My back field is like a jungle :( what to do?

kellybee

kellybee

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Finally, today my fields decided they couldn't cope with all the rain and stopped draining it away, or something to that effect (we've got water on top in the dips and the one most recently grazed is looking a bit soggy despite being rested since end of summer). I have a field out the back that I need to clear, but it hasn't been used in about 10 years and its full of brambles.

Does anyone think its possible to flail mow it down in this weather? I'd leave it but I dont think the paddocks we're currently using will cope with three sets of hooves day and night! In the other field, in places the brambles are literally over my head, in other spots its just long grass. I'd rather have a farmer in if I can than do it by hand but two acres with a pair of seceteurs isn't my idea of fun. Any suggestions?
 
Put your horses in it. They may get a few burrs and brambles in their manes but give them a couple of weeks and they will have cleared it nicely for you, not as well as a bunch of pigs, but well enough.

Incidentally, if you want it really cleared, pigs are the thing to do it.
 
Huh! I never thought of that!

They didn't bother with the blackberry bushes much in summer, I guess I just assumed they wouldn't eat them this time of year either
 
Pigs will leave you a swamp.
Goats are great but you'd have to reallyvet field for poisonous plants as they like dropping down dead and most syandard paddocks would t keep them n
 
Spend half an hour cutting an access for them & put horses in during daylight times - within 10 days you will have a view across paddock :)

Tip: use old rugs on them in case of tearing

When it frosts up again (as it will do sometime!) then go in & get brambles cleared :)
 
Agree with everyone else, stick the horses in there and they will soon clear it.

Mine absolutely love bramble leaves.

Like someone else said try and cut them a few tracks through so they can get at as much of it as possible. I have found one of my little hardy ponies had worked her way into the middle of a huge patch of brambles. I was terrified she was going to get hurt. But came out completely fine and wasn't bothered. But just to be on the safe side try and make them a safe path through!
 
If it hasn't been used for 10 years you need to give it a check for ragwort and any other nasties but you have probably got some fantastic grazing with meadow plants in there as well.
 
:D That'll teach me for trying to read and post on an old phone :D

OH has flail mowed last two weekends - nettles, brambles and hedge down ours. Done about half an acres worth put together, with one lot right next to the stream. All on clay.

The only tracks left were about two metres worth of tyres from mucking around by stream :rolleyes:

The rest was fine... it's a dinky tractor for it now though. Our big tractor is eating soft ground.
 
Thanks! I found yesterday that by going in there with a big metal barrel and kicking it around the place it flattens sooo fast! Which makes it easy enough to trim the branches and make a decent sized pathway.

They wont be going in there for a while yet so I'll have time to go over it with the ragfork though I'm yet to find any ragwort, thanks for all your tips! I really wish I had a ride-on flail mower though!
 
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