The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Community => Introduce yourself => Topic started by: Marlin.45 on October 11, 2014, 04:08:22 pm
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Hi there, new member here. :farmer:
We bought a house with a reasonable chunk of pasture land for what we plan to do (6 acres) in March of this year in Llangadog, Carmarthenshire on the north side of the Brecons. Love the location, except for the rain over the past week ;) We have relocated from Salisbury Plain and wanted somewhere for the other halfs dobbins and to raise our daughter somewhere even more rural. The Hawks out of Valley generate a similar environment to the military activity over SPTA, so I feel quite at home (just less small-arms fire) :thumbsup:
So far we have installed SWMBO's three horses, 8 chickens and not much else, initially. Hopefully 2-4 sheep next year to bring on for meat. But it's all new to us and we haven't much of a clue where to start with paperwork. Any advice would be gratefully received. Apparently the land has a holding number but I don't know where to go to find it and then 'transfer', if applicable?
The land is bordered by a host of hardwood (oak/beech) which has yielded a few tonnes of firewood to season for next year. The plot is broken up into four roughly equal sized fields. The two top fields we have allocated to hay pasture and regular topping and harrowing has seen them improve over the past few months. Drainage will need fettling though. This summer these two fields yielded 400 small bales but the contractor cost came in at £500. Next year I will get a tedder which will drop that cost somewhat (we had one here but 'accidentally' sold it :innocent: ).
Equipment wise we bought a '61 MF35 3 pot diesel which is big enough for what we need but needs a few oil leaks fixing over the winter. Sump and rocker gasket then crank seal. We haggled on a 4ft topper/5ft chain harrow/6ft ring roller and fert spreader as part of the house deal (plus the tedder than SWMBO sold).
Paul & Lou
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Hello and welcome :wave: My god daugher lives in Tenby :)
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Hello from Devon :wave: Hope this forum gives you all the advice and support you need :)
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Cheers both :wave:
Yep we look forward to some useful advice and I can maybe assist in some areas too :thinking:
Paul
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Hi, we must be very near to you as we live between Llansadwrn and Talley. I go to the film club and choir practice in Llangadog and OH is the secretary of East Carmarthen Beekeppers which also hold their meetings in Llangadog.
Most things that you want you can get from Carmarthen Animal Health. Look them up on line. I found them very helpful when we moved here.
We have 6 sheep, some chickens and ducks, a dog and cat.
Yes, it's been raining a lot the last few days but we have had a beautiful summer so can't complain.
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Hello and welcome from Carnoustie :wave:
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:wave: and welcome from Shropshire. We had a holiday down your way in July. Lovely area.
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Hello Paul and Lou
welcome to the forum
Give your local Animal Health dept a call as you will need your own CPH number as the old registered one is registered to former owner (is my understanding? sure Welsh rules same as English on this?) and then you'll need a flock/herd number for any 4 legged stock you bring in ( obviously not the horses but more your sheep when you have them) AH should send you out loads of bumph to read through, most of which is fairly easy to grasp but there's lots of people on here who will, I'm sure, help with any ambiguous stuff.
When we started 5 years ago we were clueless, we've developed a bit along the way but be prepared for a bit of a rollercoaster ride - most of its fun and rewarding though ;D
Lisa
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Hello Paul and Lou
welcome to the forum
Give your local Animal Health dept a call as you will need your own CPH number as the old registered one is registered to former owner (is my understanding? sure Welsh rules same as English on this?) and then you'll need a flock/herd number for any 4 legged stock you bring in ( obviously not the horses but more your sheep when you have them) AH should send you out loads of bumph to read through, most of which is fairly easy to grasp but there's lots of people on here who will, I'm sure, help with any ambiguous stuff.
When we started 5 years ago we were clueless, we've developed a bit along the way but be prepared for a bit of a rollercoaster ride - most of its fun and rewarding though ;D
Lisa
Cheers 'Plums' called AH Carms and they put me over to the Welsh Gov office in Cardiff who have the docs on their way to me so we can apply for a new number :)
Hi, we must be very near to you as we live between Llansadwrn and Talley. I go to the film club and choir practice in Llangadog and OH is the secretary of East Carmarthen Beekeppers which also hold their meetings in Llangadog.
Most things that you want you can get from Carmarthen Animal Health. Look them up on line. I found them very helpful when we moved here.
We have 6 sheep, some chickens and ducks, a dog and cat.
Yes, it's been raining a lot the last few days but we have had a beautiful summer so can't complain.
Hi Bionic,
Llangadog, Ashfield up from the Compass roundabout. Yes very close. We don't go to any of the local clubs and only get into the village for the daughter to go to Cylch, shops, Goose & Cuckoo :yum: Oh and my sneaky trips to the Telegraph Diner LOL.
We had a couple of hives here when we moved in but had them relocated to the New Forest to a friend of a friend so they could enjoy a change of scenery. I think the PO was a member of the ECB?
I agree it has been a brilliant summer and I only switched from shorts a couple of weeks ago :innocent:
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Hello and congratulations on your move.
I'm in Caerphilly, but teach courses for smallholders in Monmouthshire. If you have any specific queries, feel free to send me a PM.
All the best
Liz
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Hi ....I'm also in Talley. Been here almost 2 years and now have 5 cows, 16 ewes, 3 rams and 14 ewe lambs, hens and ducks. Think ducks are most suited to this weather! Think your hay was very good Value at just over £1 a bale.....
I have been trying to organise a Carmarthenshire smallholders get together for Nov...... But not had too. Many replies. Interested?
Linda
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Give your local Animal Health dept a call as you will need your own CPH number as the old registered one is registered to former owner (is my understanding? sure Welsh rules same as English on this?)
The CPH (County/Parish/Holding) number belongs to the holding not the person residing there.
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FWIW, when I moved in I checked with Animal Health on whether I could just update the registry and use the existing CPH from the previous owner, but Animal Health issued me a new one instead. It was easy and fast. (I'm in Wales).
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I was the same as Thyme. There was already a CPH no here but AH said I needed one of my own. I am in Wales too.
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Hi ....I'm also in Talley. Been here almost 2 years and now have 5 cows, 16 ewes, 3 rams and 14 ewe lambs, hens and ducks. Think ducks are most suited to this weather! Think your hay was very good Value at just over £1 a bale.....
I have been trying to organise a Carmarthenshire smallholders get together for Nov...... But not had too. Many replies. Interested?
Linda
We are. I did message on the other thread but I don't get on here too often probably best to mail me via the forum if that is possible? I will send you my email via a PM anyway.
Paul
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I was the same as Thyme. There was already a CPH no here but AH said I needed one of my own. I am in Wales too.
That's what I have been told too. The existing one was no use apparently so I am 'in the system' to get a new one. 3 weeks so far :thinking: