The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Smallholding => Land Management => Topic started by: juliem on March 10, 2018, 11:39:18 pm

Title: Do moles improve drainage
Post by: juliem on March 10, 2018, 11:39:18 pm

My fields are a bit of mess again but I think I seem to have convinced myself that at least the moles are improving the drainage.
Am I in denial ?

Title: Re: Do moles improve drainage
Post by: Rupert the bear on March 10, 2018, 11:56:59 pm

yes and no, hope this helps  :D

seriously , I dont think the mole tunnels are effective drainage, too random in their route

Title: Re: Do moles improve drainage
Post by: bj_cardiff on March 11, 2018, 06:46:06 am

You may be thinking of a mole plough? Mole tunnels will just move the water to different places

Title: Re: Do moles improve drainage
Post by: Buttermilk on March 11, 2018, 07:21:38 am

Unfortunately moles like the dry ground so their tunnels stay above the water levels where possible.  I am sure that they do have some beneficial effects as long as the runs do not collapse and cause blockages, but I would not be relying upon them for my drainage.

Title: Re: Do moles improve drainage
Post by: Perris on March 11, 2018, 07:33:14 am

20+ years' experience says moles have done absolutely nothing to improve the drainage of my clayey patch - sorry! What they have done is create an absurdly uneven surface wherever they've gone, which is under most of it by now.

Title: Re: Do moles improve drainage
Post by: juliem on March 11, 2018, 07:49:02 pm

I have in recent years paid good money to eradicate moles from my pasture..but this year I've got just a couple and I am aware that they breed in April so perhaps a stitch in time etc.
They are lovely creatures ..interesting that the general public have not adopted them like rabbits (Beatrix Potter) and hedgehogs. .perhaps it's because we rarely see them.
Always curious how the National Trust control them?