Environmental Stewardship

Entry Level Scheme and Higher level Scheme’s are open to all farmers, however the schemes vary dramatically.

ELS can be seen as a ‘points make prizes’ scheme where utilising farm management techniques, such as leaving over wintered stubbles or leaving hedges uncut for wildlife value generates a points value that then become a pounds per hectare payment.

The HLS is completely different and is targeted to deliver specific core values.

For example: Measures to encourage specific bird species.
The scheme is run on a more competitive and selective basis.
People wanting to participate in the HLS should already be in the ELS which is seen as a stepping stone into the HLS scheme.

Payment can be for capital works – for perhaps making a pond or wetland habitat to allow for targeted birds, there is a  different focus in different geographic areas. A farm environment plan must be paid for first and the cost for the plan can be reimbursed later.

Good point earning ideas could include

EG2 EF2 sowing Wild Bird seed mixtures 450 points
Beetle Bank plots 580 points
Nectar Flower Mixture 450 points

Buffer Strips & Field Margins are really to protect hedges and water courses from the effect of chemical sprays and includes the establishment of grassy strips that are commonly used to allow a coarse clumpy finish, ideal for small invertebrates – again for wildlife values..

The establishment is normally a  2 metre or 6 metre strip and is normally made up of very un-invasive species that would lack nutritive value for stock, compared to modern grasses commonly used for milk and meat production. Special mixtures can easily be created for individual projects here at Hurrells and we welcome special requests to encourage wild life values.

Pollen & Nectar Mixes we offer 2 principle mixtures in this category, but up until very recently the main mixture used was one of  grass and legumes – Nowadays a mixture  using 100% legumes is becoming increasingly popular.

Particular Mixtures of Note

EF4 Nectar Flower Mixture (pollen & Nectar)  Giving an essential food source for butterflies and bumblebees

40.00% Red Clover
20.00% Alsike
21.00% Birdsfoot Trefoil
15.00% Sainfoin
2.00% Musk Mallow
2.00% Common Knapweed

Floristically Enhanced Grass Margin (Margins Mixture – wild flower option)

20.00% Creeping Red fescue
20.00% Hard Fescue
20.00% Meadow Fescue
15.00% Common Bentgrass
15.00% Crested Dogstail
2.00% Yarrow
2.00% Birdsfoot Trefoil
1.50% Selfheal
1.50% Ladys Bedstraw
1.50% Oxeye Daisy
1.50% Black Knapweed