[spandit]

Our top paddock has been infested with moles. Haven't seen any new hills for a while and it's been so wet that I'm hoping they've left (or drowned - we had water pouring out of some of the hills). Went round today with a bucket full of willow rods (about 200) and stuck one in each hill, which are more like small patches of bare soil. We ran out of rods before hills and seeing as the willow was free, if most of them fail it's not a disaster.

I'm gambling on the fact that the grass has been killed off by the earth piled on top of it. The rabbits seem to be dying out too, due to mixy, I think so the fact they're not protected shouldn't be so much of an issue

[JulieWall]

We get lots of moles too and wherever they have been the weed seeds are turned up to the surface so thistles and docks grow there next year.
There are two ways of looking at it. You can tear your hair out and rant, lay traps knowing that even if you kill the mole a new one will just move into it's territory and start again ........
Or....
Say to yourself, we must have a lot of worms so our soil must be good and great, lots of natural land drains!
 Our sheep like to lie on the molehills because the dark earth is warm, which flattens them anyway, and I dig out any thistles which appear and add the tops to the compost heap. Thistles and docks are deep mineral accumulators because their tap roots harvest goodies from deep down. If you use the plant as compost you are harvesting all that goodness for your garden. If you dig them out when they are small they are no effort to lift.
Imo, fighting nature is a waste of my energy, it's better to make it work for you.
Good luck whatever you decide 

[Louise Gaunt]

We have many moles too, in the soft, soggy bits of the field my heels keep sinking into collapsing runs, but they are acting as extra drainage channels in the very wet weather we have had the last few days. I find a new little fountain every day! I am hoping it is so wet the little devils will move to higher ground!

[Stereo]

Unless you want to cut for hay / silage, I think you should see them as a benefit. They are excellent for drainage as said. Plus if you want topsoil for planters etc, they dig up nice clean heaps for you to harvest.

[spandit]

Haven't seen any activity further up but not too worried. As mentioned, they do help drain/turn the soil and it's so full of weeds/rushes anyway that a few more won't make a massive difference

[Bodger]

I've seen fields where the grass available to livestock has been significantly reduced by the sheer amount of spoil hills  per acre.

[spandit]

I've seen fields where the grass available to livestock has been significantly reduced by the sheer amount of spoil hills  per acre.

I can believe it

[jaykay]

That's the situation in my fields - crazy numbers.

[JulieWall]

For some reason they seem to burst into action at this time of year, does anyone know why that is?

[Big Light]

Last year We used the heaps to put a bit of herbal lay or clover seeds in the fields the herbal lay has a few varieties with anthelmic properties the lack of competition allowed good generation and is a good way to improve pasture on a small scale