[Fieldfare]

Hi all- need a bit of advice. Decided to get a sickle bar mower (2-wheel). Anyone got anyone got any ideas of decent model to go for? (would like a 4 foot cut if possible but the only one I can find is a BCS machine at about £3K!). I have seen the Alko brand which seem quite a bit cheaper. Should I be looking at a 2-wheel tractor instead which might offer me more options?

I need it for;
1)   Rough mowing of meadow on steep-ish bank and in an orchard. Maybe 2 cuts a year? About 1 acre.
2)   Topping of creeping thistles in patches before they seed- and taking this for emergency hay or mulch- maybe 1 acre total and a couple of cuts of the worst patches?
3)   Cutting for hay on 3 acres.

It obviously needs to be self -propelled, robust reasonably fast and easy to use.

Where is the best place to buy one. Online?

Any thoughts would be gratefully received!

Thanks

[robert waddell]

get youself an Allen scythe and buy a piece of British history  and be a collector as well

[Small Farmer]

...and enjoy many an hour trying to start the brute.  Great machines though when they go, just wear steel toecaps

[Moleskins]

How about an alpine tractor , Goldoni or similar?

[Thebarber]

I bought a BCS this year for the same reason, it's does the job great but I'm looking for alternatives now as we've got 7acres and it's a bit tedious.