[farmershort]

pigs respond VERY well to an electric fence... just 2 strands.

[Penninehillbilly]

pigs respond VERY well to an electric fence... just 2 strands.

I've just been thinking that this morning, trouble is, in theory there is a footpath going through (fairly impassible and dispute to where it actually exits the land),.
OH, as usual didn't look happy at the suggestion. But he also hates sheep, i feel a bit alone against the odds at times,  .

[Marches Farmer]

Pigs would disturb the ground too much for the root systems of young trees to survive.  We had a healthy 200 year old oak come down last Winter - forester blamed the pigs our predecessor kept in that field for destroying the root system.

[Penninehillbilly]

Pigs would disturb the ground too much for the root systems of young trees to survive.  We had a healthy 200 year old oak come down last Winter - forester blamed the pigs our predecessor kept in that field for destroying the root system.

Gosh that sounds surprising MF, is it very shallow soil then ? I thought (and from trees I've moved) they have some deeper roots for stability? 
I've also just remembered sheep have a fly problem in the field just above this woodland, so probably could only use it spring / early summer anyway, then maybe a couple of weaners following that ?
I really want to use this land, without damaging the trees, pity there isn't a way of making it fox proof and breeding free range rabbits   

[waterbuffalofarmer]

Well you could always do this?  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuFOcWQ_fks

[YorkshireLass]

...do alpacas eat trees?
 

[sheeponthebrain]

I have ewe's grazing a field with a young hawthorn hedge along the border. In 2010 when we had a lot of snow I thought they had grazed the young trees beyond the point of recovery. however since then we've had very little snow and I'm glad to report the trees are now healthy 9 foot hawthorns (with no lower branches).  The sheep have been in this field summer and winter since then.  its amazing what trees will live through.

[wayfarer]

Alpacas will browse the leaves given a chance.