Muck Heaps Is this practice allowed?

C

corrigantwo

Active Member
Joined
27 September 2007
Messages
34
Location
Beds/Bucks border
Visit site
I keep my horses at a small livery yard and the YO lights the muck heap most evenings. It smokes like hell, I am dubious as to the health and safety implications. My OH asked her was this allowed and she said lighting the muck heap was fine as long as it wasn't near water????
Not only am I worried as it is fairly near my horses wooden stables, it is making me feel ill, and I also stink to high heaven.
There are also houses near by which must be a little peeved as their washing must get smoked out.
I am also worried about environmental issues as well as this surely can't be good for the ozone.
She has cut back lighting it to once a night - before it was lit constantly.
Does anyone know where I can find more info to back up my query when I next speak to her?
Many thanks
A smokey forum user
cool.gif
 
ooh spooky, we were only discussing this at the yard tonight, myself and one of the other liveries thought that this practice was now illegal as such, due to environmental issues, safety implications etc etc. Will be watching your post to see if we were right or wrong, think your local council or environmental officer would be able to confirm.
 
Its been 'not allowed' for some years now and there have recently been a lot of new regs about the storage and disposal of muck heaps on both private and commercial yards.

Id advise you to get in touch with your local council for further details on which regs apply on your yard.
 
Running a livery yard is an expensive business.without the additional cost of paying an agricultural contractor to remove the heap for spreading. Lighting the heap might not be the right thing to do, but in the past was a very common practice. If you are not happy about it you could approach the YO, or you could phone the local council - or you can simply leave and find another yard that is run to your standards.
 
Oh this is illegal. I know this because I reported someone in my village for constantly burning their muckheap and causing the most disgusting smell in the village every single day.

You can contact either your local council or the Dept of the Environment and they will stop them from doing it. Not only is it against the Law but it is the most silly way of trying to manage a muck-heap - tell them to turn their muck heap often and buy some blooming worms and it will reduce the size dramatically.
 
I don't think it should be "allowed" but as The Watcher says cheaper than having the muck taken away which must be why your YO is doing that... For me I would be worrying about the smoke affecting my horse's breathing, as if they are stabled they can't get away from the smell by the sounds of it. And the risk to the wooden stables of course.
 
Thanks for all your advice - the horses are very close, it wafts over their fields - and you can see the smoke a long way off. I know YO is running the yard on a tight budget and is a very old lady in her 70's so she is only probably doing it because she thinks its still allowed.
Don't worry guys I will speak to her tactfully or as the watcher helpfully suggests I will move yards.
 
I can't understand why there's posts talking about how expensive it is to have the heap removed.

Around here (we're farmers) the arable farmers go mad for muck...any muck...to spread on their fields before ploughing. They collect it and take it away for free. They're also very grateful for it!
 
After reading everyones comments, I feel your response to have a tactful word is the best way. As your y.o is an elderly lady, looking after the pennies, I would be inclined to do a bit of asking around (farmers etc) and see if you and the other liveries could come up with a free/cheap solution.

I would not report her, I would be more inclined to help, especially if I did not want to move yards and was otherwise happy there.
 
Patches - does this apply to muck heaps with shavings in them as well (not just straw)?

Also, someone else (sorry not sure who) mentioned about the worms - are they really that effective? Would love to know as still trying to reduce ours
frown.gif


Thanks

LB
 
Dont bother with the worms...I know 2 people who have invested in the little critters and they eat about a bucketful of poo a year between them!

Think how big a muck heap is....now think how big a worm is......doesnt make much sense really!
 
See wot your saying! BTW, yr answer has just made me LOL in the middle of a small office
grin.gif


Thanks for the advice - I will not now be investing in a family of worms now.
LB
 
Ha, ha, yes you'd need thousands of them. Can just imagine it....
All been sorted, spoke to a kindly farmer who was waiting, with eager anticipation at the gate this morning, cleared muck heap in about 10 mins - and will come back monthly to clear - so thanks for advice once again.
Boy oh boy how did I survive the nine months of being without PC.
cool.gif
 
i too am laughing out loud at the response involving the worms and the size of the worms and the heap whilst sat in the middle of a very quiet office, luckily they all know im on the forum and can guess what im laughing at, or thereabouts.
 
Absolutely not Spaniel - keep em coming - passes my day very quickly in rather a dull office reading the funnies LMAO
grin.gif
 
I guess it all depends on whether you are actually responsible for your muckheap as to how you go about stable management.

As owner of a fairly reasonably sized organic farm; farming around 200 acres in all; I obviously manage my own muck heap (have done for well over 15 years), quite unlike many of you who keep your horses at livery and do not have to handle/dispose of manure yourselves
wink.gif
.

I, like many others, manage my muck heaps well using turning and the natural microrganisms available to me, including worms (LMAO!
grin.gif
). This muck, once it has decomposed, is spread on my land and I also give some of it to gardeners as compost. Unlike crop farmers, I cannot spread manure which has not decomposed as it is no good to be spread on hay/pasture fields in this state - it has to be fully broken down in order to be used on grazing fields.

I always like to see people having a chuckle....and it's always doubly good when it gives me a good laugh too, and that I sure did!
laugh.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top