WWYD - grazing land

[Dreamer2020]

Hi All
I'm looking for a sense check please from you knowledgeable lot I'm currently horseless but planning to look for one when I find land to rent or buy (got a companion sorted already when my friend retires her mare). I've been on yards before but it's my dream to have my own field. Due to an inheritance I receive in the next month I'm in a position for the 1st time ever to buy land. Found a 3 acre field 4 mins drive from my house, big hedges all the way around it, quiet hacking, water source, even a decent surfaced lane for vehicle access! Well drained, somewhere for mobile field shelter etc. Only thing is ... there are 2 mature & 4 young sycamore trees on the border of the field. Not sure how many on the land so not sure I could get them all felled. Am I being too hasty discounting it? I've read some horrific stuff about atypical myopathy & feel like it wouldn't be sensible to go ahead. Chocolate biscuit if you got this far! Thanks all xx

 

[Patterdale]

If you’re waiting for sycamore free land within 5 minutes if your house you’ll be waiting a long time!
Buy it if it’s otherwise perfect then either fell them or hoover the seeds up. There’s always a way!

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

We have 2 Sycamore trees on our land, fenced so that the horses can't get directly underneath them. We have been here 30 yrs with no problems but they earmarked for felling in the autumn this year.
Our sheep have dealt with the Sycamore keys and any seedlings for us, over the years. If the land is otherwise suitable, including the price, I wouldn't discount it but would take measures to reduce the horses' access. Sheep really are very useful cross-grazers on horse grazing and land is in short supply

 

[Dreamer2020]

If you’re waiting for sycamore free land within 5 minutes if your house you’ll be waiting a long time!
Buy it if it’s otherwise perfect then either fell them or hoover the seeds up. There’s always a way!

Thank you Patterdale & Pearlsinger ... yes that's kind of the thing that making me question it, is perfect in every other way. Price is decent ... I'll look into getting sheep too & fencing them off. My hubby is a forester, so I've got that on my side as far as tree ID & help with permits for felling. Thanks again xx

 

[PeterNatt]

To be on the safe side just fell them and stump grind the roots out. End of. (Check there are no tree preservation orders on them first).

 

[dominobrown]

Buy a leaf blower and when they drop the seeds blow them out of your field and then pick up any seedlings that grow when the time comes

 

[Errin Paddywack]

Certainly wouldn't stop me buying what sounds like an otherwise perfect field. With your OH being a forester you are in the best possible position to deal with the sycamores.

 

[HorseMaid]

I wouldn't let the presence of 6 trees put you off buying what sounds like a perfect setup so close to where you live. I'm sure they can be dealt with!

 

[Dreamer2020]

Thank you so much all for your advice & ideas ... I really appreciate it It has made me think I was being a bit defeatist ... so I'm definitely going to ring the agent on Monday & follow this up. Thanks again xx

 

[SantaVera]

Wouldn't stop me,go for it, enjoy it

 

[Goldenstar]

Four minutes from home Go for it .
You can manage the sycamores lots of us do .

 

[Miss_Millie]

Are the trees bordering the field? If so, just make sure they are within your boundary and therefore your ownership. If they are then so long are there are not preservation orders on them, you should have no problem removing them. Good luck!

 

[follysienna]

I personally wouldn't touch it. Sycamores are so much work and worry. I spend all Spring treating the saplings that I barely have time to ride or enjoy my horses. Unless of course they are within your boundary, so you could fell them?

 

[Orangehorse]

Someone I know bought a field and did a wholesale tree felling job with the sycamores. They have replanted some with different sorts.

You can get the sycamores tested to see if they will affect the horses, but I can never understand why people make such a fuss about chopping down a few trees. They grow back, or a different sort can be planted, and where does furniture and firewood come from if it isn't from a felled tree?

 

[Glitter's fun]

Equine Atypical Myopathy testing available at the Royal Veterinary College

The RVC is testing for atypical myopathy in its work towards improved treatments and management of this disorder, and to enhance the welfare of affected horses.

www.rvc.ac.uk

 

[Esmae]

Buy the land. Worry about the rest later when it's yours. Good luck.

 

[L&M]

We have several sycamore - fortunately neither of our horses touch the seeds in the autumn/winter, and mow and collect the saplings in the spring, before they go out 24/7.

I know of plenty of fields this year that have reported saplings in their grazing, despite no obvious sycamore nearby - so in a stormy year imagine very little grazing is 100% safe.

And if there is no sycamore, there are always other issues - be it oak, ragwort, poor ground conditions etc to contend with - all part and parcel of owning land!!!

 

[Sossigpoker]

I would buy it and then take the trees down if you are allowed to. I wouldn't risk grazing near a sycamore, just not worth the risk IMO.

 

[Lois Lame]

Thank you so much all for your advice & ideas ... I really appreciate it It has made me think I was being a bit defeatist ... so I'm definitely going to ring the agent on Monday & follow this up. Thanks again xx

You weren't being defeatist; you were looking before you leapt. So exciting to be possibly buying this bit of land.

 

[millikins]

Even if the Sycamores have TPOs, I think you would be allowed to pollard them which would stop them seeding. Good luck, hope you are able to buy it.

 

[Art Nouveau]

Sycamore seedlings die back and disappear relatively quickly. I have a huge tree in the middle of my fields and in Spring there was a thick carpet of seedlings underneath it and around it. I had enough seedling free grazing to leave this bit alone until the start of June, by which time almost all the seedlings had gone and I only spent an hour picking the remaining ones.

I've also read that only branches that are over 4 years old produce seeds, so if the trees aren't on your land but overhang it then you could cut the branches back (perfectly legal) and that might help reduce the seed drop into your land.

My plan for autumn is to hoover up the seeds with my Trafalgar paddock cleaner (the hand towed version) and also put my sheep on the area in late spring to eat any remaining seedlings before the horses go on. The sheep are a recent purchase as they're excellent cross grazers, and are eating my dock too so should help reduce the time I spend on field management

 

[Dreamer2020]

Thankyou everyone for taking the time to reply & I really appreciate all of your advice & words of wisdom Thanks again & if I do buy it there will be new horse photos to follow when the time comes xx

 

[rabatsa]

TPOs, a barrister along the road to my mother's has two enormous horse chestnut trees with TPO's on. Several people asked him to trim them back from overhanging the road and he refused to touch them without the written permission of the council.