Reclaiming land

[FlintD]

I'm considering buying a block of land but around 20 acres is very rough upland; bracken, brambles, gorse, rushes/hillocks, trees. Not much grass. All on a steep slope. Any ideas on how possible this is to turn it into adequate upland grazing for sheep? Has anyone reclaimed similar abandoned land?

 

[glasshouse]

Remote controll tractor with topper

 

[FlintD]

?

 

[goodevans]

McConnell robocut

 

[deleted user 837354]

Digger and a root rake.

 

[spin cycle]

to quote a famous forum member....'swan vestas'

 

[Goweresque]

How about fencing it and sticking a flock of goats on it? They'll eat anything. Or stick pigs on it, if they can manage the slope, they'll rip everything to b*ggery and maybe you can reseed after that. Just be aware that any overly mechanical attempt to improve 'high environmental value' land (which is what an overgrown mess is called these days) will probably attract the attention of the eco-brigade, and a mountain of woe may descend upon you in the form of an army of clipboard wielding tw&ts.

 

[steveR]

Neighbour has put a small bunch (flock?) of Soays on some adjoining rough land. It's been interesting seeing them in action, browsing everything, much like goats.

Leccy fence after the animals have been trained inside a paddock with a secure fence and electric on the inside...

Good demand for goat meat too...

 

[jellybean]

I have been doing exactly that for the last few weeks. About 11- 12 acres in 2 blocks both sides of a stream. Doesn't belong to me so I am getting paid to do it. A lot was cleared up last year using an alpine tractor and a flail mower, that was the easy bits where there was gorse up to 12 feet high with loads of bracken too. This year we have a 17 ton digger in to pull out trees, put in some drains and dig a pond. It is spice of land adjoining mine that I would have liked to buy some years ago but when it was sold 2 years ago I felt that although I probably had enough money to buy it, I wouldn't have enough to do the necessary work and at 70 I didn't feel like tackling it. But here I am anyway, doing the work and really enjoying it, and somebody else pays the bills.
A digger with a land clearance rake would be ideal for taking out all the gorse stems and various other roots but I don't have one. I cannot seem to find one for hire either. I have chisel ploughed one of the slopes which does bring up all the stuff that needs collecting and burning; tedious work but has to be done.

 

[Steevo]

I'd certainly look to use livestock if possible....better yet if someone else's livestock!!

 

[deleted user 837354]

I would do something to 'improve' it first, if anyone complains you have a digger on it, tell them their ain't no special species because you've been spraying and fertilising and whatever-ing this field for years.

 

[Exfarmer]

Pigs will very quickly move any soil there is, from the top to the bottom of the plot

 

[FlintD]

Thanks for the ideas everyone given me stuff to think on. It is fenced around. There are some old sheepfolds so thinking that might help with the anti-grazer brigade. Would definitely be a fair amount of work so have to consider if it is worth the buy. Im thinking the first thing might be to get a digger in to tackle the trees and the worst of the bush and then go for the goats. Sounding like its more possible than I thought which is good

 

[Goweresque]

Thanks for the ideas everyone given me stuff to think on. It is fenced around. There are some old sheepfolds so thinking that might help with the anti-grazer brigade. Would definitely be a fair amount of work so have to consider if it is worth the buy. Im thinking the first thing might be to get a digger in to tackle the trees and the worst of the bush and then go for the goats. Sounding like its more possible than I thought which is good

If you claim BPS be careful uprooting anything in the 'off season' for nesting birds - you're not supposed to cut so much as a twig between 1st March and 31st Aug under cross compliance rules.

 

[FlintD]

Not claimed atm but good to know if I do in the future thanks

 

[pappuller]

I'm considering buying a block of land but around 20 acres is very rough upland; bracken, brambles, gorse, rushes/hillocks, trees. Not much grass. All on a steep slope. Any ideas on how possible this is to turn it into adequate upland grazing for sheep? Has anyone reclaimed similar abandoned land?

Cat d6

 

[Dry Rot]

A viisit to the local old people's home might be an idea to find out why no one else has used it.

I nearly bought three acres of "derelict" land before I discover it was where they buried a load of scrap after the war.

Anthrax?

 

[deleted user 837354]

A viisit to the local old people's home might be an idea to find out why no one else has used it.

I nearly bought three acres of "derelict" land before I discover it was where they buried a load of scrap after the war.

Anthrax?

Anthrax- they buried all the villagers that got the plague there.

 

[Banana Bar]

I have been doing exactly that for the last few weeks. About 11- 12 acres in 2 blocks both sides of a stream. Doesn't belong to me so I am getting paid to do it. A lot was cleared up last year using an alpine tractor and a flail mower, that was the easy bits where there was gorse up to 12 feet high with loads of bracken too. This year we have a 17 ton digger in to pull out trees, put in some drains and dig a pond. It is spice of land adjoining mine that I would have liked to buy some years ago but when it was sold 2 years ago I felt that although I probably had enough money to buy it, I wouldn't have enough to do the necessary work and at 70 I didn't feel like tackling it. But here I am anyway, doing the work and really enjoying it, and somebody else pays the bills.
A digger with a land clearance rake would be ideal for taking out all the gorse stems and various other roots but I don't have one. I cannot seem to find one for hire either. I have chisel ploughed one of the slopes which does bring up all the stuff that needs collecting and burning; tedious work but has to be done.

Buy one and hire it out when you’re done if there’s nothing hire at the moment

 

[michael N123]

Old Howard spikerator

actually while it’s currently very dry swan vestas