cindydog
Well-Known Member
I have the chance of getting approx 3 acres of overgrown field, unfenced and not used in many years, it needs clearing how much do you think a local farmer might take to do this?.
Overgrown field
- Thread starter cindydog
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twiggy2
Well-Known Member
as long s there is nothing poisinous and dangerous in it i would fence and turn out at this time of year and get it topped in the spring
AdorableAlice
Well-Known Member
If you are friends with the local farmer a decent drink would probably be all he will charge for running a topper over it. You will need to walk the field well before topping it because your friendly farmer will be an unfriendly farmer if he runs his topper over a load of hidden rubbish in the field.
An agricultural contractor would charge around £60 to do it. Fencing is around £10/12 a meter for decent post and rail.
An agricultural contractor would charge around £60 to do it. Fencing is around £10/12 a meter for decent post and rail.
Polos Mum
Well-Known Member
Fencing will be the biggest cost - measure the outside, good post and rail is c.£8/9 a meter ! Personally I wouldn't risk just electric on the perimeter unless it was in an extremely remote area or had really good thick hedges to back up the electric.
What is it overgrown with? If no ragwort then I'd be inclined to let the horses have a good go at eating it down (they will eat more than you'd imagine and it's good for them to have variety)
Walk it carefully to check for rag and rubbish adn rabbit holes.
No point in spraying weeds this time of year really but you could do that in the spring to help the grass
Same with topping, if you do that you'll have to collect it in some way which would be a very painful raking job in the rain!!
Lovely neighbour farmer does stuff in return for sunday lunches !! More commercial bigger farmer locally does stuff the neighbour can't do for £25 an hour. Spraying a field would be a couple of hours plus chemical of c.£100.
What is it overgrown with? If no ragwort then I'd be inclined to let the horses have a good go at eating it down (they will eat more than you'd imagine and it's good for them to have variety)
Walk it carefully to check for rag and rubbish adn rabbit holes.
No point in spraying weeds this time of year really but you could do that in the spring to help the grass
Same with topping, if you do that you'll have to collect it in some way which would be a very painful raking job in the rain!!
Lovely neighbour farmer does stuff in return for sunday lunches !! More commercial bigger farmer locally does stuff the neighbour can't do for £25 an hour. Spraying a field would be a couple of hours plus chemical of c.£100.
WelshD
Well-Known Member
It depends what you mean by clearing...
I took on a 3 acre field that was overgrown
Clearing the rubbish from the field took two of us a week or so and was free as we did it ourselves
Permenant fencing was £5 per metre but that was sheep fencing, we were quoted £8.50 for post and rail. Repairing of existing fences was around £2 per metre
Mowing and strimming down the grass and weeds was £180 but it was a careful thorough job, neat and right up to the edges, subsequent mowings have been anywhere between £80-£160
I took on a 3 acre field that was overgrown
Clearing the rubbish from the field took two of us a week or so and was free as we did it ourselves
Permenant fencing was £5 per metre but that was sheep fencing, we were quoted £8.50 for post and rail. Repairing of existing fences was around £2 per metre
Mowing and strimming down the grass and weeds was £180 but it was a careful thorough job, neat and right up to the edges, subsequent mowings have been anywhere between £80-£160
YasandCrystal
Well-Known Member
You ideally need a farmer with a flail (chain flails) to flail it which will mulch up the grass and weeds and then they can rot away. Id you leave it them you need to catch the timing right to allow it to rot away before the grass tries to come through else you will ruin your grass crop. Chain flailing won't be an expensive exercise. A farmer topped and turned 5 acres of ours for hay for £120 and that involved 3 visits.
Polos Mum
Well-Known Member
I'd guestimate our 3 acre paddock is 500 m around the outside (125m each side x 4) so c.£5k to fence it.
Honey08
Waffled a lot!
I would flail as well, rather than just topping. We did that with our overgrown field, and the horses went on it very quickly. Otherwise some sheep on would help!
ps. we paid about £500 for each field to be fenced (about 3-4 acres each) with stock fencing and plain wire tops that can be electrified.
ps. we paid about £500 for each field to be fenced (about 3-4 acres each) with stock fencing and plain wire tops that can be electrified.
Pinkvboots
Well-Known Member
As long as there is nothing dangerous in the field I would just let the horses munch through, in regards to fencing no idea for cost but my perimeter has hedges so I have electric wire alongside the hedges and this works well and would be cheaper than post and rail, so maybe a thought if you have some hedge.
cindydog
Well-Known Member
Thank you all will be going to measure and walk field as there has been a bit of dumping ( rubble ) very small, also has old building with front hanging off inside it has pits like for repair to cars, think I will keep workload to field.