Reclaiming Land

[JoeFo]

I have an area of about 3.5 acres which need reclaiming. It hasn’t been used for over 20 years. I intend to put sheep on it. It mainly comprises of heather, fir bushes, blackthorn and some wild trees. I intend to put sheep on it.

Does anyone have any advice? I am thinking of getting a machine in and then putting Typhon and grass seeds while spreading lime and nitrogen?

Any advice would be appreciated, thanks.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Is it dry

 

[Nearly]

In the future it could earn you more in its current state than keeping sheeps.

 

[Paddington]

Pigs will turn it over, dig out any bushes, manure the land before reseeding, you can also have some nice pork in a few months time.

 

[JoeFo]

Yes it is dry/rocky ground.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Yes it is dry/rocky ground.

Get the trash removed and plant some rape or turnips to clean it
You will need to get the soil tested
Dont plough it just spray with roundup and shallow cultivate

 

[TripleSix]

I'll sell you some pigs.
Born outside.
Can dig up anything

 

[Campani]

Will the work ever be financially viable? Whats the return on investment after reclaiming the land?

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Will the work ever be financially viable? Whats the return on investment after reclaiming the land?

If you owned a house would you let it rot to the ground , his return is on its value

 

[JoeFo]

I intend to get one of these

Probably not finically viable up front but long term should pay off.

 

[Kiwi Pete]

How long can you wait?
What's the likely return?

Anything that has been caused by a lack of grazing can be undone by grazing, sounds like it has simply been over-rested?
Call in the machines if you like, but at the end of the day if the sheep are going to be making the money, I'd use sheep, cattle, horses, goats, pigs first.

@hendrebc shared a cracking video of someone reclaiming land with horses earlier, simply by grazing the scrub properly as opposed to removing everything and paying to put it back again.

 

[hendrebc]

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Thanks, that's the one!
If you have the time, a far more sustainable way than spending a whole heap of money to achieve a lesser result.

 

[Hfd Cattle]

I have an area of about 3.5 acres which need reclaiming. It hasn’t been used for over 20 years. I intend to put sheep on it. It mainly comprises of heather, fir bushes, blackthorn and some wild trees. I intend to put sheep on it.

Does anyone have any advice? I am thinking of getting a machine in and then putting Typhon and grass seeds while spreading lime and nitrogen?

Any advice would be appreciated, thanks.

Pigs every time . Do it in small patches with electric fencing. You may need to dig up roots etc but the pigs will do a great job.

 

[Farmer Roy]

Thanks, that's the one!
If you have the time, a far more sustainable way than spending a whole heap of money to achieve a lesser result.

but that's America
& horses
that'll never work here
too wet
too dry
different weeds
different soil

nah, much better to spend lots of money on machines & diesel & chemicals & fertiliser & seeds & plough it all up & then bash it in to submission, do a proper job - that's what "real" farmers do

you greeny tree hugging types think its sooo easy don't you

 

[Kiwi Pete]

The land is a system, the further we choose to ignore that simple fact the more expensive and short-lived the gains will be.

Weeds are pioneers, that's all, same as the settlers that came here set it up for us, brushweeds and thistles and docks set it up for pasture.
Machines and chemicals set it up for more weeds, as they never had the chance to do their work.

 

[Hfd Cattle]

I intend to get one of these

Probably not finically viable up front but long term should pay off.

You will probably find more work around for the machine to help pay for it.

 

[Dry Rot]

Pigs every time . Do it in small patches with electric fencing. You may need to dig up roots etc but the pigs will do a great job.

...and then move on to your front lawn when they've done the field. Now, how do I know that?

 

[JoeFo]

The biggest problem is gaining access to the perimeter to fence. As it is overgrown with briars, trees etc it’s not possible to fence. My concerns is that if I were to leave sheep out in it they would get caught in briars etc

 

[Hfd Cattle]

...and then move on to your front lawn when they've done the field. Now, how do I know that?

That was how we did our garden .waited till the builders had finished then put a sow and 8 piglets in . They dug the garden and made a fairly good job of levelling !