The enhancement of biodiversity is central to the philosophy of Conservation Grade™ farming, and each CG farm dedicates at least 10% of the farmed acreage to sowing and managing various specific habitats.
This scientifically determined range of dedicated wildlife habitats has been shown through research to guarantee increases in biodiversity and therefore play a major part in redressing the well-documented declines in farmland wildlife.

* ‘Other habitats’ can include woodland, hedgerows, water courses, ponds, etc. (further detail is shown in the CG Protocol)

Some of the required habitats may be part of agri-environment schemes and, providing they meet the Conservation Grade standards, they count towards the 10% requirement, while others may have to be established. Conservation Grade Farms identify lower yielding areas or land difficult to farm and use these areas to create the range of habitats. All habitats then require specific management in order to maintain the high quality standards necessary to comply with the Protocol

The habitats in detail:

1. Pollen and nectar – Grass and wildflower habitats

These habitats contain a diverse mixture of wildflower species and grasses. They are especially beneficial for insects requiring pollen and nectar to complete their life-cycles, and their predators.
The target species are butterflies, bumblebees, honeybees, hoverflies, spiders and beetles.
Grass and wildflower habitats must take up a minimum of 1.5% out of the 4% pollen and nectar area requirement. Areas can be in blocks or linear strips.

2. Pollen and nectar – Legume mixes

The flowers of many leguminous plants are known to be favoured by larger, highly-visible long-tongued insects (like bumblebees) which perform a vital pollinating role on farms.
These mixtures can contain up to four agricultural legume species (based on Red Clover) and can be grown alone or with some grasses.
The target species are butterflies, bumblebees and honey bees. These habitats should be a maximum of up to 2.5% of farmed area.
Areas can be in blocks or linear strips.
Legume habitats (+/- grass) should ideally be sown on south sides of hedges and field corners.

3. Winter bird food

Areas are sown annually or biennially with specific mixes containing cereals, annuals and biennials chosen for their high seed production.
These mixes produce seed during the winter to provide much needed food for birds that may otherwise starve during the winter months.
The target species are farmland birds such as Tree Sparrow, Yellowhammer, Linnet, Grey Partridge and Corn Bunting.
Wild bird food crops must make up 2.0% of the farmed area (or 1.5% if ACNR is adopted).
Each area should be no bigger than 2ha (small blocks spread around the farm are better than one big block) and can be in blocks or linear strips (minimum of 6m wide), ideally sited next to hedges and woodland.

4.Tussocky and fine Grass

A relatively simple mixture of tussock forming and/or fine grasses usually grown alongside hedges, woods and ditches.
This margin type is designed for animals requiring a dense, sheltered vegetation structure.
They provide an opportunity for nesting birds, overwintering beetles and bumblebees and are excellent for small mammals which in turn provide food for birds of prey, such as Barn Owls.
They provide a corridor for connecting up wildlife habitats around the farm. They can also provide an effective barrier to annual weeds moving from field boundaries into the field, and can protect sensitive habitats such as streams and hedgerows from agricultural inputs or management practices.
The target species are over-wintering invertebrates, nesting birds (such as Yellowhammer and Grey Partridge) and small mammals, (such as Harvest Mice and Hedgehogs), spiders and beetles.
Tussock and/or fine grass habitats must take up 2.0% of the farmed area.
At least 0.5% of the 2% must be of tussock grass mixtures.
The habitats can be in linear strips/margins (from 2m wide by 100m in length), tree islands and beetle banks. They can be sown in shaded areas such as north sides of hedges and woodland.

5. Annually cultivated natural regeneration

This habitat provides an opportunity for annual arable flora, some of which are amongst the rarest plants in the UK. Easy to create as the ground is simply cultivated each year and left.
The resultant vegetation is likely to vary from site to site, but there will usually be much bare earth, which should also benefit ground-dwelling invertebrates requiring a warm micro-climate.
The target species are annual flowering plants, bumblebees and ground beetles.
Annual plants of national and local rarity should be encouraged as a priority such as Corn Marigold, Prickly Poppy, Corn Buttercup and Shepherd’s Needle.
Natural regeneration habitats should take up a minimum of 0.5% of the farmed area, except where this type of habitat is inappropriate, in which case the area of wild bird food must be increased to 2%. Areas of natural regeneration should be a minimum of 6m wide.

6. Other habitats

The more habitats there are on a farm, the greater the wildlife diversity and numbers. This part of the Protocol is aimed at creating & managing a wider range of habitats including wetlands and ponds, hedgerows and broadleaved (or mixed) woodland.
These habitats provide an opportunity for a wide range of species.
They must take up an area equivalent to at least 2.0% of the farmed area.