Birdsfoot Trefoil

Producing a cluster of yellow flowers followed by seed pods that look like birds claws, hence the name, this herbaceous perennial legume is a food source for a variety of birds and animals. It is particularly important for the caterpillars of some rare species of butterfly. A low growing plant, useful in controlling soil erosion.

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Buckwheat

One of the fastest growing short term cover crops. Sown in May, quick to establish and competes well against weeds. Very attractive to pheasants, partridge and deer, both as cover and feed. Also attractive to bees and other insects due to the amount of nectar rich flowers produced. Useful when added to mixes, due to its bulk and ability to provide holding cover and feed after the crop has fallen to the first frosts.

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Chicory

Grows stalks often over 2 metres high with blue flowers, and seeds in its second year. Great for rearing mixtures and has excellent ground cover. Has a high mineral content and anthelmintic properties. Best sown in 75cm spacings with kale in between. Chicory is quite slow to establish and may not bolt in its first year, but can provide feed and cover for up to four years. It offers good drought resistance but does not like wet ground. Has a good mineral content including Zinc, Copper and Potassium.

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Crimson Clover

This rapid growing annual can be sown anytime from April to August and produces a large amount of biomass. The flowers are a good source of nectar.

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Fodder Radish

A much underrated plant crop, a useful green manure as it holds residual nitrogen in the soil which is released as the plant breaks down. It produces a great deal of biomass for incorporation. Due to its quick growth, it supresses weeds and its deep roots benefit the soil structure. Can be sown even into August so is useful for filling any patches where a crop has failed. Grows in a wide variety of soil types and conditions, but is not winter hardy.

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Carbon

Best sown from June into early August, this kale/Ethiopian mustard hybrid provides cover after a very short growth period. Excellent frost tolerance, ideal as a cover crop and for reseeding patches where previous sowings have failed to show.

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Linseed

An easy crop to grow and is tolerant of many soil types, but susceptible to flea beetle attack if not treated. The powdery blue flowers attract insects and are a useful cover crop. The seed pods retain their seed and with no overall canopy it proves popular with a variety of birds, particularly partridge.

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Millet

Provides warmth and shelter for both game and wild birds, and is an excellent source of nutritious seeds - for partridge especially. It favours similar growing conditions to maize, so mixes well with maize and kale. Can be broadcast or shallow drilled preferably into moist ground. Red and white millet are often sown together due to the differing seeding dates; with red millet producing earlier than the white.

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Mustard

Usually part of a mix, this member of the brassica family is one of the most widely used game cover crops and can be sown in the spring right through to mid-September. It is easily established but produces the most seed in rich well drained soil, with a pH of no less than 6.0. Within 30 days of germination it will develop a mature canopy and its strong taste deters pigeons and rabbits from attack, but it is not winter hardy.

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Phacelia

A quick flowering crop, flowering within 12 weeks of planting. Large numbers of insects are drawn to the summer long purple flowers. Soon disappears after the first frosts, as not winter hardy, but readily reseeds itself. Best used in a mix. A popular green manure crop, it is an excellent weed suppressor and the large root mass is a very good soil improver. Not related to any other crop, so is a good break crop!

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Sainfoin

A high yielding, drought resistant legume, producing attractive pink flowers. It is ideal for inclusion in conservation mixes. The abundance of insects drawn to it are an excellent source for growing chicks. Develops deep penetrating roots over a lifespan of four or more years, which breaks up the soil and the nitrogen it produces is a free, natural fertiliser. If grazed, it has anthelmintic properties, it won’t cause bloat and produces useful rumen bypass protein.

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Vetch / Tares (Vicia Sativa)

A large seeded legume, capable of fixing large volumes or atmospheric nitrogen. Care must be taken in rotations with root crops and beans. Vetch has deep roots which improves soil structure. It is not fully winter hardy and grows up to 75cm high and is a good weed suppressant.

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RBC Game Mix

• 1kg Mustard

• 2kg Millet

• 1.5kg Sunflower

• 1.5kg Buckwheat

• 1kg Fodder Radish

• 0.5kg Forage Rape

• 0.5kg Kale x Mustard Hybrid

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