[melholly]

Hello to you all,

We've just bought our first bit of small land to call our own! It's paddocked off and well secured around the perimeter however we wish to put a steel access gate in between our neighbours and ours field. I have a pond there too that I need someone to put a 'fox proof' fence around. Trouble is, a) we are new to area b) not sure where to start! There seems to be commercial 'fencers' but all seems a bit dramatic (and expensive) for what I need. Can anyone help? I'm based just North of Lewes, East Sussex.

Many thanks Mx

[Nina]

Have you any friendly farming neighbours - If they can't help then they should know someone who can - Or alternatively invest in a post bumper (manual way of putting in posts if you've a strong person to do so - And very useful!) and do it yourself...

[melholly]

ooooh thanks Nina - a post bumper sounds interesting! I'm a weakling but can always put the man to task!  Just in the process of 'meeting the neighbours' there's a good farm I'm hopeful will be knowledgable but most other land round here is sort of owned but not really visited and it's mainly woodland so even trickier to find people!

Am getting there - just slowly!!!

Mx

[Fleecewife]

Fencing tends to be an ongoing project around the smallholding so it's well worth learning how to do it - properly !  First bit is to observe - both the local style and what works and what doesn't.  If you have good fencing already then copy that. Maybe someone on here is going to put up some fencing and you could go and help - hands on is the best way to learn.  If not, there are books etc out there to tell you what equipment to use and how to make a good strong fence, or put in a gate.  First efforts might not be perfect but we have found it's better to be self reliant than always waiting for someone else to come and do jobs for you.

[oaklandspigs]

Fleecewife is right - fencing is ongoing, and contractors frequently let you down, and aren't available for that important repair.

It is actually quite easy to do yourself, and you can hire in the kit to get it right.

First I would suggest you invest in a book on fencing

The following page lists several that all look quite useful (am not recommending any as I have not read them)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Guide-Stock-Fencing-Andy-Radford/dp/1861265417

To put in a gate you will need hanging post, catch post &  gate (obvious really, but always assume no knowledge)
Easiest is to get all three as metal, and with hanging post "hangers" already on.  Buy all three from the same place as the space between hinges varies with every manufacturer.

McVeigh Parker are good in you/our area

http://www.mcveighparker.com/mcvp_store/index.php?_a=viewCat&catId=88
http://www.mcveighparker.com/mcvp_store/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=298

I would go for a gate with a D shutting and auto catch post, easier than a spring loaded and slot.

Hire a post hole boarer
eg http://www.aplant.com/catalogue.aspx?id1=111015

Just make sure you have two strong people, and drill vertically  - old rule applies measure twice cut once, - honestly it is dead easy, and hinges adjust for small errors !

Insert posts, add postcrete (from any good diy) leave 48 hours, hang gate, job done!

To fence, consult the book !

oh and when you need your pigs, let us know !!

[melholly]

wow!

you are all so kind with taking the time to reply! Thank you! I'm all ears, happy to learn and unashamed to say I'm an utter novice (except with thoroughbreds!! Not for this smallholder anymore though!)

I completely understand how important fencing is - part of our land has a fence but the huge hawthorn and bramble hedge missing - exposing us to an incredibly busy main road. In fact damage was caused when a car ditched there during the ice last winter.

Thanks again

Mx

[lachlanandmarcus]

If you want to get a head start, by far the best books for fencing/ponds/etc are the BCTV ones. They are especially hot on clear and detailed diagrams and also on the legals (because they are written for conservation workgroups who work a lot on places with public access)

All of the stuff is available online, tho you can also purchase them. They are absolutely brilliant.
Just click on whichever one you need, the fencing one is the link below

http://handbooks.btcv.org.uk/handbooks/index/book/109

Good luck!

[Fergie]

I can second lachlanandmarcus, since I also have a copy of the BCTV book by Elizabeth Agate and find it very well written.

Fencing needs at least two people and some basic equipment such as a mell or post rammer, fencing pliers & a "fencing monkey" to tension the fencing.  It's not too technical, although it can be hard work.

John

[Sylvia]

I would suggest electric poultry netting to safeguard your ducks.