[escapedtothecountry]

I don't want animals as I just done have the time to give to them somitbreally wouldn't be fair. I already have enough space formgrowingbplants and veggies etc etc... So I have been pondering what to do withnaboutb1 acre of totally flat paddock (bar the holes made by rabbits) as it seems pointless me having to mow the grass every few weeks.


I've been really pleased with the 600 or so willow rods I've previously planted so my thoughts are plant it out with more as a good source of fuel for the wood burner, plus giving me the opportunity to sell willo rods. Or perhaps plant lts of Xmas trees as they will look after themselves and seemingly sell for £10 a foot in our neck if the woods at Xmas.




Any other thoughts or ideas?

[lachlanandmarcus]

Those are good ideas altho Xmas trees are vulnerable to theft, the lot can go in a night so bear that in mind. Also consider fruit trees to maybe make juice or cider?

[doganjo]

Pick your own blackcurrants. redcurrants/whitecurrants? 

Strawberries (backbreaking) and raspberries are susceptible to diseases/beasties, gooseberries not so popular and would need to be a non prickly kind.

[escapedtothecountry]

Rabbits may be an issue with pick your own soft fruit..... Along with all the pigeons as we a surrounded by conifers where they nest. Never contemplated people pinching Xmas trees! Willow may be the answer then.

[ellied]

I'd plant a small mixed orchard, eating and cooking apples, plums, pears, damsons and have an area for soft fruit too and a large rhubarb in the corners! 

Not for people to come in and pick, but to eat, make preserves and sell in both forms.  Fresh juice too in the mornings

[doganjo]

Don't think bunnies can climb blackcurrants bushes but I may be wrong 

The problem with making stuff to sell these days is there are all sorts of hygiene restrictions and regulations.

Nevertheless, you have lost of ideas here to think about - Keep us up to date on what you decide.

[escapedtothecountry]

Can't climb but can easily chew straight through all the stems at the bottom. Hence why every single thinkmive planted I terms of saplings or my willow... (Over 1000 pla gs in total) have each required a rabbit guard.

[in the hills]

They like raspberry bushes too  .


Willow sounds good.

[escapedtothecountry]

That's my favourite thought so far. Rabbits a big problem here.... Plus all my soft fruit has to be under netting so this doesn't work for me on a larger scale.

[spandit]

Can't climb but can easily chew straight through all the stems at the bottom. Hence why every single thinkmive planted I terms of saplings or my willow... (Over 1000 pla gs in total) have each required a rabbit guard.

What rabbit guards did you use? I'm looking at spirals but even at 20p each it's a big investment for planting several thousand trees...

[escapedtothecountry]

Spiral ones.... Can't remember where I got them... Off the Internet somewhere.... Will,try to track den who I bought them from. Yes not cheap, but would have been very upset if the rabbits decimated what I'd planted.

[ShaunP]

Even if you plant trees the grass needs cutting!!!! I have 7500 trees on 2.5acres and would not want to be without my Shropshire sheep!!

[shygirl]

what about a wildlife pond? ours is about an acre in size and has an island. we have a little rowing boat and its a bit of fun.

[spandit]

Even if you plant trees the grass needs cutting!!!! I have 7500 trees on 2.5acres and would not want to be without my Shropshire sheep!!

Did you plant all those? How long did it take?

[spandit]

what about a wildlife pond? ours is about an acre in size and has an island. we have a little rowing boat and its a bit of fun.

That's something I'd like to do too - what did you do with all the spoil? Can you post a picture?