ACRES Scheme - Grass Margins - Arable (1 acre pack)

ACRES Scheme - Grass Margins - Arable (1 acre pack) is a mix that is designed to provide a habitat for pollinators, support wider biodiversity including nesting birds. Cutting once a year after 31 August - 15 January - No livestock allowed.

What does ACRES Scheme - Grass Margins - Arable (1 acre pack) contain?

Cocksfoot:
This is a very persistent grass that grows relatively slowly during the sowing year, in the second and years after it is very vigorous. Cocksfoot begins to grow early on in the spring, regrowth once cut consists mostly of leafy palatable shoots. Summertime growth is important. Cocksfoot is winter hardy and drought tolerant, early types are used for conservation whereas late types are fantastic for grazing.

Timothy: 
Grows well in wet and peaty soils and has superior winter hardness.

Red Clover 
Tap root structure is less persistent under tight grazing but is more aggressive growth and N fixation in year of establishment. Red Clover swards are high in protein and normally expect 60% to be true protein. Red Clover silage will usually have a crude protein content of 15-20%. It is highly digestible and highly palatable leading to high intake.

Grass Margins - Arable

Objective
To provide a habitat for pollinators, support wider biodiversity including ground nesting birds like Grey partridge, and to help protect water quality from nutrient and sediment run off. 

Background
Severe declines in biodiversity have been well documented for many groups including plants, invertebrates, birds, and mammals due to intensification of agricultural practices. The creation of grass margins in an arable setting provides an important habitat which acts as a refuge for wildlife and a corridor to help connect habitats across a landscape. These grass margins can also play a role in protecting water quality by reducing nutrient load, intercepting nutrients and sediment runoff, and slowing overland flow.

Site suitability

1. This action should not be chosen on species rich semi-natural grassland fields.
2. It may be selected along a field boundary or, in large arable fields, a grass margin down the middle is recommended to help populations of beneficial predatory arthropods.
3. In landscapes where Grey Partridge is a conservation target, establishing strips of winter bird food side by side with this action provides the food and safe nesting habitat this species critically needs.
4. As a watercourse protection measure, a field margin appropriately placed along a flow delivery path in addition to selecting a Riparian buffer strip closer to the watercourse may be more beneficial.
5. Arable grass margins and Grey Partridge Grass Nesting Margins established in GLAS already benefit from a significant reduction in nutrients and increased botanical diversity. Where possible these should be retained. 

Actions that can be selected on the same LPIS or split of parcel are:
Barn Owl nest box, Coppicing of hedgerows, Laying of hedgerows, Planting a new hedgerow, Planting a traditional orchard, Protection and maintenance of archaeological monuments arable, Riparian buffer strip arable, Traditional dry stone wall maintenance, Tree planting, Unharvested cereal headlands, Winter bird food strip.

Requirements

1. Establish either a 3, 4, 6, or 8 metre grass margin before 31 August 2023 by sowing a suitable seed mix as outlined below. Only one margin width can be selected acrossthe holding. To be eligible for this action, the minimum continuous length to be delivered is 10m. If selected as a priority action, the minimum length to be delivered is 500m. The maximum length for payment is 2,500m.

2. The location and length (metres) must be identified on the LPIS parcel(s) and marked on the map submitted. The margin(s) must remain in the same location for the duration of the contract.

3. Sow a seed mix outlined in Table 1 below at a rate of 15kg/ha (1.5g/m2 ).

4. Soil cultivation cannot be carried out within the margin once established.

5. The margin must be managed annually - it can be mulched or mown but this management must only take place after 31 August and before 15 January. Livestock are not permitted to access the margin. Where livestock are present, the arable grass margin(s) must be protected using a fence that is fit for purpose.

6. Chemical or organic fertiliser or lime cannot be applied to the margin.

7. Pesticides and herbicides are not permitted, except for the spot treatment of noxious/invasive weeds.

8. Field margins established under the former GLAS Arable Grass Margin action and Grass Nesting Margin established under the GLAS Grey Partridge Action can continue to be managed under the new ACRES scheme and must not be ploughed to re- establish a new margin. The margins must be over-sown with the grass mix in Table 1 below and managed as above. 

