[Fieldfare]

Hi all- still ruminating about how to manage our land in the next few years. We have about 7-ish acres. Have had another thought- what about
1) run sheep on all acres over winter (currently a breeding flock of 6)
2) Once spring comes strip graze 3 or 4 smaller paddocks on a rolling basis
3) Allow rest of grass to grow away, seed etc. Top weedy patches of thistles, pull any ragwort as necessary and try to get a bit of hay if possible.
4) I hope that my flock will have grown (plus a paddock of tup and young rams/wethers)
5) run rest of flock on the 'foggage' over winter (I have primitive sheep so I think good on this stuff?). I do have a small 'foggage' area that has not been grazed for 2 years and I'm 100% sure my sheep would clear it down and rejuvinate it (although would it be patchy and weed-seed prone?).

Does that sound daft? we are not commercial in any way and I have in the past had neighbours cows keeping the grass 'tidy' but feel now that I'd like to manage it all myself without the hassle of keeping my eyes on tree-eating, fence-pushing cows! (and also learn by trial and error how to manage the land). By doing this do I run the risk of ruining my pasture that an 'injection' of higher density, strip-grazing sheep won't cure?(I have not artificially fertilised/limed/sprayed in 6 years and now plan to pop some local wildflower species in). I also am thinking about wildlife so see my 'management plan' being friendly to wildife also?

What do others think about this plan? I suspect my fields will look 'untidy' at times and not a uniform bright green? Should this bother me?

Anyway- thanks in advance for your thoughts.

cheers

[waterhouse]

Since all the better qualified people haven't replied here's my thoughts. Half a dozen sheep on 7 acres won't make much impact though that rather depends on the quality of the land and the grass.  I'd certainly aim to strip graze it in the spring, but I'd get some soil samples taken to find out what you've got. 

Tidiness is best left to others.

[Odin]

Have you considered pigs ? I don't use animals for anything that I do with land because of the 24/7 requirements, however, if I were to consider any beast it would be pigs because of their foraging of the soil. 
Tidiness ?  Never finished, theres' always something to do.

[YorkshireLass]

What's the end result you're after?