Bird and Invertebrate Seed Mix Recommendations

For topsoil and subsoil mounds that will be in place for several years, it is worth establishing a mix such as this below which will require only cutting every 2 years to maintain interest and diversity. This contains key for attracting invertebrates, and consequently provides insects for foraging bats and birds, including the chicks of seed‐eating birds such as grey partridge, linnet and yellowhammer (red list Birds of Conservation Concern). It is also of value to pollinator invertebrates, which is an additional conservation outcome.

The grasses are shown in bold and should comprise 80% of the mix.

Agrimony, Hemp* Eupatorium cannabinum Bird's Foot Trefoil* Lotus corniculatus Clover, Red* Trifolium pratense Clover, White* Trifolium repens Foxglove* Digitalis purpurea Knapweed, Greater* scabiosa Marjoram* Origanum vulgare Musk Mallow* Malva moschata Oxeye Daisy* Leucanthemum vulgare Poppy, Field* Papaver rhoes Sainfoin Onobrychis viccifolia Scabious, Field* Knautia Arvensis Vetch, Kidney Anthyllis vulneraria Viper's Bugloss* Echium vulgare Meadow Cranesbill* Geranium pratense Borage* Borago Officinalis Teasel* Dipsacus fullonum Knapweed, Common* Centaurea nigra Cornflower* Centaurea cyanus Goatsbeard* Aruncus dioicus Wild Clary Salvia verbenaca Yarrow* Achillea millefolium Bent, Common Agrostis castellana Crested Dogstail Cynosurus cristatus Fescue, Sheeps ovina Fescue, Strong Creeping Red Festuca rubra, rubra Smooth Stalked Meadow Grass Poa pratensis Timothy, Small Leaved Phleum pratense ssp Bertolinii

For mounds that may only be in place for 2‐3 years, you could establish a simpler version of the mix, with a higher proportion of annual species (such as poppies). Suitable species for this are in the blue highlighted rows.

This mix is suitable for circumneutral, dry soils.