Additional guidance

• Where margins are cut, it is recommended to remove offtakes.
• Wide margins on a few target fields across the farm is better than narrow margins on all fields. Wider field margins support a greater abundance of biodiversity.
• Where being considered as a watercourse protection measure, it is recommended to place the measure in an area that intercepts a high risk PIP-P overland delivery flow path. The EPA PIP-P maps should be used to help identify any potential flow paths.
• Sunny, south facing margins are best for pollinators however some north facing margins are important as hibernation sites, so consider providing both.
• Avoid sites that have persistent weed problems, are shady, are remote or difficult for you to access and manage or sites used for regular machinery access, turning or storage.

Delivery Information

Delivery Service

Here at Agridirect we have joined forces with DPD to ensure all packages are delivered promptly and safely to you. We ship to all mainland countries within the EU. Deliveries take place Monday to Friday excluding bank holidays. Once your order has been dispatched from our warehouse you will be notified by email. If there is a delay with your order for any reason you will be contacted immediately. 

Due to Brexit we are temporarily unable to ship to the UK. Shipping to Northern Ireland will remain in place.

Delivery Times

Some products have an extended delivery time, this is noted on the products.

Delivery Rates

A selection of the products we sell are only licensed for sale within the Republic Of Ireland and can not be shipped outside of the country. These products are noted as only being available within the Republic of Ireland on the individual product pages.

There may be an addition charge on certain bulky items. This charge will be clearly marked on an applicable products and will be explained on the checkout page before payment has been made.

Agridirect Returns Policy

We’re sorry your purchase didn’t work out. But don’t worry; we have a great returns policy to help you out.

All purchases can be returned to us within 14 days of delivery and returned goods must be received within 14 days from the date you informed us of the return.

Purchases may be opened for inspection but must not be used and must be repackaged securely in the original packaging if you wish to return it.

If we discover goods have been used or there has been a loss in value of the goods due to damage to the goods, while in your care or whilst being returned to us, we will reduce the amount refunded, which may amount to the full cost of the product, to cover loss of value of goods.

All returns should be complete which includes boxes, manuals and accessories that may have been included with the order.

All returns must be packaged appropriately for shipping, we will not accept responsibility for damages or loss which occur during shipping of a return product.

We accept no responsibility for goods damaged or lost while in transit to us. 

How do I return a product?

We have partnered with DPD to make your returns process easy and secure. simply follow the steps below and bring your package to an official DPD pickup point.

1) All returns must be accompanied with a fully filled out returns form which can be downloaded here.

2) To print off your return label click here or visit www.dpd.ie/returns and follow the on-screen instructions. Make sure and use your order number as your reference.

• Select “Continue as Guest”
• Select “Agridirect” from the drop-down menu
• Select your reason for returning
• Select the size of the package you wish to return
• Accept DPD’s terms and conditions
• Fill in your payment details
• Fill in your own details
• Follow the instructions to print off your label

3) Bring your package to a DPD pickup point. To find your nearest drop off point here.

Once the returned product has been received into our warehouse and been fully inspected a refund will be issued.

If you choose not to use the DPD returns service we recommend that you use a method that can be tracked.

For the return of bulk products please contact us at sales@agridirect.ie

I have received a damaged product from you, what should I do?

First off, if you have received a damaged electrical product from us, do not plug it in. Any electrical products that are plugged in are deemed ‘as used and accepted’ and are not accepted as returns. All damages must be reported to us via phone or email within 24hours of receipt of goods. Please ensure you check your items upon delivery.

How do I begin the returns process?

If you wish to begin the return process, please email us at sales@agridirect.ie and ensure the following information is included in your email. Your name, phone number, Order id, the item you wish to return, reason for return and if the product is damaged we require photos of the product.

Once you have sent us all required information a member of our team will assess your claim and will contact you as soon as possible. Please hold off on returning products until a member of our team has called you to confirm.

Refunds

Once the returned product has been returned to us and fully inspected a refund will be issued.

Please Note: A typical timeline for a refund to show in your account is up to 10 working days from the date processed, depending on your bank.