[ToTheManorBorn]

Hi everyone

Amazing website and forum!! I've been an avid reader for the last two or three years as we planned and budgeted for our move. It always has the best info and advice.

We moved on to a 16 acre smallholding in the High Weald just over a year ago. We have permanent grassland, a small wood, a pond and a stream, all of which we plan to manage with conservation and wildlife as a priority. This winter we planted 100 M25 cider apple trees in a 'traditional' orchard layout as the first part of a long term plan to make juice and cider. We now have a mid-tier countryside stewardship agreement including an organic conversion option.

Currently the non-humans only number four hens and a dog but we are giving cows and sheep serious thought at the moment - I think 'grassland management' will probably be the subject of my next post. Oh, and we managed to get a biomass boiler installed just before the RHI deadline and hope to be self-sufficient in logs for a few years.... possibly the topic of another post.

All the best
Simon

[Fleecewife]

Hello and welcome from Scotland 

[Rosemary]

Sounds like a good plan!Welcome from  btu very, very windy Carnoustie.
If you're thinking about cattle, please consider Shetlands.

[ToTheManorBorn]

Thanks for the welcomes.
Yes, Shetlands would certainly be on the (small and hardy) shortlist. I haven't seen a local herd though. Off to our local Heathfield Show tomorrow to absorb as much expertise as possible

[Rosemary]

Thanks for the welcomes.
Yes, Shetlands would certainly be on the (small and hardy) shortlist. I haven't seen a local herd though. Off to our local Heathfield Show tomorrow to absorb as much expertise as possible

Best thing to do is contact the Shetland Cattle Herd Book Society - they have some area reps and I think there is one in Sussex. They can put you in touch with local breeders and most Shetland breeders are happy to talk ad nauseam about the breed.

[Penninehillbilly]

Welcome Simon,
Sounds like you are giving things careful thought before jumping in, and your place sounds wonderful.
Have you though of sheep grazing your orchard? Or the traditional geese to keep scrumpers off  (though I think if anyone has a bite of a cider apple they wouldn't bother again?  [size=78%])[/size]

[ToTheManorBorn]

Welcome Simon,
Sounds like you are giving things careful thought before jumping in, and your place sounds wonderful.
Have you though of sheep grazing your orchard? Or the traditional geese to keep scrumpers off  (though I think if anyone has a bite of a cider apple they wouldn't bother again?  [size=78%])[/size]

Hello. Yes! Longer term vision is to graze the orchard, so it will be pruned so that branches form from 5 or 6 feet. Currently, they are only protected with stakes and 5' plastic deer mesh which apparently isn't sheep proof. It would be possible to rig up some electric fence so that sheep can graze in the 'aisles' but it's probably a bit of a faff. I like geese ... but the rest of the family weren't keen!