A Purchase That Didn't Work Out || Can AnyThing Be Done With This Waste Ground 

You could plant a load of berry bushes. Red currant, black currant, Aronia, maybe a few hazel bushes, and some willows. Good for bees etc in the spring, and either you or the birds can appreciate the berries 🙂

Hi Aidrian really enjoy your farm tours and comments. Regarding the whin covered slope and what to do with it , I would plant with smaller trees like Crab , Cherry , Birch and Spindle . Reasons why are 1 once established their virtually maintenance free ( wildflowers are difficult to get right and need maintenance. 2 Trees suggested are low growth in nature and less liable to being blown over . 3 They stabilise the slope furher . 4 in the event of stock or machinery going into the sloped area they may stop it before the drop to the river. 5 all the trees mentioned benefit insects immensely and by extension birds as well . Be interested in others comments.

🤔🤗 50 years ago Adrian, I left university as a qualified Engineering graduate! I started a craft wood turning business in West Wales and I'm telling you because I bought loads of Lime trees to make bowls and plates! So if your Limes get too old, wood turners will bite your hand off! Alternative land use again! 👍👌

Hello from Niagara falls, Canada. Burn the bottom yard/meter of the post and top few cms and it will protect them.

Melt a bit tar on top off ESB Stops rot and seals top on a dry day

Great video Adrian but do not disturb your winds they are one of the most beautiful thing growing on a farm, not only for there beautiful colours but for other insects and animals, no wild flowers would replace them, all you have to do is control them from your fence and let them be

Thankfully here in northern Ireland we still get the old telegraph poles that are replaced on our land. I cut maybe 30 8 foot lengths a couple of years ago and as you say they serve well for strainers

We just let our cows out today for the first time, what a good sight! Just been far too wet with us too, but a few dry days has helped. As for your docks, we have our quad bike sprayer on all the time and when we bring the cows in for milking if it's dry weather, then we will spot spray any docks. Doesn't have be be them all, just a few every time and when you do a few every time then you will see a difference. Even a 5 litre portable sprayer with a hand lance, like you'll see at a garden centre will do the job.

Trees Adrian. Spindle, Sceach/Whitethorn, Holly, Hazel and the fantastic pollinator Crab apple. I’ve just finished another area like that for a farmer using all native pollinators and great feed and cover for birds. Thing of beauty.

We are told that less than 2% of native woodland remains here on the island of Ireland it’s always a good idea to plant trees I agree with the thorn along the bank black thorn and haw thorn have great root systems trees and wood will always be useful to humans and nature in many ways Have a peaceful day sir ✌️❤️🌲🪵🪓🐝

Great video as usual Adrian. I recon either berry bushes or plugplant some wildflowers. What they wouldn't want is nutrition like what ryegrass is thirsty for, because then the rye will just drown them out and they'll never get a chance. As you know, if you look at a field that never gets fertiliser or muck on, the wildflowers often thrives because it's got nothing to compete with. If you do plant wildflowers though, you should at least open it up to the stock for at least a few days each year so that their feet can break up the ground and grass a bit because in the natural world, there would be migrating herbivores helping the flowers. Whatever you do, I'm sure it'll be impressive!

Some farmers are known to dip the ends of the posts in used engine oil paying attention to dipping high enough to soak just above ground level. The post used to last well before the EU banned some wood preservatives.

the wild flowers would be a really good addition and look great the more plants with deep roots the better it will stop erosion

Great video Adrian.The bale trailer that you sold looked good Quailty😊👍

Adrian, how can you not see the magnificent beauty of the the gorse, not only magnificent looking but a habitat for all sorts of wildlife. Don't touch it and enjoy its beauty, its no waste. Huge fan of your channel.

Fields are looking really good, like you say they need a bit of sun to help the grass grow. I think we're all guilty of buying something we think might be helpful, only to find out it's not. At least you didn't loose on it, which is always a positive. 👍

I would be hesitant about wildflowers, lots of times the seeds you get are invasive species mixed in. I'd definitely think about maybe putting in a couple beehives, it'll be a benefit to the whole farm.

