Many of today’s crops grown on arable farms don't provide food or habitat for farmland birds. Modern chemicals remove broad leaved weeds that offer food and cover for birds and destroy insect attracting flowers. Insecticides treatments on crops kill insects necessary to feed young chicks.

Small areas of our farm fields are sown with a mixture of seed-bearing plants to provide food, cover and -to a lesser extent- nesting materials for many wild birds. It is re-sown every two years.

We have linnets and reed buntings at Hunting Hall and we hope the seed rich cereals, kale and quinoa will ensure the survival of these farmland birds.
A bright yellowhammer may feed here and we found that house sparrows benefit from this winter source of food.

The seed mixture also provides cover for game birds. There are usually many pheasants in the tall stalks during the winter and we have seen an increase in grey partridge on the farm.