The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Smallholding => Land Management => Topic started by: ScribbleUk on October 29, 2013, 07:14:27 pm

Title: Book Recommendation
Post by: ScribbleUk on October 29, 2013, 07:14:27 pm

Hi All,

We have a 2 acre field currently rented out for cutting which saves us some time not having to do it, however after we've paid to get the hedges cut each year it's hardly ever going to provide a retirement income!  So I was starting to think about other uses for the land.  Possibly planting some/a lot of trees, using the lower side that stays quite wet to create a mini-wetland, creating a meadow, etc.  Not really sure what to do, so was wondering if anyone has some bright ideas or could recommend a book that discusses various land management options to inspire me.

Ideas need to be relatively low maintenance due to lack of heavy machinery available to us, and income is obviously a bonus, but I suppose the real goal is simply to enjoy the space more than just as a regular grass field.

Thanks

Title: Re: Book Recommendation
Post by: pgkevet on November 05, 2013, 10:16:03 am

A huge question.
Primarily I suppose it depends on whether you need any change if usage to do different suff with it.
My predessesor had planted some screening trees to isolate a right of access aong one edge of the big filed by the house and made some fencing changes. having got away with it for longer than the required time local planning now accepts this as extended curtilage and I have a 2.5 acre 'garden' as well as the rest of my fields.
Where there is flexibility like that then the only limit is imagination and what you fancy: nuttery, orchards, soft fruit, polytunnels, open veggie patches, ornamentals, cut flower sales, free range hens, a cope fo lawn-mowing sheep; but you'll be fencing off the asparagus and strawberry beds...
Or cover the lot in solar panels...:-(