WILBIR: Wild Bird Seed for Farmland Birds

What is this option?

This management option benefits farmland birds by creating blocks or strips of seed-bearing crop mixtures grown under low-input management. These provide grubs and insects for farmland birds during summer, then seed and cover for birds during winter and spring.

What do I need to do?

Each spring, you must create and manage a crop with a seed mixture which must include at least three small seed-bearing crops to include both a cereal and an oil-rich crop (e.g. oats, triticale, barley, quinoa, linseed, millet, mustard, fodder radish)
The blocks or strips must be at least six metres wide
Do not harvest, graze, plough or cultivate the area before 1 March following the year of establishment
Do not spray, except for the spot-treatment of injurious weeds (requires prior written notification) or treatment of invasive species (requires prior written approval)
You must maintain a diary

Payment

£322.63 per hectare per year, subject to maximum claims:

Five hectares per year per location code unit of up to 250 hectares
10 hectares per year per location code unit of greater than 250 hectares
You can claim for up to two hectares per block or strip per contract

Essential capital item required: You must also claim the Creation of Wild Bird Seed for Farmland Birds capital item each year.

Where is this available?

This option is available throughout Scotland.

Flexibility

This option can be moved around the farm within the normal rotation on an annual basis. You can manage a different total hectarage each year as long as the area you manage is at least 90% and no more than 100% of the area planned in the first year.

How to apply

Applications are made through Rural Payments and Services (RP&S). You must be registered with RP&S to apply.

Application deadlines for 2026:

Agri-Environment applications: 23 February to 22 June
Combined applications with Organics: 23 February to 22 June

You must identify on a map the locations of any areas to be managed under this option each year.

Visit the AECS scheme page for full application guidance.

Who can help

Rural Payments and Inspections Division (RPID) - scheme administration and application guidance
NatureScot - environmental advice and endorsements where required
Farmwalk - digital farm mapping and environmental compliance support

For specific guidance on this option, contact your local RPID office.