Hilly Land Uses

farmer2018

I am thinking of buying hilly land that could be bought for very small money, the problem is forestry cannot be planted on it. The soil is peaty with a lot of heather but dry. Can anyone tell me of alternative uses other than cattle or it a waste of money/investment?

TheBoyConor

Why can't you plant trees on it?

farmer2018

I think something to do with heather I am told.

TheBoyConor

I see. is there any scheme where you could you plant native trees suited to that type of land at a low enough density so that the trees and the heather and whatever is there already can co-exist?

I'd talk to a forestry/agri consultant about it anyway.

If there was you could plant it that way as a nature reserve more than anything then claim the payments for it and more or less just leave it to its own devices for years on end.

Cattle you're only wasting time, effort and money. Try get in on an environment scheme where you can claim money for doing little or nothing with it once the trees are set.

2smiggy

any chance of a wind turbine ?

Birdnuts

farmer2018 wrote: »

I think something to do with heather I am told.

Peat soils are not eligible for forestry grants any more - as they are important for carbon storage and flood control which forestry operations damage/disrupt.

farmer2018

Birdnuts wrote: »

Peat soils are not eligible for forestry grants any more - as they are important for carbon storage and flood control which forestry operations damage/disrupt.

Are you sure about that?

Birdnuts

farmer2018 wrote: »

Are you sure about that?

Close to certain - you can ask folks with more experience than me in the forestry forum but AFAIK the grants for peat soils stopped about 10 years ago.

_Brian

Birdnuts wrote: »

Peat soils are not eligible for forestry grants any more - as they are important for carbon storage and flood control which forestry operations damage/disrupt.

This is the case, but lots of planning still being granted. It’s disgusting really.

farmer2018

Birdnuts wrote: »

Close to certain - you can ask folks with more experience than me in the forestry forum but AFAIK the grants for peat soils stopped about 10 years ago.

A high percentage of forestry planted in Ireland must be surely planted in peaty soils.

Birdnuts

farmer2018 wrote: »

A high percentage of forestry planted in Ireland must be surely planted in peaty soils.

It was historically before the forestry service was compelled to address issue such as run-off, acidification,carbon storage etc. and the poor quality of many of these plantations. I inquired about the native forestry scheme for my own place in North Mayo earlier this year(got turned down as it happens due to exposure issues at my coastal site) but the lad they sent out also mentioned that alot of peatland sites that were planted in the West will not get grant support to be replanted due to the issues mentioned above

Castlekeeper

I knew a very profitable beef farmer with that type of ground. 100 acres of heather, 30 acres of fields. Bought 10 cheap Fr stires in the back end, out wintered with some hay, sold as 2-1/2 or 3-1/2 with basically zero costs.
No damage done to the ground at low stocking rates. 8-1100ft asl.

Other hill farms used to get bought and paid for with organics, reps, and sps but I'd say that day is gone. There might be a re-wilding grant in the next CAP thatd suit you.
With regard to the forestry, is it designated land?

farmer2018

Castlekeeper wrote: »

I knew a very profitable beef farmer with that type of ground. 100 acres of heather, 30 acres of fields. Bought 10 cheap Fr stires in the back end, out wintered with some hay, sold as 2-1/2 or 3-1/2 with basically zero costs.
No damage done to the ground at low stocking rates. 8-1100ft asl.

Other hill farms used to get bought and paid for with organics, reps, and sps but I'd say that day is gone. There might be a re-wilding grant in the next CAP thatd suit you.
With regard to the forestry, is it designated land?

I don't think so