BFS 7 – Calcareous Grassland Wildflower Seed Mix

BFS 7 is a high diversity grassland seed mix of 30 UK native wildflowers and grasses, developed for low fertility, base rich chalk and limestone soils that are dry and free draining. It matches the lowland calcareous grassland communities CG1 to CG7, and is based mainly on the most widespread type, CG2.

This mix represents the species found in the habitat of principal importance “Lowland Calcareous Grassland”. Calcareous grasslands are normally low fertility habitats, maintained through low to moderate grazing by cattle, sheep, horses or rabbits. Depending on fertility, 1-3 cuts per year, timed with a break during the peak flowering season, can also help maintain the sward.

The short turf and warm ground suit butterflies that associate with ants, such as the Adonis blue and Chalkhill blue, whose larvae feed on horseshoe vetch. Birds associated with this habitat include Stonechat, Meadow Pipit and Skylark.

• Suitable NVC communities: CG1, CG2, CG3, CG4, CG5, CG6, CG7
• Sowing rate: 5g/m²
• Contains: wildflowers 20% (21 species), grasses 80% (9 species)

Please note: all seeds specified in this mixture are subject to availability at the time of purchase.

Species in the BFS 7 mix

Wildflowers:

• 5% Achillea millefolium (Yarrow)
• 7% Centaurea nigra (Black Knapweed)
• 7% Centaurea scabiosa (Greater Knapweed)
• 1% Clinopodium vulgare (Wild Basil)
• 6% Daucus carota (Wild Carrot)
• 2% Filipendula vulgaris (Dropwort)
• 8% Galium verum (Lady’s Bedstraw)
• 9% Knautia arvensis (Field Scabious)
• 2% Leontodon hispidus (Rough Hawkbit)
• 6% Leucanthemum vulgare (Oxeye Daisy)
• 6% Lotus corniculatus (Common Birdsfoot Trefoil)
• 1% Origamum vulgare (Wild Marjoram)
• 6% Plantago media (Hoary Plantain)
• 1% Primula veris (Cowslip)
• 8% Prunella vulgaris (Selfheal)
• 6% Ranunculus acris (Meadow Buttercup)
• 7% Ranunculus bulbosus (Bulbous Buttercup)
• 1% Reseda lutea (Wild Mignonette)
• 3% Salvia verbenaca (Wild Clary)
• 3% Scabiosa columbaria (Small Scabious)
• 5% Sanguisorba minor (Salad Burnet)

Grasses:

• 4% Agrostis capillaris (Common Bent)
• 3% Briza maxima (Quaking Grass)
• 5% Bromus erectus (Upright Brome)
• 28% Cynosurus cristatus (Crested Dogstail)
• 30% Festuca ovina (Sheep’s Fescue)
• 20% Festuca rubra (Red Fescue)
• 2% Koeleria macrantha (Crested Hair-Grass)
• 4% Phleum bertolonii (Small Timothy)
• 4% Trisetum flavescens (Yellow Oat Grass)