Just been given 1/4 acre field

[carlseawolf]

Hi all , as you know i've had my allotment 2 years now and it is nearly at the stage of minimal care so decided i needed more space to grow and keep chickens.
i went looking around where i live as the waiting list for plots is around 60 so no chance of a second and we are not aloud livestock on the plots or where i rent my house.
So i found this waste land next to a factory which has had pigs and chickens on it in the past and got it for the rent of alittle veg a year. It's secure on 4 sides and has cctv on the road up to it so no problems with two legged vermin.

Sorry no photos of it yet as still under bushes and brambles.

[NOG]

Well done I think that is every ones dream it is mine.

[Nicos]

Oh WOW!!!!!!..that's fantastic...you must be chuffed to bits!!!


just a thought- it might be worth drawing up a contract so that you are given plenty of time of 'notice to quit' if the situation were ever to arise ( may sound a bit negative- sorry- but it'd be awful if the owner asked you to leave when you have partially grown veg)

I only thought about it as many years ago my friend and I were given the use of a bit of land for grazing our ponies. We spent a few weekends - with our family too- clearing the rubbish- bought and installed fencing and set up a watering system....and then when it was looking perfect he said he'd decided to sell it and we couldn't use it after all.

Do post piccies as your project progresses!!!

[Pumpkin Becki]

How amazing! I'm over the moon for you, but agree with Nicos - make sure you have something in writing to protect you.

[carlseawolf]

I went after this field because of where and what it is , and because the general concensus is the man who owns it is very honest.
The field is below a bus company he owns and runs and the land is basic waste ground and has been for about 5 years when his wife who runs the farming part of there buisness took the last lot of pigs off.
There is another factory on the north side with waste ground behind there car park that they do not use and have no plan of expanding in the near future. the south side is a row of houses , and to the west a 6' drop down a wall to a main road with no access.
The only road access is on the east side right outside his bus depot so who ever uses the ground has to go passed his bus workshop to get down to the plot.( even then there is steps down to the plot so no direct car access so the next person would also need to be a mountain goat like me).
As you said nicos a contract would be a good idea but i don't want to frighten him off as land is in short supply in ilfracombe and any thing going on the plot will be free or stuff going to the dump, so i'll just have to go with a verbal agreement and hope for the best.

[Snadger]

Well done carlseawolf.....you are about to live my dream!

I just wish I'd sorted myself a smallholding or a croft out when I was a wee bit younger and was able to impose my will on it!

If the land has had pigs on it it should be well rotovated and manured anyway!

Deffo need piccies so at least I can be a voyeur smallholder!

[Nicos]

fair enough- i understand- hope you didn't mind me pointing it out though??

[Pumpkin Becki]

Likeswise, wish you every success Carl

[carlseawolf]

No i don't mind at all nicos and if i could drive and had a bigger search area to look in then everything would be in black and white .
As is i've been looking at around 1 mile from my house and if you know ilfracombe all hills and valleys, everything is just outside town if you want a good bit of farm land so had to find bits that have not been touched for many a year.
So this little prodject will have to be on trust and hope i don't get my fingers burnt.

[Nicos]

Brill- well found!

now come on...what are your initial plans?????

[Flummery]

Oh that sounds fantastic. I wish I could have the paddock behind my garden!

[carlseawolf]

The first parts have been put in place before he said yes as the plan was pretty much the same for all the fields .
Scorced materials for the field includ.

8' -10' pine tree trunks from a tree surgen for chicken run posts ( as many as needed)
wood chip for paths from same person
7' by 5' old shed for bird house
old floor boards from a builder for raised beds
8' by 6' lean to greenhouse from a nursing home
As many pallets as needed.

The plan is to put the chicken run on the north side as there is conifer trees linning this side and the roots will run out onto the plot so the ground can not be used for planting.
2 times runs 5m by 5m square and alternate the runs to avoid pests.
Two ibc water tanks to be placed at the east side to collect water from the factory roof and supply the water by gravity feed hose to the plants as this is the highest part of the plot.
Veg beds running north to south the full lengh of the plot.
Compost bins and fire pit on the south side as less sun there due to tree shade.
Greenhouse on the north side at the top off the slope.

ps highest point is the east side a the lowest west

[Nicos]

Looks like you'll have a busy Easter then???

[SlugLobber]

Oh you lucky thing! Have fun with it!

[dexterdoglancashire]

Well done! Im SO jealous! Enjoy - I cant wait to see your photos and hear about how you are getting on.