APPENDIX XIV
GRASS MARGINS AND BEETLEBANKS - SUITABLE SEED MIXTURES
Seed mixtures for grass margins and beetlebanks must serve both to provide a suitable habitat for invertebrates which will predate upon crop pests and to suppress weeds. In order to encourage predator invertebrates, such as the ladybird and hoverfly, the established sward needs to be structurally diverse. This necessitates including tussock-forming grass species such as Cocksfoot, Timothy and Oat-grass. Ideally these should be sown at a low seeding rate to allow the development of a structurally complex sward. However there is a risk that a low seeding rate will result in areas of bare ground, which become reservoirs for weeds. The example mixture therefore contains a small percentage of Perennial Ryegrass which should establish quickly and, together with Creeping Red Fescue, form a mat to act as a barrier against weed ingress. In the longer term, with minimal management, the more tussocky grasses will predominate with the more prostrate species forming a lower tier. Under certain conditions it may be desirable to add a wildflower component to the mix. The wildflower species listed below are examples of those which will persist in long grass communities and provide a nectar source for beneficial insects.
Example Seed Mixtures for Grass Margins and Beetlebanks
1. Grasses only
% by weight
Cocksfoot 35
Timothy 20
Creeping Red Fescue 20
Perennial Ryegrass 15
Oat-grass 10
Recommended seeding rate: 20 kg/ha
2. Grass and wildflower mix
Grass mixture 1 above (20 kg/ha) with the addition of a mix of:
Knapweed, Oxeye Daisy, Yarrow and Common Vetch (2 kg/ha)