Woodland Ride Seed Mixes

Having had a bare patch of earth on the lawn and no grass, I thought it would be an ideal opportunity to try out the Bright’s Seed Deer Grazer Mix. This seed mix contains Amelia Vetch, Choice Chicory, Buckwheat, and Alberobello crimson Clover. It was planted in late March and grew really well with very little tilling and seed bed maintenance. Once established the insect life was significantly more ‘busier’ than the surrounding ‘lawn’ area. What was particularly interesting was how the Choice Chicory appeared to thrive in the very hot conditions when the grasses and other flora where deminished.

Whilst diversionary feeding has mixed success as part of deer management strategy, with hotter and more drought like conditions forecast to be more frequent, perhaps this seed mix may do well as part of an adaptive management approach to woodland rides and deer lawns where the intention is to promote natural regeneration of trees and shrubs in the nearby area, and also support other deer management objectives. The benefits to the wider ecosystem management would need further research to quantify the value added if any, but may be worth a go.

Some of the photos below where taken of the flowers and plants in May and the burnt grass comparison was taken in August after the second of the heat waves.