The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Smallholding => Land Management => Topic started by: babysham on February 27, 2015, 04:05:17 pm

Title: Rushes - cycle of
Post by: babysham on February 27, 2015, 04:05:17 pm

Hello  :wave:

We have a field overgrown with rushes which we keep topping and have an Exmoor Pony grazing with the sheep but have also had loads overgrowing a stream in another field. This field and stream never had any rushes when we moved here over 30 years ago - (in fact it was a fantastic paddling stream but no more). I have noticed rushes taking over elsewhere in the locality. My question is - rushes have always been around so as there were none when we moved here years ago does this mean there never has been or is there a cycle? Thanks everyone. ???

Title: Re: Rushes - cycle of
Post by: clydesdaleclopper on February 27, 2015, 06:55:54 pm

Probably the previous management of the other field kept them in check before you had it. Once the management and conditions changed then they spread.

Title: Re: Rushes - cycle of
Post by: SallyintNorth on February 27, 2015, 08:21:47 pm

Farmers in England mostly have to sign up to environmental schemes in order to get enough subsidy to run their farms.

The environment schemes like reshes more than they like livestock  ::)

Coupled with increasingly wetter weather, especially in terms of wetter, milder winters, we're pretty close to telling people we 'farm reshes'!

Title: Re: Rushes - cycle of
Post by: babysham on February 28, 2015, 09:38:38 am

We have dug them out and even used the digger to dig the whole stream. We are on a stewardship and they came and did a land check last year and were very happy so you are right Sally - Rushe farming maybe the way forward!!!!