Testing the tractor, managed to get approx a third of the field done and then…… Disaster, it seems we’ve sheared a bolt on one of the pulley’s on the cutting deck, apart from that, i’m well impressed with the little tractor, it coped quite well with the long grass.

Finally managed to start burning off some of the excess wood we have since trimming the hedges.

Borrowed some sheep to cut the grass

Steve digging the trench for the water supply

Replaces the Discovery, this should last me a few years

To all my readers, have a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Just had my quote come through from Severn Trent Water to have mains water put onto my field, £570, not bad I thought, mind you, they’ve only got to put in 2 metres of pipe to get to the mains.

Come to a halt on the fencing until I can collect the gates.

My first attempt at fencing, pretty straight and level, not bad, so far…….

I have now sent off my application to Severn Trent for a quote to have water piped to my land. Will keep you posted as to how much, so far we are at £120 plus just to get a surveyor out to have a look.

There is water close by, we found a water meter right outside the gate so the job shouldn’t be too difficult?

Andrew, has fixed my tractor mower, many thanks Andrew, much appreciated mate.

These are just growing in the hedge bottom where we have cut back the hedge, any ideas what species and can I eat them?

The part came for the tractor yesterday and I fitted it, thinking that it would sort out the starting problem, how wrong I was, still nothing. Andrew came over and had a look, but to no joy, he has offered to take it to his workshop and have a go at fixing for me, thanks mate.

Went to pick up my new/used tractor mower last night and there is a part broken on it, so it wouldn’t start, I’ve priced up the part and ordered it so it should be here by Saturday.

Tidying the flailed wood from the headgerow.

One of the small jobs that needed doing, at least now the gate doesn’t swing open

Paul found some hops on the land today

Today we started cutting back the overgrown hedges on the field, in some places they need cutting back around 12 feet.

The gaffer has come to see what I’ve been up to

Thanks to Ben for re-hanging the gate on the land today, there was much hammering and banging

Today we found a water meter on the boundary of the land so hopefully when we strim the undergrowth back we might find an outlet
UPDATE
I called Severn Trent Water and it turns out water meter is for a nearby farm, but at least mains water is close by.

Had a walk around the edge of the land today and had a good look at what wants doing, it seems that the hedges on the inside haven’t been cut back in some years, in some places they are about 6-10 feet deep. This will need flailing back with a tractor and flail, have had a word with a friend of mine and he has offered to do this for me.
There is a stream, natural land drain I think, that runs both front and back of the land making a nice barrier against unwanted guests.
The grass needs a final cut before the winter, again it’s quite long so I think it will need flailing.

This is how the land looks at the moment, just before the hedges were trimmed.

A lot of work to do over the winter months me thinks……..

Just had the hedges trimmed on the new bit of land.

Before……

…………..after

Major changes coming up, hopefully not long if everything goes to plan, fingers crossed, and watch this space.