Brambles

[chaps89]

My field is sort of horse shoe shaped, with houses all around the curved bit.
All the way around the perimeter are big thick brambles, a metre or so high and deep.
Some of the neighbours have started cutting them back which has spurred YO into arranging for someone to come out to cut them all down.
This feels like a really bad idea - I don't have enough fencing left (and have spent a small fortune lately putting a track in so no real funds spare right now) to fence off the cut back areas but I also really don't want the horses walking on them and getting thorns in their feet.
(Plus extra people coming in and out of the field when we're all supposed to be inside with the exception of essential visits)
Am I just being a bit precious?
If they were being dug out I wouldn't mind so much but it's only being chopped (and I've no idea what they are going to do with the clippings either)

 

[sunnyone]

If they are only being cut, they will grow back.
We left some to grow thinking a) a decent crop of blackberries for us and b) good for some birds to nest in. Yes we got the blackberries but we also got a nest of hornets who got enraged when the tractor was harrowing nearby. The driver was almost hospitalised because he had so many stings, he was certainly forced to flee his tractor and recover it later. Bye brambles. We collected up the trimmings and, in due course, burned them. I would say your YO is trying to be considerate to everybody in the neighbourhood.

 

[Shay]

I don't think a bramble thorn will penetrate a horse's foot? They'd have to be cracking brambles!

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

I don't think a bramble thorn will penetrate a horse's foot? They'd have to be cracking brambles!

Oh they do! One of my mini ponies has had a couple of abscesses from bramble thorns, I've managed to detach others too. Hence I try and keep on top of mine.
Wet ground softens feet, grit or blinking bramble thorn penetrates unshod foot, usually between outer and inner wall, ouch!

 

[chaps89]

Oh they do! One of my mini ponies has had a couple of abscesses from bramble thorns, I've managed to detach others too. Hence I try and keep on top of mine.
Wet ground softens feet, grit or blinking bramble thorn penetrates unshod foot, usually between outer and inner wall, ouch!

Damn, this was one time I was hoping I was just being neurotic. I know my luck and now is not the time for vet visits really (well no time is right for vet visits, lol, but especially not now)
It's such a massive area, pretty much the majority of the perimeter so quite a hefty job to turn the ground and pull roots etc up too.
I do hope there's nothing much nesting in it, your poor tractor driver @sunnyone
Crumbs.
Do I politely tell her thanks but no thanks or just resign myself to a busy weekend next weekend of back breaking work? Worth it in the long run I suppose.

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

I'd ask your YO if it can wait till after this pandemic is over and also mention that it is now nesting season and there is very likely to be birds nesting in the thickets of brambles.
I tend to do mine between November and January, with a bit of attacking in high summer to keep fence lines clear. Good luck x

 

[Mari]

I have masses of creeping bramble which I usually do myself. Cut back, roll/fold up to small tight lumps & put in garden refuse bin. Ok it takes me a couple of months to work my way round the perimeter of 4.5 acres but I don’t stress myself out about it. Hubby was saying he’d have to find alternative exercise now his badminton has closed so I gave him a list of jobs including clear brambles from round field. We’re in week 2 & he’s nearly finished. Of course didn’t do it my way, however council are no longer collecting garden refuse, so I now have a mountain of brambles in the yard!

 

[scruffyponies]

With houses all around, I would be inclined to keep the brambles. They form a convenient barrier to depositing of grass clippings, feeding of random carrots and/or climbing into your field... all of which seem to be a regular problem for people with residential neighbours.

 

[AmyMay]

Presumably if the brambles are cut right back (which they shouldn’t really be doing at this time of year) any fencing defects will be addressed by the YO (as it’s their land. You can’t be (or shouldn’t be) expected to fund it).

 

[milliepops]

With houses all around, I would be inclined to keep the brambles. They form a convenient barrier to depositing of grass clippings, feeding of random carrots and/or climbing into your field... all of which seem to be a regular problem for people with residential neighbours.

This ^^

I have thickets of brambles on 3 sides of my field and it stops randoms from approaching or feeding my horses, plus traps all the rubbish that gets thrown over the fence by thoughtless people.

 

[chaps89]

Had a bit of a sleepless night over this one last night!
Found little pony in the tiny gap between the brambles and the garden fences last night. The neighbours were thrilled, me less so as a neighbour further down has a habit of cutting the wire and throwing it back in the field. I thought I'd successfully blocked all the gaps off but I missed a gap, now re-fenced this morning.
I've sent a message to YO asking if we could postpone to next year when we can do it a bit earlier so we don't disturb any nesting birds and I can afford to dig it out and re-seed/fence off then. Fingers crossed.

 

[AmyMay]

Why are you having to pay for fencing?

 

[chaps89]

I don't have to pay for perimeter fencing but YO fencing of choice is barbed wire ? so currently the brambles do a nice job of keeping the horses off that in the most part, but there are occasional gaps in the brambles, so I have fenced those bits off (Just plastic posts and electric tape)
The ponies are both quite sensible so I imagine would be fine but I'd rather not leave it to chance.

I would want to put fencing up to keep off the brambles area if they are cut down to stop the horses walking on it/potentially injuring themselves and so I presume as that is my choice I have to stump up.

 

[AmyMay]

So can you can you to just run electric fencing proper?

 

[Leandy]

It is the yard owners' call surely. I'd generally say you are being over precious but I also don't think this is a good time to do this due to nesting beasties as others have said. If the result is that the fencing is now inadequate you should address that with the YO also.