[Hugo]

I have just been offered a field for free but not guaranteed to have it for a certain period of time so could ask me to leave at any point, its 3 acres. Sadly, it has no fencing but is a great field due to 5mins from my house. What is the cheapest and easiest fencing method to remove it if they ask for the field back?

Thank you for your help.

Hugo

[pharnorth]

I have a field that has stock netting on two sides and on the other two I have 3 strands of electric fence.  The two sides on electric fence also have a ditch round which is some deterrent to wandering off but also is reasonable distance from any road and I am able to get it on mains electric which is a great help and with my small Ryeland flock it has proved adequate. There are plenty of farmers round here using 3 wire electric on battery with store lambs in the spring often with only wire between them and busy roads but the key seems to be making sure they have plenty to eat so no cause to wander.

[lars64]

We've used 3 wire electric for strip grazing with pretty good success, BUT in my experience there is often one lamb that just won't respect it. Earlier this year it was a Ryeland ewe lamb, one of a small number we bought in. The fence was fine, tested 5K volts on all lines but she would just push straight through. I even took the clippers and trimmed her ears and head (you know how wooly Rylands are round there) so there was good lamb to wire contact. Nothing, it was like she couldn't feel anything. Lush grass on her side of the fence, she just wanted out. A couple of years ago it was a Kerry Hill tup lamb. Of course, he was first for the freezer.

Anyway, my point is, if you want foolproof bite the bullet and go for stock fencing. With a bit of work and a farm jack (OK, a LOT of work), you could move it away with you. If you plan to go down that route, using gripple Ts on H strainers might be a good idea and don't bang the staples in all the way on the posts (bad idea anyway). Not that I've been spending all my "spare" time fencing this last few months or anything...

[Penninehillbilly]

I would agree stock fence, erected with the knowledge it may have to be removed, so only bang staples right in at the ends where it needs tightening, don't know what to suggest about posts, knock right in for stability or not right in for easy removal ?
Do you think they are hoping you will fence it and then kick you off and they keep the fencing ?

[bazzais]

Its often known that people will let fields go for free - for free fencing in return, then relinquish the offer before the investment for the fencing is 'paid off'.

I would never use electric fencing as my sheep, tried it once.  They didnt learn or, well, learned the hard way. Shame as its not a lesson you can take to the 'other side'.

How windy is it?  - you can get rolls of debris netting pretty cheap, you still have to bash in the stakes but it may work?

[Penninehillbilly]

Its often known that people will let fields go for free - for free fencing in return, then relinquish the offer before the investment for the fencing is 'paid off'.

I would never use electric fencing as my sheep, tried it once.  They didnt learn or, well, learned the hard way. Shame as its not a lesson you can take to the 'other side'.

How windy is it?  - you can get rolls of debris netting pretty cheap, you still have to bash in the stakes but it may work?

Debris netting sounds a good idea, maybe put electric fence round the inside ?

I've found my sheep totally trussed up in electric fence wire a few times, a couple of times when tenant left some behind, a couple of times when battery had run down. Luckily in all cases I found them in time.