Would I be mad to buy a 5 acre field?

[BFG]

ScottishNewbie, the totally underestimating the work involved was the main reason I posted here originally and is a concern. What would a typical day/week be like for you?

Even if I was able to, I don't think I'd want to spend every day just keeping it going. I don't mind a bit of hard work, but I wouldn't want to be constantly tending to it. Not whilst I'm working full time at least.

That's partly why I like the woodland idea. I was hoping to let mother nature do her thing.

I have to admit, I'm getting slightly cold feet about it all now. I prefer my gung ho reckless side!

[SarzWix]

This is interesting reading; Pioneer Species - plants for re-establishing Woodland - Plants For A Future

[BFG]

Thanks. Very interesting. Sounds like with the right choice of plants and some careful planning, getting a woodland going and then pretty much running itself could be achievable.

I do love the PFAF site. It's brilliant. Making a Forest Garden in the same permaculture style as them is my ultimate goal

[Scottishnewbie]

ScottishNewbie, the totally underestimating the work involved was the main reason I posted here originally and is a concern. What would a typical day/week be like for you?

We have horses on 3-4 acres so that's not so bad, though we need to remove stuff like ragwort almost weekly (kills horses and landowners are resposible for removing it). That can take a good couple of hours and needs to be dug out by hand.

We also have apple trees and they are pretty much ok (though I know we are supposed to do stuff with them - just not gotten round to it yet!).

Grass areas need cut every week - mixture of ride on, strimmer and hand mower.

Weeding, weeding, weeding...but then that probably won't be a bother for you - ours starts where our house and garden end so we need it to be tidy(ish).

Then there's the chicken area and the veggies. I use raised beds in the main but changing them from field to beds was H-A-R-D work!

And we have to maintain the walls around the area and have also had to build fences, etc. They all need treated from time to time.

It is somewhat addictive though and I love every backbreaking minutes. My OH lied when we moved here and "promised" he'd help......still waiting!

I cut back on work (well the paid variety) and that made a huge difference but there are never enough hours in the day to do everything on the 'to do' list each morning!

I don't think yours seems like it would be as timeconsuming but then again, I didn't think ours would be either!

Personally I'd go for it if oyu can afford it - the worst that can happen is you'd need to sell it again, but definately find out as much as you can ahead of time.

Hope this helps and I wish you luck.

Laura

[NOG]

They could charge me VAT because they're registered?

Changing from agricultural to domestic? Does that mean a house or something else? That sounds interesting.

It would add 15% to the cost.

Not a change in use would let you use it as a garden but you would then need planning permission to build a house on it.

[tootles]

From a work perspective - Our woods were vineyards thirty years ago, the owners moved away and it is now 23 acres of woodland that is doing very nicely all by itself. I can't even begin to imagine how the thousands of oak, chestnut and hazel trees got here, but I know that they weren't planted.
I suppose it is all a question of how long you want to take over the project.....

p.s. madness is all relative, we moved to Southern France to a ruin with 26 acres and no electricity. We brought three young children and a dog and lived in a caravan for 7 months. You only live once - do what makes you happy while you are still able. Of course there will be those who tell you it is a bad idea (probably not here though), but it isn't their dream.

[Hilary B]

It would add 15% to the cost.

Not a change in use would let you use it as a garden but you would then need planning permission to build a house on it.

I am sure land isn't subject to VAT (they wouldn't need to have the Stamp Duty thing if it was). There are assorted things that 'sometimes go with' land that might have VAT on, but I don't think any of them are likely on 'just a field'. If in doubt, ask the solicitor!

[zazen999]

Having all the above helps - but I'd still go ahead - just armed with more knowledge that you had - if you really want to.

[bobleponge]

I'm with Tootles 100%. The Tootles and me are living our dream. I can only speak for myself but since moving I've had both good days and bad ones, but not once have I ever thought "this was a carp idea."

DO IT!! If you can afford it, and if its your dream, then do it.

Yes you would probably be completely mad to buy a 5 acre field, but who's ever had a logical dream??
Stuff logic, thats rubbish!!

[BFG]

Ok, thanks all. I'll answer everyone properly later, but to everyone that's said "just do it", I'm am. Well, going to try anyway.

I was having a moment of weakness thinking I was maybe being naive and it might be too much work/hassle, but I'm over that now.

I think what everyone has said has confirmed that as I'll let most of it go to (slightly influenced) woodland, the workload will be manageable. And I should hopefully be able to agree deals with farmers to mow bits in exchange for hay or even grazing.

If I wanted to step it up to small holding style at some point in the future, when i've got more time, I can.

I have slight concerns about security and access, but I'm going to follow them up today.

[BFG]

The whole arable bit needs some more investigation too. Would a future smallholding style affair be permitted? Would I be allowed to keep chickens?

[BrandNewDay]

I've seen eucalyptus growing in Spain and Portugal and while they are useful as fast growing timber, they do have drawbacks, and in some of the dryer areas efforts are beign made to get rid of them because they outcompete other species for water. I don't know how they would respond to being kept to hedge size, but you would probably get a LOT of prunings!
In South Africa (where we had a short but lovely holiday on a tiny game reserve) they are a real nuisance. They planted some in the 60s/70s for timber, thought better of it after 25 years or so,cut down all they could, only to discover that the eucalyptus had spead into the hills where control was impractical. Apparently some native trees are all but extinct as a result.
I probably over-react a bit, but I just don't like the things!

I agree about the eucalyptus. I used to live in the San Francisco Bay Area and the East Bay hills are full of them. They were a major contributing factor in the Oakland Hills firestorm that destroyed thousands of homes. They're a real fire hazard in areas that have a lot of them because they're explosively volatile.

Then, they kill undergrowth by dropping their waxy leaves full of Eucalyptus oil. A friend of mine had a neighbor with a big tree and absolutely nothing would grow in his little garden, even after he raked up the leaves.

I don't think they're a good idea in Britain at all.

[BFG]

It has vehicle access round and across another field only. Its pretty secure that way as least (no traveller problems hopefully), but not great for me and my hatchback. Would that put you off? How would I get firewood off site? Would I need to get myself a Landrover? Maybe I could get a (push) bike trailer!

It has got a footpath next to it for easy pedestrian/cycle access. I'd want to hedge the side and put a security gate in.

[bobleponge]

As someone on this thread said before, QUAD!! All the farmers near me use them, you can get a trailer attachment too, so firewood problems are negated. They are road legal, so if its only 5 mins from your house, you're sorted.
And they're great fun too.

[BFG]

I'm liking the sound of that.