Note: The most up to date specifications are available on the dedicated ACRES / ACRES CP website under Non Productive Investments – Click Link Here
NPI Wild Bird Cover Strips
Provide mixed crops as habitat and food source for insects, birds and small mammals. Good hunting opportunities for Barn Owls and Hen Harriers.
Why?
1. Plant a 9m wide strip of Wild Bird Cover along an existing field boundary
2. Leave 2m unsown between the crop and the boundary
3. Don’t plant near watercourses.
4. Crop must remain in place until at least March 1st the following year.
5. Not suitable for peatland or scrub/ woodland fields or near archaeological monuments.
6. Include at least 1 cereal crop and at least two other crop species from the approved list.
7. Protect the crop from livestock
8. No use of herbicides post planting.
9. You can apply small quantities of granulated lime and fertiliser to support the crop
For the full details on requirements for this action you should read the Dept. of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s Specifications for Non Productive Investments. You can find them by clicking here.
Implementation Notes
Can I put a Wild Bird Cover strip beside a river?
– Yes, once it is at least 6m from the top of the bank, if you are in a Freshwater Pearl Mussel area or in a High Water Status area the distance must be greater than 12m.
Why should I not put a Wild Bird Cover strip along a road or near houses?
– These locations are unsuitable due to the danger to birds from traffic and the nuisance to residents from rodents.
What seed mix should I use?
– At least one or more of these cereals: spring oats/ triticale/wheat/barley and At least two or more of the following: linseed, oil-seed rape, phacelia, fodder radish, mustard, spring vetch, lucerne, chicory, or birds-foot trefoil.
I am in the Organic Scheme, can I avail of this NPI?
– Yes you can but no pesticides or chemical fertiliser can be used. The site would need to be ploughed as herbicides cannot be used for pre sowing sward destruction. In an organic system you should only use the site once for this NPI before returning it to grassland. You can of course use a different site the following year.