AHL2: Winter Bird Food on Arable & Horticultural Land — What It Is
What is AHL2?
AHL2 is an action in the SFI 2023 scheme where farmers establish and maintain blocks or strips of winter bird food on arable or horticultural land. The goal is to supply small seeds from late autumn to late winter for small farmland birds.
- You must sow a mix of at least 6 crop species to ensure a continuous seed supply.
- Some crops are excluded (such as maize, miscanthus, artichokes, sweet clover, reed canary grass, tic beans, giant/intermediate sorghum) because they do not provide suitable small seeds.
- After establishment, the winter bird food blocks or strips must be maintained so they continue to produce seeds.
- This action is rotational: you can keep the same field year after year or shift the location among eligible land.
How Much Can You Be Paid?
- The payment rate is £853 per hectare per year for this action.
- Because AHL2 is considered a “limited area” action, the total area you enter into AHL2 (or equivalent limited-area actions) cannot exceed 25% of your agricultural area under your SFI agreement.
When & How to Sow AHL2
When to Sow:
- You must establish the winter bird food mix within the first 12 months of your SFI agreement.
- For annual mixes, you typically aim for sowing early enough so the plants flower before late summer. Many guides suggest completion before the end of June.
- For 2-year mixes, you must maintain the strip across two winters.
How to Sow & Manage:
- Use a seed mix with at least 6 species that produce small seeds.
- Maintain the strip so that the seed production continues. That may include re-sowing parts, controlling weeds, and avoiding too much disturbance
- You must not use the winter bird food area for vehicle access, turning, storage, or intensive operations.
Why AHL2 Matters: Environmental & Agronomic Benefits
- Wildlife support: The small seeds provide crucial food for finches, buntings, sparrows, and other birds during the “hungry gap.”
- Insect & pollinator benefit: The flowering of these plants in summer supports insects, pollinators, and natural pest predators.
- Soil & ecosystem health: Maintaining fallow strips or mixed species plantings helps reduce erosion, improves soil structure, and encourages biodiversity.
Yet, despite these advantages, many farmers struggle to implement AHL2 because of the uncertainty, record-keeping burden, and changing rules.
What Evidence You Need for AHL2
To prove you’ve met AHL2 requirements, you’ll need:
- Field operations records at parcel level (sowing, re-sowing, management)
- Invoices for seed or materials used
- Photographs showing the established bird food strips and their condition over winter
- Maps or GIS showing the location, width, and block pattern of strips
- Evidence of maintenance (weed control, reseeding)
JustFarm Advantage:
You can upload all these documents, maps, photos, and invoices directly into the platform. JustFarm tracks what’s missing (based on a percentage progress indicator) and highlights gaps. When inspections or declarations arrive, your evidence is already organised and audit-ready.
Common Questions (and Clarifications)
- Can you move your strips each year? Yes — AHL2 is rotational, so you can change locations across your eligible fields.
- Can you use a 2-year mix? Yes — but you need to maintain it across two winters and ensure seed production.
- Is SSSI consent required? Yes — if your fields overlap with SSSIs, you must get SSSI consent before you proceed.
- Can other actions coexist on the same land? Yes — some SFI actions like SAM1, IPM1, IPM3, IPM4, NUM1 might be compatible. Also, some Countryside Stewardship options are compatible if timing permits.
How JustFarm Makes AHL2 Simpler and Lower Risk
- Shows your fields’ land cover and existing subsidies so you know which are eligible
- Highlights when new actions open or change — so you’re never caught off-guard
- Tracks your evidence upload progress and flags missing items
- Lets you upload photos, invoices, maps directly in the field using mobile or desktop
- Generates audit-ready reports automatically when needed
- Helps you plan so that when SFI updates or new opportunities arise, you can act immediately
Take Action: Be Ready Today
Don’t wait until the last moment. With scheme rules shifting and action windows tightening, only those who are prepared will succeed.
Sign up for JustFarm now — get alerts when subsidy actions open or change, build your evidence ahead of time, and make AHL2 audit-ready from day one.