Nice to see some good grass over your way! 😊😊

I adore your favorite spot! Those trees are astounding❤️ I like the wildflower idea for the bees, but I would also put a good ground cover plant to keep the erosion down. Maybe a tree or two that grows small, or a shrub on the steepest place so the roots can help hold the soil. I would stay away from anything tall or top heavy. That’s just asking for trouble. The ground cover plants will do the most good for erosion.❤️🤗🐝

Keep the great videos coming friend from Scotland 😊

Brilliant video adrian metal stakes wicked expensive might have to replace wire but you wont be replacing stakes lovely grass fierce tasty back fencing set up

Something to give back into natural nature would be amazing. Wild flowers is a great idea,

The problem with gorse is that the seeds can lie dormant in the ground for up to 60 years, when i worked on a sheep station we would roll bales of hay into the steep gullies and the cattle would go down and trample all the gorse, when it was finally cleared out we would plant pine trees to out compete the gorse and provide a future cash crop. Your situation is slightly different as its not a gully, but wildflowers would just get smothered by gorse, fast growing trees are the only solution i can see, eventually they will kill off the gorse.

You have a beautiful farm well done and great to see your daughter having a great interest

Downy birch and some hawthorn would suit that area best. Both are native and extremely hardy and will be well able to cope with the slope. Perhaps plant the downy birch in the middle as a woodland and the hawthorn around the edge as a fence hedgerow.

Is it Yellow Gorse or yellow Furze growing in that field. My grand parents would cut it all, dry it and use it for kinding for starting fires in the stoves. You can cut and dry it, then sell it as fire starters at the markets. [2] Build a Gabion Wall! Build thigher than the back side of the hill almost like a row of chimneys sticking up. Then you can keep dropping stones and rocks down inside the wire cage. You could get your friends with the big equipment to come in and take out the half of it, making a straight up wall, put a wire frame anchored into it..and fill it with all your stones & rocks that are all over the place. Make it high enough that no one could fall over the top side. Build a gorgeous Gabion Wall on the back dug out side, then build on a winter greenhouse or storage shed on the front side. Almost like a lean-to, but with a purpose. Great place to store potatoes, onions, and all kinds of root vegetables.

Hi Adrian not only farmers fed up of rain ,I worked on family dairy farm but I work in construction now and building sites are just mud pits with this rain just makes everything hard work

Here in Brasil we mix used engine oil mixed with diesel to protect the fence posts and it works a treat , spray it on with your backpack sprayer !

We used them 6 bale carriers a few times they are terrible awkward Yokes. We bought a lynch multipurpose trailer and we love it. Brings 12 bales and way handier and more Compact

What are those lovely yellow flower bushes? You can buy wildflower seeds individually… you pick only the ones you want avoiding invasive plants. Bee hives would be amazing, here in Canada the farmers “rent” the land to the bee keepers in return for honey. Love your videos. Thank you for sharing all of your many jobs as a farmer. Many people don’t have any idea just how much you need to know and do.

Waste ground maybe thick hedging small tree type and meadow style flowers.

On your bank I would plant some trees, underplanted with bluebells, daffodils and primroses. Whatever you plant there, make sure it’s native.

Ideas for Steep area not used:- Firewood plantation ( probably for next generation) oak, ash, bird cherry, birch. If you plant trees, leave the yellow gorse bush, as it will protect the young saplings. Berry bush area,,,, summer berry heaven with every type of berry known to man. Whatever you do, hedge plant the perimeter, so your cattle get tree fodder in that area, not just white thorn, but hazel, willow, tagasaste for cattle fodder. Bee plantation, stick some hives in there. Secret log cabin surrounded by forest.

Grass is looking well 👌 A few more of those cow tracks between some paddocks would be a big help in getting cows to grass more often. We have 4 and they’re one of the best things we’ve ever put in. I’d leave the firs as we’d call them, and maybe add in a few tress around the edges. The firs will do plenty for biodiversity as they are

Nice one Adrian. A wild life area should be a part of every farm, I'm sure those furze bushes are important for bees, be(e) good to get advice on this from someone who understands the environment. I know nettles are very important for butterflies 🦋. I expect docks have a role to play also. Everything in nature must serve some purpose. In a perfect world maybe slurry should be dried to a powder, granulated and then spread on the land. There is a few videos on RU-vid about Supersoil organic fertiliser, its a powder, mixed in the sprayer and sprayed on the grass, I would have thought you would be some man to review it.

