August 2019...
To count as EFA in 2019 don't forget that your catch crops must be established by 20 August and retained until at least 14 October. Designed to protect the soil between harvest and sowing, the quick-growing catch crop is planted between the regular crop and can be grass or leguminous crops or a mixture, as long as they were undersown in the previous crop and will cover the ground by 20 Aug.
Silver-Y a day flying-moth
If you see a moth in the daytime buzzing around in low-growing wild or cultivated plants this month, it is likely to be a Silver-Y, so called sue to the small Y shaped mark on its forewings. This immigrant likes bedstraws, clovers, nettles, peas and runner beans. It breeds here every summer and can be seen until September.
Environmental Land Management System
A review of the progress made so far by Defra to develop the new ELMS for England has been undertaken by the National Audit Office. The new scheme will offer contractual agreements to farmers and landowners to produce environmental land management plans providing outcomes which will attract payments. Much of the detail has yet to be developed by Defra, for more see here. Countryside Stewardship is set to continue until 2024 while Basic Payments will start to reduce from 2021; the first ELMS pilots are lso planned for 2021.
Remember that Hedgerow and Tree cutting cannot take place until September 1st without derogation. Those in Countryside Stewardship need to ensure that only 50% of hedges are cut and that that the same hedge is only cut every 2-3 years. Light trimming is better than a heavy flail to encourage thick growth. Leave those that will bear berries and fruit until the last weeks of February, if possible, to provide food for birds and small mammals during the coldest winter months.
