[Backinwellies]

Charge people to come and shoot rabbits?? 

[john and helen]

Not having any land yet , don't really put me in a good place to answer, and seeing as you don't want animals and already have enough ground to plant veg and plants ,its hard to come up with a good answer..

i have been looking into many ventures for when we get our place..one idea i came up with is the christmas package.. 1 x tree 1x turkey and all the christmas veg inc home made stuffing,

i guess the willow option sounds like your best bet.... i guess rabbit fencing would be a big expense

[Backinwellies]

Like your Christmas Idea John

[spandit]

The difficulty with rabbit fencing as I see it is that you've got to be pretty confident that there are no rabbits inside the perimeter, which in rough grassland might be a bit difficult. I also don't know how deep they're prepared to dig but I'd wager it's deeper than me and digging a trench that long is not going to be an easy job.

Don't like the idea of Christmas trees - always seemed such a waste of a living specimen. We've used an artificial one for the past few years.

Regarding land use, trees are going to be fairly low maintenance once established. If they're fruit trees then even better but could provide useful fuel or other products (hurdles, stakes etc.)

[escapedtothecountry]

If you plant willow I wouldn't have to cut the grass as the ideal may to grow the rods is through high quality weed matting so that would remove a lot of the grassed areas where the willow would be growing.... Though there would still be grass to cut for sure.


I like having a real Xmas tree and it is as environmental friendly as using wood for burning. All the plastic in false trees comes from oil so I don't see them as being more environmentally friendly.


Agree on the rabbit proof fencing. There are holes I have got my leg in up tommy knee that the rabbit have dug. Outside the fenced area are huge conifers and they dug through and under roots solar bit guards the only option, which I have come to accept.

[john and helen]

Like your Christmas Idea John

future business plan linda ..nudge nudge  wouldnt be a bad idea if 3 or 4 put our heads together..... 

[Steph Hen]

The easiest thing might be to let it out to someone with a pony or handful of sheep?

We have a big pond - a good acre and it is wonderful to go and sit by of an evening and watch the swallows, bats even have kingfishers and otter    But wouldn't be all that quick or cheap to put in.

Wildflower meadow - I don't know how much land you have, but that would be a great project if you were so inclined - initially, just cut it and remove clippings to reduce fertility; at least a couple of times, then you can either scarify or plow bits and add yellow rattle and see what other species accumulate, or add some other perenial meadow flower seeds suited to your soil. Cut and remove clipings once a year in September. Thats the only management.

After a couple years, docks, nettles, high grasses will be out competed by smaller grasses and wildflowers.

[escapedtothecountry]

Thanks for all ideas. It isn't that I mind cutting the grass on n ride in mower.... It's quite therapeutic going up and down with m headphones on.. I e just is rather do something else with that bit of land rather than just leave it as grass.


Local far era grown elephant grass for use in the local power stations.... Makes a lovely noise in the wind... So could always do that' as it very much looks after itself. Still favouring willow as I can use it n wood burner plus sell rods too.

[spandit]

I like having a real Xmas tree and it is as environmental friendly as using wood for burning. All the plastic in false trees comes from oil so I don't see them as being more environmentally friendly.

Fair point, there is a time at which they're better, depending on how to dispose of the real tree.

http://www.carbontrust.com/about-us/press/2013/01/christmas-tree-disposal-advice

I still maintain it's a shame to do that to a young tree and how much carbon is produced in vacuuming up the needles I don't know!

Grow willow...

[john and helen]

there is a firm that rents out the christmas tree every year... i think they pot the thing when its in the home, and replant after...seems to be working

http://www.forever-green-christmas.co.uk