Fencing site from field

southkilkenny

Hi all,
Recently bought an old farmhouse and another farmer bought the land. My site includes the old sheds which were used by the previous residents in the house who used farm the land. The new landowners have recently fenced on the boundary line with 2 strands of mains electric wire on creosoted stakes but now I want to fence with something which will keep the dogs in if radio fence ever lets us down but more importantly, want to have a secure fence very close to the mains wire as this was installed on the boundary and space is quite tight in a number of places on my site. This fence must be able to prevent young kids in the 1-6 age range from sticking their arm out and reaching the mains wire and getting a shock or getting a bite from an animal grazing in the field etc.

Any ideas of the type of fence which would fit the bill, be solid but not completely break the bank. One option I thought of was creosoted post and rail fencing with lats screwed on at my side of the rails to make it not possible for kids to climb over and the spacing to be not big enough for little hands to get through. Can anyone comment on how this might get on in high winds though? Chain link wire could be an option also or maybe equine wire but both are quite expensive AFAIK and would be poor in a couple of years when it loosens. Was hoping to keep my new fence approx 6 inches from the existing mains wire to minimise the loss in space at my side.

Let me know your thoughts, have you ever come across a good fencing option to fit this bill or one you thought was quite good.
Thanks in advance.

Nekarsulm

Drive a second set of creosote posts as close as possible to his posts and put high tensile sheep wire up.
A post every 4.5 to 5 metres, and 8/80/18 wire.
Kids only ever put their hands on the electric fence once!
That fencing comes out about 5 euro a metre.
I'd come inside that another 2 feet and plant a row of holly.
You will have room to trim it and it's both kid proof and a privacy screen when it gets going and thickens up.

49801

Kinda sounds like you should bite the bullet and put in the chain link fencing with concrete posts THB. Lifetime job

You say space is tight so a hedge probability not an option for you which is unfortunate as the farmer has done half the job

There are various rabbit and chicken wires which would be a cheaper alternative which have small gaps.

Checkout http://www.samsonwire.co.uk whom are advertising heavily atm

Willfarman

Like Nek says however I would replace the fence on same line (with farmers agreement) go with high tensile sheep wire and two strands of electric on top. Maybe you pay for fence and Let him keep shock in in. Best child and stock proof for a price. Kids will only touch it once as will dog as Nek says. The concrete posts and mesh wire are good too but runs into money.

Hagimalone

is it not illegal to have an electric fence as a boundary fence?

freedominacup

Hagimalone wrote: »

is it not illegal to have an electric fence as a boundary fence?

Closer to being a legal requirement to have one tbh.

Hagimalone

yes to having an electric fence, but not as a boundary fence between 2 landowners. most electric fences are offset from a hedge or another fence, be it sheep wire or post & rail etc. I'm not 100% sure but def not good practice especially with adjoing property being a garden, don't think insurance company would be in favour.

ganmo

Emm the only requirement if the electric fence is a boundary is to have it sign posted as an electric one.

Cavanjack

Used a sheep wire fence with two strand of barbed wire on top. On the field side I have an electric fence on outriggers to keep the kids away from it, looks well imo. Wouldn't like concrete posts around a house myself. Have hedges set on the inside of the fence then.

Mooooo

Hagimalone wrote: »

yes to having an electric fence, but not as a boundary fence between 2 landowners. most electric fences are offset from a hedge or another fence, be it sheep wire or post & rail etc. I'm not 100% sure but def not good practice especially with adjoing property being a garden, don't think insurance company would be in favour.

Insurance?? It isn't going to electrocute anyone, only an annoying shock. I would bet the majority of farms have electric fence all round

Nekarsulm

Hagimalone wrote: »

is it not illegal to have an electric fence as a boundary fence?

I think years ago there was a question about the advisability of running barbed wire alongside a roadway. The rational was that cyclists or children on bikes would be grievously injured if they crashed into it, and that plain wire was recommended.

Haven't heard of this in ages, so perhaps it was never official.

Genghis Cant

Wouldn't that Clipex fencing be a great job here. Might be too much money but it looks like a job that could last.