Swallow holes

KatyMac

Anybody got experience with these? About two years ago I noticed a small hole in the middle of silage field, it was about maybe a foot in diameter. I think its probably about 3 foot in diameter this year. I've fenced it off to stop a beast breaking a leg in it, but am wondering what to do, and what's happening underground. Will I go over to the field some day and find half of it has vanished? My immediate plan is to get man with digger to put stuff into it, will this be enough or do I need to get some sort of expert to cast an eye on it?

Odelay

Could a tree root have been buried underneath? Can happen that after a few years it rots. Any water courses nearby? Before getting the digger man to fill it, get him to dig it up and find out what is in there.
Video it, could be some kind of alien ship:pac:

Gman1987

How deep is it?

lakill Farm

I heard a story like that on Monday in mitchestown cave in 1800

now they charge fecking €9 into it for 45 minute tour

foxylock

We found one while digging the foundations of the house, filled it with concrete, took ten metres of it. Never had a problem since may not be practical in a field but I couldnt move the house! Maybe you have caves could be giving guided tours next year, more money in it than farming I reckon!!

Rovi

Perhaps you have something like this going on

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cp7no2B322E

KatyMac

Ger1987 wrote: »

How deep is it?

It is at least 4 foot maybe more as I put a fencepost in it with a white bag so that I'd see it when driving round the field and the top of the post was all that was to be seen. It's definitely not anything to do with a tree - in middle of reasonably flat field.

KatyMac

Rovi wrote: »

Perhaps you have something like this going on

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cp7no2B322E

Keep an eye on the news. If I've got something like this I think I might get my 15 minutes of fame. Only hope I'm not on a tractor disappearing into the ground.

Birdnuts

You can often get these Swallow holes in areas with limestone and chalky bedrock.

reilig

If there are ringforts in your area, many were connected by tunnels. They were called souterrains. We have a souterrain marked on a map between 2 ringforts, but have never found it!

GY A1

Birdnuts wrote: »

You can often get these Swallow holes in areas with limestone and chalky bedrock.

agree, possibly been eroding away for ages and eating away underneath until the topsoil has now fallen,
is it in a low spot of the field by the way,

we found one in our field and there also was a deep open spring well in the next field, it was in a dip in the field
opening at the top was 2 foot round but underneath was 4 or 5 foot wide and same deep,
fenced if off first, a cow would fit in there,
think it was filled with stones

redzerologhlen

KatyMac wrote: »

Anybody got experience with these? About two years ago I noticed a small hole in the middle of silage field, it was about maybe a foot in diameter. I think its probably about 3 foot in diameter this year. I've fenced it off to stop a beast breaking a leg in it, but am wondering what to do, and what's happening underground. Will I go over to the field some day and find half of it has vanished? My immediate plan is to get man with digger to put stuff into it, will this be enough or do I need to get some sort of expert to cast an eye on it?

We have some low lying land that floods through swallow holes. I have tried filling them a few times but a new one always opens nearby. Have lost a few calves in them over the years too :mad:

Bactidiaryl

We call them sluggas. Typically get one or two every year. Damaged a tractor in one years ago. It just opened up as I passed over it. I'm on limestone ground. Usually just fill them up with stones or earth.

KatyMac

I think I'm on limestone, there is a lime kiln not far from me. I think I'll fill it with stones and hope for the best seeing as how it's the only one I've noticed. i have a man supposed to be coming soon to do a bit of digger work, so I'll show it to him. I'd have a nervous breakdown if one opens under me Bactidiaryl!

delaval

We have swallows in a shed and their holes are fairly active!!!!!

KatyMac

delaval wrote: »

We have swallows in a shed and their holes are fairly active!!!!!

I've got them too! They are a lot prettier tho!

Bactidiaryl

KatyMac wrote: »

I think I'm on limestone, there is a lime kiln not far from me. I think I'll fill it with stones and hope for the best seeing as how it's the only one I've noticed. i have a man supposed to be coming soon to do a bit of digger work, so I'll show it to him. I'd have a nervous breakdown if one opens under me Bactidiaryl!

Made pure **** of front axle Katy. I dident know what was after happening and I was tipping along nicely. Luckily insurance covered.

GY A1

Bactidiaryl wrote: »

Made pure **** of front axle Katy. I dident know what was after happening and I was tipping along nicely. Luckily insurance covered.

fair dangerous when u are not expecting it

Sam Kade

reilig wrote: »

If there are ringforts in your area, many were connected by tunnels. They were called souterrains. We have a souterrain marked on a map between 2 ringforts, but have never found it!

Exactly what I was thinking we have a lot of fairy forts around the town land a silage harvester went down when the flagstone of the souterrain caved under its weight. It had stone built walls with flagstones on top about 4' deep.

GY A1

Sam Kade wrote: »

Exactly what I was thinking we have a lot of fairy forts around the town land a silage harvester went down when the flagstone of the souterrain caved under its weight. It had stone built walls with flagstones on top about 4' deep.

are some of them some form of drainage too

Sam Kade

GY A1 wrote: »

are some of them some form of drainage too

No not where I'm from anyway we have free draining land I know the drains you are talking about I have a few in a wet part of my farm, they are about a foot wide by a foot deep with a flag stone over the top.

GY A1

Sam Kade wrote: »

No not where I'm from anyway we have free draining land I know the drains you are talking about I have a few in a wet part of my farm, they are about a foot wide by a foot deep with a flag stone over the top.

yup
have some them round here too, stone flags on top,