The Hungry Gap is a challenging period for farmland birds, when natural seed and food resources can become harder to find during the winter and early spring. Providing supplementary winter bird food can help maintain a reliable source of food through this period.
For farmers managing environmental schemes, AHW2 and AB12 supplementary winter bird food provide specific requirements for establishing winter food provision. Choosing an appropriate seed mix, planning feeding areas and ensuring sufficient food is available throughout the Hungry Gap are all important considerations.
In this guide, we talk with Arthur Barraclough, Director at Bright Seeds. He explains what the Hungry Gap means for farmland birds, what supplementary winter bird food involves and how the Winterkeep Full Mix and Winterkeep Pre Mix can be used as part of an AHW2|AB12 winter feeding programme and the action scheme costs applied.
What is the Hungry Gap?
The Hungry Gap refers to a period during the winter and early spring when natural food resources for farmland birds can become scarce.
While seed-producing crops, weeds and other plants may have provided food during the autumn, these resources can become depleted as winter progresses. At the same time, cold and wet conditions can make it more difficult for birds to find food.
For seed-eating farmland birds, maintaining access to suitable food during this period is therefore an important part of wider farmland habitat management.
Under the Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026 (SFI26), the AHW2: Supplementary Winter Bird Food action provides a payment of £732 per tonne per year, with a maximum of 1 tonne of supplementary winter bird food for every 2 hectares of winter bird food established under CAHL2.
Source: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) and Rural Payments Agency (RPA), AHW2: Supplementary winter bird food (updated for SFI26), GOV.UK.
When is the Hungry Gap?
From December through to April, although the availability of natural food varies depending on location, weather, crops and habitat management.
This makes winter planning particularly important. Food provision needs to extend far enough into the spring to help bridge the period between diminishing winter seed supplies and the availability of new natural food sources.
Why provide supplementary winter bird food?
Supplementary winter bird food provides an additional source of seed for farmland birds when natural food resources are limited.
Winter-feeding can provide:
- A reliable supply of food during the winter and early spring.
- A mixture of cereal and small seeds suitable for seed-eating farmland birds.
- Additional food provision alongside other wildlife-friendly habitats.
- Support for environmental scheme objectives where supplementary winter bird food is required.
Supplementary feeding should be considered as part of a wider approach to farmland bird management, alongside habitats such as hedgerows, wild bird seed areas, overwintered crops and other seed-rich habitats.
AHW2 / AB12 Supplementary Winter Bird Food
For farmers working with AHW2 | AB12 Supplementary Winter Bird Food, choosing a suitable seed mixture is an important part of planning.
For farmers looking for practical seed options, Bright Seeds’ Winterkeep range includes both a ready-made full mix and a pre-mix option.
The required composition is 70% cereals and 30% small non-cereal seeds, with at least three specified small-seed species. Always check the latest scheme guidance before purchasing or establishing a mix.
Winterkeep Full Mix
AHW2 Supplementary Feeding
Winterkeep Full Mix is a ready-made supplementary winter bird food mixture, providing a convenient option for farmers who want a complete blend without having to formulate the final mixture themselves.
It combines cereals with small seeds to provide a varied winter food source.
Winterkeep Pre Mix
Winterkeep Pre Mix provides the small-seed component, allowing it to be combined with suitable cereals already available on the farm.
This can be a useful option for farmers who have their own cereal supply and want greater flexibility when preparing their winter bird food mixture.
The choice between a full mix and pre-mix will ultimately depend on what you have available, how you want to manage your seed and the practical requirements of your farm.
Getting the most from your winter bird food provision
Once your supplementary winter bird food is in place, regular monitoring can help ensure that provision remains effective throughout the season. Consider the location of feeding areas carefully. Birds need to be able to access the food safely, while the area should also be practical for farmers to reach.
Checking feeding areas regularly can help identify how quickly seed is being consumed, particularly if usage increases during cold weather. Keeping an eye on consumption also provides useful information for future planning and gives insight into building a better understanding of how much seed is required and when demand is likely to be at its highest.
Looking beyond the Hungry Gap
Supplementary feeding will help provide food during the Hungry Gap, but supporting farmland birds is about more than winter feeding alone.
A wider approach to
can provide food and shelter at different times of the year. Hedgerows, wild bird seed mixtures, winter stubbles, field margins and other wildlife-friendly habitats can all contribute to a more varied farm environment.
When combining supplementary winter bird food with a long-term habitat plan, we can collectively help create landscapes that provide habitat and feed resource for farmland birds across the seasons.
For further information or advice on choosing the best Winter Supplementary Feed Mix for your farm, Contact Bright Seeds on 01722 744494 or email sales@brightseeds.co.uk
Explore our Full Range of Supplementary Winter Bird Food – Bright Seeds