Perennial field margins for functional biodiversity in UK vegetable rotation schemes: establishment and resource provision

A five year project, introduced at the last IOBC Landscape Management for Functional Biodiversity meeting, is underway in the UK to build upon previous research to combine the biodiversity and pest-control benefits of perennial field margins. Key to the success of this project is the selection of a seed mix that provides multiple benefits in terms of promoting functional agro-biodiversity. This paper provides details of how the selected seed mix has performed over successive seasons in the UK with regard to plant establishment, flowering times and provision of aphids on flowering ‘banker plants’.