Best way to clear scrub land?

Grassy Paddock

Hi all,
There is a sizable parcel of land that I would like to reclaim from high wild grass, perennial nettles and briars etc after lying for years in neglect.

I don’t particularly want to go down the spraying with herbicide route, and was considering fencing the area off and getting in a few goats to do some of the early ground work. Ideally I would like to be able to turn the land over to additional grazing ground for a small flock of sheep.

I don’t have handy access to machinery, but could ask around to neighbours.

Would burning the area off in patches be a bad idea?

Hoping to get some advice, so thanks for your time.

49801

Don't bother fencing for a goat. A heavy tyre and a chain will do!
Put a half barrel in the middle to catch rainwater.

Otherwise get a digger in to tidy it up and spray off re growth before cultivating and sowing it.

Grassy Paddock

Cheers, thanks for that...yeah I suppose the digger would be the best route to go. Any idea what the cost would be to get a contractor in for a few hours work?

yellowlabrador

I've just witnessed the 'clearing' 4 pigs can do. Gorse, briars, nettles, everything gone.It took them 3 months to clear a couple of acres.

Bog Man 1

These guys will reclaim scrub land .http://www.celticsoil.com/crushing.html

Grassy Paddock

Thanks bog man, that looks like an option alright. Do you have any connection to the company, or have you used them before?

Conmaicne Mara

Would be good if they changed the photos to before and after instead of two different fields. Have seen them crushers on YouTube before, they look a handy machine, wonder what pricing they have for jobs.

Markcheese

yellowlabrador wrote: »

I've just witnessed the 'clearing' 4 pigs can do. Gorse, briars, nettles, everything gone.It took them 3 months to clear a couple of acres.

If you don't want to have to level the land after, they'll need a ring in the nose...probably best in summer..do it In sections and reseed after...
Goats'd be easier to keep In but you'll have to put Chicken wire around any trees you want to keep( about 5 or 6 foot high)

Floody Boreland

Markcheese wrote: »

If you don't want to have to level the land after, they'll need a ring in the nose...probably best in summer..do it In sections and reseed after...
Goats'd be easier to keep In but you'll have to put Chicken wire around any trees you want to keep( about 5 or 6 foot high)

I hear they love bracken roots so if you have that problem ringless would be better.

Bog Man 1

Grassy Paddock wrote: »

Thanks bog man, that looks like an option alright. Do you have any connection to the company, or have you used them before?

They swarth rape for me and have also sowed rape for me using a Sumo one pass rape sower .They are going to take out a four foot high leylandi hedge for me using the Kirby mulcher . I do not practice Nepotism .

Grassy Paddock

Bog Man 1 wrote: »

They swarth rape for me and have also sowed rape for me using a Sumo one pass rape sower .They are going to take out a four foot high leylandi hedge for me using the Kirby mulcher . I do not practice Nepotism .

Thanks for getting back to me, any chance you could pm me with an idea of the prices you paid?