Levelling Land

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Fanatical

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Does anyone know if it's possible to level off very undulating land.

I don't mean just indentations made by hooves for example which of course you would roll, more an extreme version of kind of ridge and furrow?
 
You will need planning permission to change the contours ! Also if you go ahead without permission and it is ridge and furrow expect real problems( financial penalties) as it is a protected feature. You will not believe the issues we have here because the council actually wish to divert a footpath and upgrade to bridleway and a small piece of R&F is involved
 
Thanks for the reply Popsdosh. That's interesting and good to know.
I don't think it is actually ridge and furrow but it is just very up and down - not ideal for grazing.
Do you know who I'd need to speak to (the council?) and how I'd go about levelling it if I was allowed to?
 
I was going to say, plough and heavy disc to create a seed bed, then drag something like a long steel beam across it at right angles.

But if it is an ancient feature, that's different and it could arouse all sorts of bureaucratic boffins complete with their red tape dispensers.

If you collect Single Farm Payment they can certainly deduct from that for so much as a sideways glance or a raised eye brow, but if you don't, would they really bother taking you to court? They seem to have difficulty getting out of bed in the morning up here!

The first people to ask would be DEFRA (do a Google), but when getting legal advice, always get it in writing (as the above applies)!
 
Fanatical said:
Thanks for the reply Popsdosh. That's interesting and good to know.
I don't think it is actually ridge and furrow but it is just very up and down - not ideal for grazing.
Do you know who I'd need to speak to (the council?) and how I'd go about levelling it if I was allowed to?
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You need to talk to planning!

How big an area are we talking about? and then It depends how extreme it is ! If it really rough it will need some heavy earthmoving machinery in first and to do the job properly they will need to strip the topsoil first other wise you will leave subsoil outcrops that wont grow much. Really without knowing the area and the amounts that need moving it is difficult to advise.
 
They seem to do it a lot around here, our neighbour has just had the earthmoving machinery in to level and "de-rock" one of their large fields. Almost half the planning permission applications in the local paper are for levelling and adding topsoil. Personally for horses I would prefer it up and down and stony, but obviously if you want to grow your own hay or something its not so great.
 
I would agree laura nash.

I would prefer the unlevel and differing surfaces for the horses, it would cause problems for maintenance though, rollers, harrows etc, and, as you say, particularly producing a hay crop.
Not much fun pushing the poo picking barrow either.
 
I would just crack on with it and plead ignorance afterwards. They can hardly make you restore the lumps and bumps!
 
laura_nash said:
They seem to do it a lot around here, our neighbour has just had the earthmoving machinery in to level and "de-rock" one of their large fields. Almost half the planning permission applications in the local paper are for levelling and adding topsoil. Personally for horses I would prefer it up and down and stony, but obviously if you want to grow your own hay or something its not so great.
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The field next to me has been de-rocked & leveled and now it's just washing away down the hill. Think about soil type, contours, ect before you power harrow. I'd take local advice from someone who has lived in the area for a long while.
 
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