Moore concrete strainers keeps fence tight then cheap posts and be prepared chsnge them😊

Teagasc man told me clipex fine for dividing paddocks but earth easily on the hedgerows

Moore concrete in Northern Ireland make concrete posts and strainers that can be put in with a post driver, never used them but the strainers look the business

We get rid of whins by cutting them off at the root and painting on mcpa onto the roof which is left

Nut plantation, chestnut (eating ones) walnut, hazel, blended with firewood plantation

Hi Adrian, Just on the fencing, I recommend concrete stakes and concrete sleepers for corners..also good for hanging gates...cheers Nathan R

Cut a point on the top of your esb strainers so they shed the water and paint tops with old engine oil or tar to stop them rotting

Where i work we use crash barriers c sections as corner posts u can get the wire murder tight. And they last for years

Tree at the bottom and wild flowers

I put our post in a 45 gallon drum half full of oil. I lest it sit for 3 to 4 weeks and they have lasted 40 years.

Nice to see the farm when your going around on the quad nice fencing and hedges trimmed it take a serious amount of time and effort to do it! Also mad to see how well RU-vid takes to farming people actually are interested in what we do as farmers 😂

Birch trees? Except for the pollen, if you are allergic. But, you could sap them like maple trees. Wild flowers and sweet smelling bulbs that aren't poisonous should animals be attracted to feed off them. Bring in the sheep or goats in a fenced off section of those yellow flowered, what ever they are. That should get rid of them or at least keep them trimmed back.

I saw some comments about low growing trees and I was thinking bushes. These will attract birds and keep the soil. Plus you wouldn’t need to worry about wildflower seeds blowing into areas you don’t want them.

Your right with your space problem Adrian . Smart decision to sell her 👍

Cracking video as always. If it were me I would plant some trees

Grass is beautifully green and lush. Adrian, Nicole has heifers under control before you get there. Outstanding family effort. Can we see the 7 late coming calves? Thank you for sharing.🐄

Planting trees with the right root structure (fir, spruce, pine, etc.) would not only make the ground more stable, but would also help keep nutrients on your land rather than flowing down into your neighbour when it rains

Good show Adrian. Good to get rid of things that just take up space. Wild flowers sound nice but God knows what you're really getting when buying seed. I'd buy just the specific species seeds I wanted. Not a mix. Then plant them. Maybe some berries, some specific flowers. Just don't buy a wildflower mix. I've always been done wrong when I try that.

Another great video, a big shout out to Nicole though, I love to see her working with you and she always has a smile on her face x

Maybe a bit of each for the steep bank Adrian. Perhaps a few trees that don't grow too tall with wild flowers?

This old Omagh lady doesn't like the whinds either... I hate them, it's a good idea to get a few bee hives, u'll get it sorted Adrian. Those two wee girls of yours are awesome. God Bless them.. 🐄🐃🐄

For the waste ground, what about fruit trees/bushes? Something that wouldn't grow too tall (therefore less likely to fall over on the steep ground) and it might bring in the insects in the same way that the wildflowers would? Plus you get a bit of fruit! If doing blueberries, try putting in different types together (2 or 3). Don't bother with strawberries or the ike, as they're quite invasive and spread like mad.

You put in some alder trees, since they grow fast and are native to Ireland. They love damp marshy land, they also help with land fertility. That and wildflowers with beehives would be a good mix of things.

Birch because it’s a pioneer tree and will eventually attract other trees with hazel as understory and a couple of beehives sound like a great idea. Love your channel, thanks for all your hard work. You are one of the very few farmers that seems to be able to see outside the box

I am agricultural/equine fencing contacter in the UK and clip ex is not what it's made out to be need alout of striner posts with every bend and twist

Wild flowers I think would be the beast in case you get bad/fast winds 👍🏻👍🏻

Hi Adrian, working hard as usual, me not being not a farmer but all the local farmers still use the wooden posts with the electric fences. They tell me easy to work with so probably stick to what you're used to. 😊

If you left the gorse go old brambles would come in and flatten the gorse and trees would start to grow from seeds from what used to be there. Bluebells might be in the seedbank of the soil aswell which would then make it a bluebell wood

Wildflowers usually do better in lighter soil with little nutrients or soil where the nutrients have been taken away by many years of hay/silage so they aren’t outcompeted by grass. On somewhere as steep as that you’d struggle to manage wildflowers (ie a bit of grazing or hay making). And you would need to manage it to stop it just turning back to scrub land. Trees would cope fine with that slope however on the other hand wildflowers would be far better for biodiversity and are a much more rare habitat and would probably be nicer to look at

There's stuff called Creocoat. I've used it over a good few years now on a variety of outdoor wood. 3 coats is best, it soaks into the timber and repells water. Homeland sells it, light brown or dark brown.. great videos👍

Hi Adrian! I don't know if those grow in your area, but in France we use false acacia to make fence posts, very hard wood, will last you 30 years! They're a bit of work to make if you don't find some to buy, but they're worth it Have a nice Sunday

you should plant juniper trees there's a lack of them around

they look beautiful and is a native shrub. let it be the pioneer specie for some trees that will shade out that bush in time.

