- Ward Agricultural Consultants, Doontas, Killasser, Swinford, Co. Mayo: 087 919 3371;
- P Coffey and Sons Ltd., Lecarrow, Co. Roscommon: 090 61114.
For more details contact John at Sunnyside Fruit Ltd., Rathcormac, Co. Cork by phone; 025-36253, email; [email protected], or online by clicking here.
Sunnyside wildflower meadows
Sunnyside wildflower meadow is attractive to everyone and loved by wildlife. Wildflowers grow best on poor, dry soil, and should not be mixed with grass because the native grass in the plot will come itself anyway and too much will smother the flowers.
The Sunnyside Wildflower Meadow is especially attractive to bees, insects and butterflies. It contains some game crop seeds to give extra colour and added feeding value for finches.
The wildflower meadow mix should be sown into a clean patch of ground that is clear of perennial weeds such as nettles, thistles and docks. This is vital before you begin.
In the spring of year two, cut down to ground level and give the soil a very light tilling. This will help to mix the fallen seeds into the soil for germination.
For full guidelines on how to get the best out of our wildflower meadow, do check out the planting guide.
New mix
This year John is concentrating on a new mixture for both headlands and field strips, called Paradise Headland. Modelled on a similar mixture designed by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) for the Grey Partridge and finches, this is designed to last up to 10 years with no management in the first two years and a little only bit of management from the third year onwards.
It 20 different seed species with many of them Irish natives, however all seed is sources from Bright Seeds UK.
“This is something that I am always being asked for and have been researching for a few years now,” John said.
After the end of the winter of the first two years and it is advisable to cut back half of the plot and if possible take away the cuttings. At this stage there will have been millions of seed shed from the plantation and all this will need to re-germinate in the spring is light cultivation of the patch again.
Certain seeds like the triticale will not come back but if cereal is required it would be a good idea to broadcast in something a 10kg of John’s Delight per acre which contains the triticale, linseed and some other wildflowers.
Then at the end of year three, repeat the process on the other section of the plot and continue like this every second year. Again, crows will need to be kept off the plot for 10 days after sowing as they will find the cereal and take every last seed.
Full details and a short video presentation on this new mixture are available on the website and Facebook under Wildbird Cover Crops.
This mixture is the result of demand and queries for a long-lasting and low-maintenance wildlife habitat. It will include Lucerne and Corncockle.
It has been modelled to meet requirements of the GWCT and on advice from Bright Seeds.
Paradise headland
This headland should last for up to 10 years with a little maintenance. Because of the species chosen it will appear to be expensive, but divided by the 10-year life of the crop this will be reasonable.
Sow when soil temperatures are up and ground conditions dry in the late-spring. If you want immediate nesting cover in year one, then autumn sowing is advised.
Get rid of any perennial grasses and weeds and then sow into a very clean, well-prepared but shallow seedbed. Lightly cultivate after sowing and roll.
Maintenance guidelines:
- At the end of the winter of year two, cut back half to ground level;
- If possible, gather up and remove the cuttings;
- In the spring of year three, lightly cultivate that section and some of the fallen seeds will germinate;
- If you want to have cereals again and be guaranteed feed for the winter, broadcast 10kg of John’s Delight/ac on the cleared section before lightly cultivating;
- Roll after sowing and keep the crows off the plot for at least 10 days. This is very important as otherwise they will devour all the triticale seed;
- At the end of the winter in year three, repeat the above on the other section nad continued every second year.
- Be careful not to drive over the uncut section when cultivatin so that you don’t disturb ground-nesting birds;
Sowing rate is 10kg/ac and it comes in a 2.5kg pack to sow a quarter of an acre. The cost of the new Paradise Headland seed is €75/o.25ac pack delivered with a discount of €5 on every other pack purchased.
For more information on any of the above mixes, or to buy them online, click here.
