At Bright Seeds, we’re proud to offer a diverse range of wild bird seed mixtures carefully designed to support both game birds and the many farmland bird species that call the UK countryside home.
Our mixtures – which have been popular on shoots and farms for several decades – not only provide critical feed and cover but also help improve biodiversity, benefiting insects and other wildlife. In this short guide, we’ll spotlight six of our top-performing mixtures: Pheasant & Finch, Easy Grow, Grass Buster, Grey Partridge, Broad Buster, and Autumn Promise.
CAHL2 | AHL2 | AB9 2 YEAR Winter Bird Food Seed (SFI)
The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) CAHL2, AHL2 and AB9 Countryside Stewardship (Winter Bird Food) has been created to help diverse habitats by adding plant species to create positive nesting habitats for farmland birds but also for other farmland wildlife.
The following wild bird seed mixtures that we discuss are all compliant.
1. Pheasant & Finch
Our Pheasant & Finch wild bird seed mixture is a fantastic all-round option for feeding and habitat provision. It offers excellent annual feed value and can provide cover for up to two years if managed well. Key ingredients like grain sorghum act as structural anchors, keeping the crop upright during harsh winter months, while the inclusion of flowering species like sunflowers and phacelia enhances insect activity through the summer — ideal for chick food.
- Key Elements: Grain sorghum (structure), flowering species (insect support), kale (second-year structure).
- Best Locations: Works beautifully along hedgerows and arable field margins, especially when drilled between May and mid-June.
- Benefits: Provides cover and feed for game birds like pheasants, while supporting farmland birds such as finches and buntings.
Due to the initial popularity of our Pheasant & Finch mixture, we developed a full Pheasant & Finch range. This includes –
- Radical Pheasant & Finch – An annual one-year version of the standard wild bird seed mixture, using fodder radish in place of kale. Fodder Radish is a good alternative in areas where kale struggles, and it also means the mix can be used has a ‘clubroot break’.
- Wildflower Pheasant & Finch – All the benefits of the standard mixture but with the added value of colourful flowering species. Not only does this look attractive throughout the summer, but the nectar producing flowers help assist a wide variety of pollinating insects.
- Highland Pheasant & Finch – Our Pheasant & Finch version for a little further north, with certain elements of the standard mix not reaching their full potential in cooler climates. A two-year mix.
2. Easy Grow
Easy Grow works well as a functional and aesthetically pleasing cover crop. This strong annual mix features sorghum for structure, sunflowers for colour and feed, and a mix of protein-rich seeds ideal for small farmland birds.
- Key Elements: Sorghum, sunflowers, millet.
- Best Locations: Prefers sunny, warm areas with good soil temperatures. Best suited for rotation with brassica or two-year mixes.
- Benefits: Supports game birds and farmland species alike, providing vital protein and energy. Plus, it’s easy on the eye!
3. Grass Buster
If grass weeds are a persistent issue, Grass Buster is your go-to mix. It combines annual and bi-annual brassicas and is available with or without chicory — which helps extend its cover into a strong second year. It’s also ideal for managing grass weeds with integrated pre- and post-emergence spray plans.
- Key Elements: Brassicas (cover), chicory (second-year persistence).
- Best Locations: Avoid wet, low-lying fields. Ideal for fields needing grass weed control.
- Benefits: Excellent winter cover for game birds and late-season feed for farmland birds while supporting field hygiene. Spray-safe.
4. Grey Partridge
Designed with the iconic Grey Partridge in mind, this mixture leans heavily on kale and includes both annual and bi-annual species alongside cereals. This makes it a great choice for areas targeting partridge recovery or enhancement.
Kale offers good cover from avian predators, whilst linseed and gold of pleasure produce heavy seed heads relatively low to the ground, within reach of game birds.
- Key Elements: High kale content, cereals, annual & bi-annual species.
- Best Locations: Versatile across most farmland, particularly effective in wider conservation headlands.
- Benefits: Tailored to grey partridges but beneficial to a host of farmland and game birds.
5. Broad Buster
Broad Buster is specifically designed for fields battling with broadleaf weed (BLW) problems.
It has been designed primarily to enable the grower to use post-emergent herbicides to control broad-leaf weeds. The herbicides used can also be used on maize, so this mix is often used alongside a crop of game cover maize.
- Key Elements: Sorghum (structure), annual species (feed).
- Best Locations: Areas with known BLW issues.
- Benefits: Combines weed control with quality game cover and valuable seed sources for farmland birds.
6. Autumn Promise
When early-season droughts (or other issues) challenge spring-sown mixes, Autumn Promise steps in. Sown later in the season (July to early August), it features quick-growing brassicas like Utopia and seed-producing buckwheat, it’s also effective at deterring flea beetle.
- Key Elements: Utopia, buckwheat.
- Best Locations: Fields following winter barley or wheat harvests; perfect for expanding game cover before spring cropping.
- Benefits: Boosts late-season cover and feed availability, extending habitat benefits for both game and farmland birds.
Wild Bird Seed Mixtures Supporting Your Birds and Your Land
Each of the Bright Seeds wild bird seed mixtures above offer distinct advantages depending on your field conditions, bird species focus, and rotation plans. Whether you’re supporting the recovery of grey partridges, improving game cover for pheasants, or helping small farmland birds thrive, our tailored solutions deliver both environmental benefits and sporting benefits.
For tailored and more specific advice on our range of wild bird seed mixtures, game cover and other conservation cropping, please contact our expert team where the office, or our regional advisors, will be able to help plan your strategy!