In recent years, environmental schemes have become a key part of sustainable farm practice in the UK. Among these, options that support pollinators and wildlife are increasingly important. One excellent example is the Bee Mixture offered by Watson Seeds, designed specifically to meet the requirements of the AB1 agri-environment option.
What is the Watson Seeds Bee Mixture?
The Bee Mixture from Watson Seeds is a purpose-built seed blend created to provide abundant pollen and nectar for bees, butterflies, hoverflies and other beneficial insects. It is ideal for establishing nectar rich strips or blocks on arable land, field margins or grassland where pollinators can forage throughout the growing season.
This mixture contains a variety of legumes, clovers and native wildflowers that flower from late spring right through to autumn, making it attractive to a wide range of pollinating species. The blend is grass-free, which helps to maximise flowering and pollen production. Species included are vetch, red clover, birdsfoot trefoil, alsike clover, lucerne, knapweed, oxeye daisy, yarrow and wild carrot.
The term of the mixture is typically five years, offering a medium-term habitat solution for pollinators.
What is the AB1 Scheme?
The AB1 scheme refers to the Nectar Flower Mix option within the UK’s Countryside Stewardship programme, an agri-environment scheme run by the government to improve farmland wildlife habitat and biodiversity.
Countryside Stewardship rewards landowners and farmers for adopting land management practices that benefit nature, water quality, soil and landscape features. The AB1 option is specifically aimed at creating areas that provide food for pollinators throughout the year.
Under the AB1 option, farmers agree to:
The aim is to supply essential food sources for bees and pollinators, helping maintain healthy insect populations that, in turn, support broader farm productivity through pollination services.
How the Bee Mixture Fits the AB1 Scheme
Watson Seeds’ Bee Mixture has been formulated specifically to meet the species and flowering requirements of the AB1 Nectar Flower Mix option. It contains a suite of flowering species that satisfy scheme specifications for nectar and pollen availability without grasses, aiding compliance and ecological performance.
By choosing a mixture designed for AB1, farmers can:
Environmental and Farm Benefits
Integrating nectar rich mixes like the Bee Mixture into your cropping or field margin plan brings multiple benefits:
Practical Considerations
Before sowing:
By aligning seed choices with scheme objectives, such as using Watson Seeds’ Bee Mixture for the AB1 option, farmers can deliver high-quality pollinator habitat that benefits both the environment and agricultural productivity.
