[Creagan]

Just thought I would say hello, we have just moved onto a croft which hasn't carried stock in a very long time. Lots of work to do including getting my head around the grants system, planting some trees and putting up fencing. Hoping to get some answers to my queries...
Happy smallholding everyone

[SallyintNorth]

How exciting!  Congratulations, looking forward to hearing from you as you progress.  And any questions - ask away, there's almost always someone here knows something to help.

[Bionic]

Hello and welcome from Carmarthenshire 

[Wee Eck]

Hi there & welcome from Lennoxtown
 
Sounds like quite a bit of hard work in store for you but sure  you will see the benefits

                Eck 

[Creagan]

Thanks for the welcome!

[Rosemary]

Hello and welcome from  Carnoustie 

Whereabouts is your bog and heather?

[Creagan]

Hi again, we're in Skye. Have lived here for a wee while but only recently got the croft.
Absolutely beautiful over here just now- fantastic time of year to take the place on, wildlife everywhere.

[Lesley Silvester]

  welcome from Shropshire. Visited Skye many years ago and always promised myself another visit. Sounds like you've a lot of work on your hands but what a great way to get/keep fit. Looking forward to progress reports.

[Hamish Crofter]

I know just how you feel. I'm in the same situation with a croft on Skye.
Good luck!

[sabrina]

Hi and welcome. Willow trees should help you with your bog.

[Creagan]

Hi and welcome. Willow trees should help you with your bog.

That is the plan- all the lower and boggier patches of ground I intend to plant with willow- shame it's too late for this year, but on the plus side I've got plenty of time to prepare the ground and source the cuttings. I'm also keeping all my dog food bags to use as weed mats

I'd like to branch out (no pun intended...) and plant a variety of other species too, e.g. rowan, birch, scots pine, ash (resistant variety?), hazel, and perhaps some others. I was hoping I might be eligible for some sort of grants towards this but apparently not, unless I plant my entire croft, as there is a minimum of 2ha required.

[spandit]

Alder and pear both like damp ground. Have a look around to see what species are growing locally - you might be able to get some seedlings

[SallyintNorth]

I shall post my usual plea to new crofters/smallholders to do a little research before planting trees and/or draining bogs.

If the bog is an active peat bog then it is environmentally important, and locks up more carbon per square metre than it would if it were planted with trees.  It also, once you understand how these bogs work, is a fascinating and beautiful landscape at your feet.

If you plant it up you will destroy it forever.

You can plant trees most places.  You can't create peat bog.


There's bound to be a local ecologist will give you some advice.

[Creagan]

Thanks for the advice, but tbh I am probably overstating the case a bit calling it a bog. Technically, the soil is not peat and does not have standing water anywhere, so it probably isn't a real bog. It just looks like one to me!! More heather and rushes than grass.
In the long term I would like to be producing my own fuelwood hence keen to get on with planting.

[SallyintNorth]

Peat bogs don't always have standing water...  but usually won't have rushes, no.