Reclaiming hill ground

[Andy84]

Just curious Has anyone seen or know of anyone improving hill grazing by cultivation, liming out heather etc or is it a thing of the past with new environmental schemes etc?

 

[Yale]

Nothing stopping hill land being improved by liming however if the area is ecologically sensitive or you are in a scheme then ploughing is going to be out.

I’d say lime,maybe try a different grazing pattern,heavier stocking in a rotation then if it suits,some glyphosate and direct drill in either a brassica break crop or a grass mix.....if allowed.

Edit,if it’s thick heather then it’s going to be a challenge.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

End of headage payments and a change to environmental payments seemed to put a stop to it

 

[Cowlife]

We improved a bit years ago with nothing more than a coat of slurry every year. Heather disappeared v quick and then over a few years the grass type improved and clover appeared.

 

[Cowlife]

We improved a bit years ago with nothing more than a coat of slurry every year. Heather disappeared v quick and then over a few years the grass type improved and clover appeared.

Edit. it never got lime

 

[Nithsdale]

Just curious Has anyone seen or know of anyone improving hill grazing by cultivation, liming out heather etc or is it a thing of the past with new environmental schemes etc?

Where are you?

If you claim/are paid subs on the land, improvement of Region 2 or 3 ground in Scotland is forbidden

 

[Crex]

Where are you?

If you claim/are paid subs on the land, improvement of Region 2 or 3 ground in Scotland is forbidden

That is not true. You potentially need to apply for a EIA to get approval first.

 

[Nithsdale]

That is not true. You potentially need to apply for a EIA to get approval first.

Scotgov don't want you to reclaim land. Just like you can't remove dykes - even if they're ruined.


I should know, sister in law works for SGRPID

 

[Crex]

Scotgov don't want you to reclaim land. Just like you can't remove dykes - even if they're ruined.


I should know, sister in law works for SGRPID

It is still not true. You can do it. You need permission first. Maybe it's your sister in law that is rejecting applications in your area?

 

[Nithsdale]

It is still not true. You can do it. You need permission first. Maybe it's your sister in law that is rejecting applications in your area?

That isn't her job. (her attitude is crack on, just don't get caught )


Like many things, you can ask permission - but they are reluctant to grant it.
They've no issue if you improve ground by grazing alone, but they don't like any form of cultivation

 

[Skintagain]

That isn't her job. (her attitude is crack on, just don't get caught )


Like many things, you can ask permission - but they are reluctant to grant it.
They've no issue if you improve ground by grazing alone, but they don't like any form of cultivation

Can’t you say sheep had driven tractor?

 

[Bones]

No point in reclaiming ground, unless your have a way of feeding it 3 or 4 times a year, lime, hens dung, pigs dung , if you don't do this it will turn into something worse than it was before

 

[Skintagain]

Small upland dairy farms did wonders for marginal land claiming a bit back each year then feeding it well. Makes very good land if you work it.

They have all gone around here now and looking around shows it. When I was a kid it was a sea of green fields 2 cuts of silage per year and plenty of muck kept it in good fettle. Tractors buzzing around everywhere with 6 tonne silage trailers. Sheep and horses now bloody criminal really.

 

[egbert]

Just curious Has anyone seen or know of anyone improving hill grazing by cultivation, liming out heather etc or is it a thing of the past with new environmental schemes etc?

don't what your situation, or motivation, is.
but it's extremely unlikely that improving hill ground right now would put you in a place to earn more from it.
Take the enviro shilling....when it's available, admittedly.

 

[Skintagain]

don't what your situation, or motivation, is.
but it's extremely unlikely that improving hill ground right now would put you in a place to earn more from it.
Take the enviro shilling....when it's available, admittedly.

A lot of pride in turning some land round well spent time and money if you ever sell too. Feral enviro land doesn’t float my boat.

 

[egbert]

A lot of pride in turning some land round well spent time and money if you ever sell too. Feral enviro land doesn’t float my boat.

Oh I'm with you there...but there's also a small amount of pride in taking the enviro shilling on the hill, and investing it in substantial chunks of lowland real estate!

 

[Bones]

My father reclaimed ground in the eighties , all grant aided, but it still doesn't graze any more animals than before , I remember it was full of hares, curlews, snip, and the ewes loved the heather, now white grass, fog and rushes,never done spraying , and trying to feed it

 

[livestock 1]

Best thing to do with hill ground is lime it and put some phosphate on

 

[glasshouse]

Just curious Has anyone seen or know of anyone improving hill grazing by cultivation, liming out heather etc or is it a thing of the past with new environmental schemes etc?

Pigs

 

[Coximus]

I cant name the gentleman as he had some trouble from a local parish council - Googlemaps in the niddledale area shows some neat green reclaimed areas. One was done with pigs in the 80's and limed twice the pigs working it in, The chaps son has done sweet FA since and its turning into rough pasture with some molinia and rush but is still 10x better than the heather on all 4 sides.
Another block was simply brought by a suckler farmer, lime, lathered in muck and sheep for a few years starting in 2005. Nothing mechanical as its in an ANAOB and also popular rambling country - and nosey neighbour escape to the country land.
The land now yeilds silage and good aftermath sheep grazing and is constantly improving .