You have a beautiful farm, you could wildflower seeds in that area to provide more food for bees. Have a chat with your local apiary and see if they would like to put some hives in the field. I wouldnt like to drive down that steep bank with hives but I would put them somewhere less steep and the bees will soon find their food.

Adrian have the same problem myself with very steep bits of ground. I've planted with native trees, oak, rowan,birch and holly. the wild flower idea sound like a good idea. Maybe put in two maybe 3 Lime trees to hold the hill into pace and then put wildflowers in along side?

Kiln dried posts seem to last well. Larch could be fantastic, if they're easily available.

Hi just watched Tom Pemberton hanging holly up in his calf to help with rinworm on them he must have been watching one of your posts.

The weather is crazy everywhere.

bees are a good idea if it benefits the farm so yes on he wild flowers , if it still has a water supply what about a wildlife pond just something that wouldnt cause you extra work but could be enjoyed. great content thank you

I would put up a strong fence and an electric fence outside it and just let it be, re-wild it. There is plenty of grass! It would be beneficial to wildlife 🙂

Sure try the wild flowers and for the craic get yourself a beehive, your own honey will be worth it.

as for the unused land id cut into it a seating area if it has a good view and platn wild flowers...

When your tightening electric fence wire in to a bend (nook / hollow in a field ). You can get a thing called a toggle. ( goes on lobster pots ) Basically you put the wire true one Side put a rope or wire on the other side and pull it back to a anchor point in the ditch can be a tree or a bar.

Class video. As other said behaves and a mixture of the wild flowers and winds. Maybe a few Irish apple trees too. Grass is super important and bees are super important too

I think the wild flowers would be a great job. Another poster mentioned that there might be invasive seeds, so if you could maybe source from an Irish supplier, that might be able to guarantee no invasive varieties, and maybe include a few shrubs, you could create a lovely little habit for insects and birds.

Good morning from Canada. Do all your girls love farming as much as you do.

Fantastic job in the cattle, they look very good conditioned with a shine to the skin, just as it should be this time a year. Keep up the good work. Greetings from Denmark.

Wild Flowers, help the bees and insects and will look lovely.

Wild flowers waste of time lovely the first year and then weeds for life .even if ya plant its hard to get rid of gorse .

Native plants are always the best bet. I have no idea what is native to your area but I know planting wild flowers in my area could cost some fines for invasive plants.

I would be slow to get rid of the wiens Adrian. they would hold the bank together. Wildflowers ? I think ( but you would know for sure ) that when the leaves comes on the trees that they would cause too much shad for the wildflower to trove

Great video Adrian as always green green grass you couldn’t beat it 👌

Your right about the rain Adrian it can pull you down so just need to keep the chin up and concentrate on other work, grass is looking good nice day would see some rolling, as you say, in coming week is suppose to be good, enjoyed your video as usual, good luck to you all, PS whats the crack with the bungalow

Great stuff Adrian,leave the May Bush ,don't touch,question where you get grips on front of quad rack for holding posts,stay safe

Great video Adrian.

Regards bale trailer u have tractor and loader buy flat trailer and set soft hands you can load and unload from 1 side reducing space needed

Beautiful pastures Adrian. The steep slope perhaps fence it off and just allow it to grow up naturally. (A heavy duty fence) Like you said a very unsafe area. Seems that it will just be a constant project otherwise. Wishing you a dry and safe week. Deb

A wee wild life area would be good for it….wildflowers, a few wee trees and maybe some bird box’s…🤔

The whins bushes are great for the honeybee this time of year. Don't get rid of them.

Well Adrian, how u great to get the cattle out , Lovely green crass , not easy keeping winds down l would get a digger & stub them & leave it all off, great video, chat soon, kieran from Laghey donegal town

Be a lovely spot for a game crop wild bird mix

Whatever you put in to the spot make sure it’s native. Not many native flower mixes on the market. The furz are good for biodiversity of course so not the worst thing in the world

first video i saw, good video, great farm by the looks of it. But i was wondering when i saw you calf shed 12:40, what are the branches for hanging from the roof? and what type of tree is it from?

Adrian what seed do you use on your land I would love to know

What about wild Irish rose and a few small apple trees and wild plum .