Native Origin Irish Wildflower Seed Mixtures: SAC Range 

70% of seed volume collected direct from Donor sites on Special Areas of Conservation Meadows, the rest is nursery produced in Sandro's Artisan Collection from our national wildflower Collection of nursery grown species

Product Code:  SAC01 
Product Name: Sandro's Artisan Collection seed from SAC's -  Donor meadows we pay to protect and get seed from

Must be Autumn sown

This is a specific meadow mixture harvested from 5 SAC sites of mixed soil type.
SAC01 features species which will suppress grass, and create a very natural meadow.

Species List: SAC01 , = species determined by what grows in each meadow

the Base line species are Yellow Rattle, Eyebright, Red Bartsia, Ox-eye Daisy, Lesser Knapweed, Cowslip, Red Clover, Ribwort Plantain, Selfheal, Hawksbit, Ragged Robin, Yarrow, Ladies Bedstraw, White Clover, Bush Vetch, Yellow and Tufted Vetch, Sorrel and Field/meadow Buttercup. Birdsfoot Trefoil, Wild Carrot, Meadowsweet, Devilsbit Scabious, Field Scabious, Purple Loosestrife, Yellow Agrimony, Fleabane and Lesser Stitchwort. 

As our SAC's meadows are donor sites to our work, we also gather some unusual species such as Orchid spp, in small amounts may be present, this mixture contains about <3% native grass seeds and is ideal for Ecosystem Restoration Projects. These few grass show up in the meadow in year two, and then set seed two year later, allowing the flora to establish first.

Product Warning: While this mixture contains the seed of edible and herbal species, DBN recommend that this mixture is not for human or animal consumption.

Seed Mixture Specifications: 
Origin: Native Irish Origin, Wildflower Seed Mixture. 
Moisture Level: Normal, Moist.
pH range: Neutral, Best between 6.0 >7.0 with underlying lime or on moist to normal dry soil
Aspect: Sunny, and not shaded.
Morphology:
Life Cycle: Annual / Biennial / Perennial. 
Height Range: <30cm to >150cm 
Flowering Period:  March to July, then August to September.
Fertility Range: Will grow best in not very fertile, soil likes poor soil.
Wintergreen: Yes 
Fertiliser: None required 

Sowing Specification: As Normal, roll or rake into surface to keep out of reach from birds. 

Soil Preparation: Normal, create fine tilt on seed bed, if clay, ensure a fine tilt or press the seed into clean soil.
Optimum Sowing Time: Late spring, early autumn, when the soil is warm.

Sowing Conditions: Normal, if on new clay or sticky soil a little extra soil improvement will assist establishment
Sowing Method: By hand is recommended, if using seed spreaders be careful to insure the small varieties of seed do not drop to the bottom of the seed spreader and get sown all in the one place. 
Can be sown into short cut weak grass or fine grass, but not dense grass swards.

Seed Sowing Rates:
Normal sowing rate 'without added grass seed':1.5 gram per metre.
High sowing rate 'with added grass seed':  n/a
Low sowing rate: 1 gram per metre 

Grass seed or nurse crop requirement:

Nurse Crop: No nurse crop is required. 
Grass Seed Requirement: n/a, 
Sow with or without grasses: Either 
Where erosion may occur. Sow grass to assist. 

If sown without grasses: This mixture does not require a nurse crop. please ask

Seed Specification:  
Total number of seeds per gram: 2530
In normal conditions (mainly in early Autumn) this mix should germinate 6 weeks after sowing, from then on provided the sward is kept open and a 'Thatch' is not allowed develop, species will continue to germinate and emerge, through to the third year.
Up to 40% of all seed should germinate in the first year.
Up to 60% of all species should germinate in 24 months. 
Up to 90% of all species should have flowered by the fourth year after sowing.

Performance: 
Persistence if unmanaged: Low 
Tolerance of Cutting: Medium, do not cut below 10cm until late August, later if Devilsbit is still flowering
General Cutting Time: Do not cut in first year until flowers have finished, from then on, cut August or at the end of summer.
Specific Cutting Time: Must be cut once per year in Autumn. Harrow or Rake and remove the cuttings

Management: seek specific instructions

A General Description of SAC Range: 
SAC seed mixtures are harvested form natural ecologies that we farm to protect that ecology.
The SAC range is an exact copy of an Irish ecosystem representing floras that would otherwise take hundreds of years to develop if 'nature' was left unaided. 

This range of seed mixture is ideal for those concerned with encouraging wildlife and local biodiversity as the plants will attract species suited to the ecology. 
If these mixtures are suitable for your situation, they offer good value, contain some of the most exacting and unusual species and if given time, develop into a diverse flora that will persist if properly maintained.