[Coximus]

Has anyone ever used chesnut pailing fencing as a temporary sheep fence / making handling areas etc?

I was planning on using electric wire on some ground I've got use of until it goes back into arable - but electric has been ruled off as one boundary has a footpath on and apparently years gone by the parish council (love those things) all got upset. The path is on the other side of the hedge but still not allowed electric.

So - to use the land I was envissioning using 400m of pailing to created a 2 acre paddock, graze it down then move on. Any thoughts?

[harmony]

How exactly can the parish council stop you from using electric fence?

[henchard]

Well personally I wouldn't be too bothered about Parish Councils; they are mostly just 'talking shops' with no real powers.

Anyway chestnut paling would probably work but would be quite expensive and need a fair bit of supporting (it's heavy).

Back in the 70s (when I farmed professionally) there used to be stuff called 'sheep wire' as opposed to the modern stock fencing (we called that 'pig wire'); it was like overgown chicken wire with larger holes that could be erected and taken down and moved quite easily. Haven't seen it for years.

So my suggestion would be buy some light gauge stock wire L8/80/15 rather than the normal stuff (I bought some of Ebay to use on my post and rail fencing). It is much easier to roll and re-roll than the heavier stuff.

See Ebay item 160789071933

Then buy some fencing pins like Ebay item 271003430507 (haven't compared prices).

Then erect your temporary fence using the above with (say) a 2" or 3" wooden posts at every 15m (3 per roll?) Tie the wire to the pins and put a staple in each post to tie to.

Then it would be a fairly easy job to move when you want. It should be strong enough for most breeds BUT probably would not stand up to very big ewes or rams rubbing on it.

Just my 2p. but thats the easiest way IMHO for a simple moveable non electric fence.

[landroverroy]

 I agree with the above - there's nothing the parish council, or anyone else can do to stop you putting up an electric fence, particularly as there's a hedge between fence and path. (I'm on our parish council and believe me, in civil matters our powers are mainly reduced to a stern letter, or visitation)
 
 

[Penninehillbilly]

Another one on a parish council here, and we just want to look after our residents and area.
We would refer such problems to district council, Rights of Way.
I can't understand this - there is a hedge between your grazing and the footpath, yet the PC say you can't put an electric fence on the grazing side of the hedge? Rubbish!
We would get involved if there was any chance a person, child or dog (on a lead) could touch or get caught up with electric fence or barbed wire (also illegal next to a footpath), surely thats common sense?
I have used chestnut paling, but would be worried about the daft creatures getting their heads stuck if they tried reaching over or scratching their necks (depending on height and how big the sheep are, probably too high for most sheep but I also have goats, with collars).
And it's heavy and cumbersome!
I like Henchards idea (apart from PC bit  ) and done something similar myself, I wonder if a strand of electric wire round the inside would stop sheep pushing on it? - I don't think your PC could object to that! (Are you SURE there wasn't some misunderstanding about the hedge/fence? very strange). Has the hedge grown a lot since the objection?
 

[Porterlauren]

Tell the parish council to stick it. And put of the electric. . . . . if people cannot walk a long a foot path without jumping into a leccy fence. . . . . .through a hedge. Then they deserve to be shocked (and quite possibly culled, to stop them passing on their useless genetics to future generations).

[Coximus]

Ahh but parish councils are filled with the interfering wire snipping for safety, turning power of sorts! Fortunatley next years "Prevention of damage by pests, parish councils and walkers act 2016" Will make it legal to humanely dispose of such types, but until then!

[Coximus]

Long story short along time ago back in the dark ages of 2011, the land was rented off to another sheep farmer who grazed it, and due to the field being long and thin (800m) with the footpath on the otherside of a hedge along most of this length, the hedge is low and broken in most places wiht many 2-3m gaps in. People often walk on both sides for the view and to let their dogs off into this field - so people developed somehwat a parkland usage mentality.

Prior to this it was usually cut for silage by previous tenants and occasional had horses or cattle in before that, but that stopped 15 or so years back when the fences gave in.

Anyway aparently the hoohaa over the electric fence etc means the landlord got ALOT of stick, nasty letters and petty time wasting, and has made clear he'd rather leave the land fallow than go through that - and I think that is understandable!

[Porterlauren]

Sounds like you might have more than the Parish council to worry about. . . . . walkers + dogs + sheep = hassle.

[honeyend]

When an electric fence borders a footpath you are supposed to put a sign of the fence every many metres along.http://www.screwfix.com/p/wolseley-electric-fencing-warning-signs-pack-of-10/7272F?kpid=7272F&cm_mmc=Google-_-Product%20Listing%20Ads-_-Sales%20Tracking-_-sales%20tracking%20url&cm_mmc=Google-_-Shopping%20-%20Landscaping%20and%20Outdoor-_-Shopping%20-%20Landscaping%20and%20Outdoor&gclid=Cj0KEQjwjrqvBRD6wf2fy-C61PIBEiQAUzKQTuNVA_XijNi29xhS4FItboYhptN-mm3Tn7ZQRxMxPGAaAq9z8P8HAQ&kpid=7272F
Near me farmers graze open fields, no fences at all and fence with temporary electric and the footpath crosses the field and they never have any trouble. I think some people think  its like being shocked by mains in the house.

[Backinwellies]

Sounds like you might have more than the Parish council to worry about. . . . . walkers + dogs + sheep = hassle.

I totally agree ..... you will need 6' high, high tensile me thinks .... to keep pests (both human and canine) out not your sheep in!

[Penninehillbilly]

Sounds like it's time it was reclaimed, knock a few posts in the gaps, old lengths of wood across, nobody can object to electric fencing on the stock side of the fence, the longer public have access, the more rights they'll try and claim.
 
And please don't tar all PC's with the same brush, I'm sure all smallholders wouldn't want to be classed as mean and selfish (as I'm sure some are!). I'm proud to be a Parish Councillor and stand up for our parishioners rights, often calling on the local council to do their job maintaining things such as roads and footpaths for our, and our visitors safety.

[Jon Feather]

When we replaced 400m of stock fencing around the perimeter of our field last year I would have been glad for someone to take the old wire away. (now I'm glad they didnt because we will use some of it to split the field into 2 or 3).

Have you thought of contacting fencing contractors or local farmer to see if they are taking down old stock fences.  They might be glad for you to take the old wire.  Cheaper than buying new if all you want is a pro-tem measure.

[bazzais]

debris netting for scaffolding is very cheap - also that plastic windbreak stuff from round roadworks.

[Jon Feather]

debris netting for scaffolding is very cheap - also that plastic windbreak stuff from round roadworks.

We use the same stuff around the veg beds to stop the wind and rabbits.  Great stuff.