Hi all,
I wonder if I can seek your collective wisdom? We are still on the hunt for a suitable place for our smallholding and viewed a possibility at the weekend. However much of the land is covered in soft rushes. For context we're talking about 280m above sea-level in the West Pennines, the land is sloping, east-facing and half-way up the valley side or more (so not stuck in the bottom). Some pictures are attached.
My reading here and elsewhere (e.g. Soil Association field labs, SAC) suggests that wet ground and acidic pH contribute to this problem and that there are a number of strategies for improving the grazing potential (I would like some sheep - most likely by primitives). But it has been hard to find out whether people have had much success starting from such a bad position or in moorland areas where it will be harder.
Walking the land it did not seem too wet - aside from around a couple of small ponds and in the ditches there was no sign of surface water and no squelching underfoot, which is something in itself for this area, although we aren't really into autumn yet. Between and underneath the clumps there seems to be some strong grass growth (although I'm not skilled enough to know which types) and there are more open areas that haven't been invaded by rush as yet. I noted a few molehills in a few areas - which suggests to me that there isn't a very high water table as otherwise their tunnels would flood and earthworms wouldn't survive - is that a reasonable interpretation?
The land used to be used to graze a few horses but has been unused for a few years by the looks of things. There are a number of other rushy fields close by too but also some better grazing with far less rush, both adjoining and within sight - that would look to have similar conditions. The older satellite images in Google Earth seem to show far less rush.
Would it be reasonable to assume that the rushes have taken advantage of undergrazing and proliferated, given that the ground conditions are always going to be favourable for them if not kept in check? If so, is it reasonable to assume that with some regular mowing/topping followed by grazing that the reeds could be kept at bay to some degree and improve the stocking potential of the land? My very inexpert guesstimate is that in the current state the stocking density probably wouldn't be able to exceed one primitive ewe (plus lambs) per acre year-round - is this about right? What would you think is potentially achievable stocking density with some mowing and grazing to reduce the reeds?
There's about 3 acres of land like this with the property, which would seriously limit sheep, if not make it completely unviable if the grazing can't be readily improved. Although there is more land that could be added it would only be worth while if it could also be improved.
How have your rush control strategies worked out? How bad was it when you began?
Thanks for any information, advice and suggestions :-)