Winter bird food on arable and horticultural land

Where it applies

Arable, Horticultural, Temporary grassland, Permanent crops

Eligibility conditions

• Below the moorland line

What you'll do

Grow a mix of at least 6 small seed-bearing crops suited to small farmland birds (not maize, sorghum, miscanthus, reed canary grass, artichokes, sweet clover or tic beans). Establish it in time to flower the first summer — usually by the end of June — so it sets seed and feeds birds from late autumn through to late winter (about the end of February). Re-sow a 1-year mix every year, a 2-year mix every other year. Don't use the plot for access, turning or storage, and keep cultivation and any fertiliser or pesticide at least 2m from hedgerow centres.

Evidence to keep

• Photos showing the crop established and standing through winter
• A sowing record (mix and date)
• The seed mix species list (6+ small seed-bearing crops)
• Seed invoices

When

• Apr–Jun: Sow in time to flower the first summer — usually by the end of June (first year)
• Oct–Feb: Leave standing to feed birds from late autumn to late winter (~end Feb)

Supplements you can add

• AHW2 — Supplementary winter bird food (£732 per tonne, per year)

Combining with other actions

Actions that can be paid on the same area:

• SFI 2026: AGF1, AGF2, CIPM3, CIPM4, OFC3, OFC4, OFC5, OFM4, OFM5, OFM6, PRF1, PRF2, PRF4, SOH1, SOH3
• SFI 2024: AGF1, AGF2, CIPM1, CIPM3, CIPM4, CNUM1, CSAM1, OFC3, OFC4, OFC5, OFM4, OFM5, OFM6, PRF1, PRF2, PRF4, SOH1, SOH2, SOH3
• SFI 2023: IPM1, IPM3, IPM4, NUM1, SAM1
• CS Higher Tier: CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CHS3, CHS9, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CWS1, CWS3
• Countryside Stewardship: HS3, HS9, OR3, OR4, OR5, OT3, OT4, OT5