Wildflower and SFI seeding by drone
Wildflower margins, in-field strips, AB8 nectar mixes and herbal ley overseed — usually on parcels that are awkward, small, fragmented or shaped wrong for a power harrow and drill. The drone is a clean fit. Fly it in, walk away, claim the SFI payment.
How it differs from a drill
- Awkward parcels. Corners, headlands, in-field strips, irregular margins.
- Overseed without ploughing. Drop herb and legume species into an existing ley with no cultivation, no compaction, no destruction of the sward.
- Steep or soft ground. No tractor required.
Where it doesn't win: flat, accessible whole fields. A power harrow and drill at £60 to £100 per hectare gives a more reliable result on that ground because contact with the soil matters for wildflower establishment.
SFI economics
This is the service where the SFI maths works hardest. Using SFI 2024 published rates as worked examples:
- CAHL2 (winter bird food on arable): £853/ha/year (SFI 2024); SFI26 £648/ha.
- CSAM3 / CNUM1 (herbal leys): £382/ha/year (SFI 2024); SFI26 £224/ha.
- CNUM3 (legume fallow): £593/ha/year (SFI 2024); SFI26 £532/ha.
SFI is currently closed and reopens for SFI26 in 2026 in two windows. Always check the live gov.uk handbook before committing — rates and definitions are changing.
Pricing
Indicative drone wildflower rates are around £200 per hectare for small or awkward parcels. Larger, straightforward areas typically come in lower. Tell us your acreage and access and we'll come back with a firm number.
Common questions
Will it establish? Wildflower establishment from broadcast is more variable than from a drilled seedbed. The pilot can talk you through what they typically see for your soil type.
Can a herbal ley be overseeded? Yes — and it's one of the strongest drone use cases.