Changes to the land around our derelict Irish farmhouse. 

To stop me from typing this over & and over , we are not taking out any hedgerow! Only removing the dead ash trees and the huge mound of soil that had been shoved up against the hedgerow by the previous digger driver. We are aware how much of an amazing wildlife habitat hedgerows are, and if we can't get it in better shape and we still decide to remove it, we will do this after 1st Sept. Please note that we have planted 400 hedgerow whips, 30 native tree species & a wildlife pond since we moved in last Sept. We have also left several areas to grow to meadow. We only want to improve this land, create new habitats, and not destroy anything needlessly. The Ash we removed were close to our house and kids' play area. We have had 4 trees fall from that row already, and as shown on this video, we get strong winds year round. It was important that they be removed for safety reasons. Please rest assured that they were thoroughly checked for nests prior to being removed. The Ivy had been removed in the winter, and with very few leaves, this was easy to do. Legally, as they are within 30m of our home, dead and a danger, they can be removed.

If they are failing....use them as firewood. And plant some sturdy hawthorns, oaks, birch, alder, beech and apple, cherry trees etc. Leave a picture poster gap in the prettiest view. PS. Willow likes a 'wet' soil and a weeping willow is such a beautiful tree methinks. You know your land...I'm sure it will be beautiful . ❤❤❤

Replace old and poorly placed trees with trees of a variety you like in locations that work for you as needed for shade, privacy, wind break, fruit, etc. I think planting a tree is a wonderfully hopeful act. It conveys patience and commitment. Your homestead is so lovely. Make it your own.

“To plant trees knowing that you’ll never sit in their shade means that a person understands that life is temporary which is certainly part of learning the meaning of life.” I’ve always loved this saying You two guys are such a great team love watching how things are coming along for you and your family I love that you planted native trees that is so needed in Ireland right now. You guys are really an inspiration.

Hi guys, just wanted to give Bec a huge shout out about all the amazing pointing she is doing on your stunning Irish Homestead. ❤

I'm so sorry you've had some unkind comments. We are the lucky ones that you share your life with us. You're doing a fantastic job. I hope you're proud of all your hard work and life your building for your family. Also love the 2 instalments each week!!!

I think you should take down the old trees and if you really miss them, plant new healthy ones.

Love watching your progress. Hard grafting and great teamwork! Thank you letting us watch you from around the world on this journey 🇨🇦🥰😉👋

If you take out the hedge row and trees, you can plant what you would like to have there. Its is looking so nice. Glad Toby is doing good too.

Ivy kills trees. Lovely to see the progress with not only the house but the land.

Such a nice treat to have a video from you guys on a Wednesday! Thank you! Feel like I’m part of the family just watching your progress, your courage, your sticktoitness ess, and willpower❤

Its your property do what you want with it and don't be listening to negative comments as an Irishman its great to see you give new life into this old derelict property.

Your Vision, your trees, your land. Whatever you do as long as you are happy.

As a farmer, I can understand the point of having a larger field, but you are small holders, who have and want more livestock - the hedges will offer some protection to your animals, but they also house a variety of wildlife and if they look a bit thin and scraggy, then plant some more, fill in the gaps and eventually, it'll thicken up. It all depends what you're going to use the land for and what you'd like to achieve. Adh mor oraibh go leir. 👍👍

i know you do a lot of the heavy and skilled jobs but hats of to your wife the not so glamorous job she has done on the re-pointing looks brilliant fair play to you

Agree, clear the hedges. Plan out garden(s) with raised beds for veg, flowers. And...Keep building out your vision.

The rooster terrified my napping cat, he bolted upright and vanished into the bedroom 😂🙀

Leave the hawthorns bushes and cut them back in the in January/February before the new growth and they will grow back into a fuller hedge. You can partially cut the trunks and bend them over to fill the gaps and they will sprout up and grow into a nice hedge, this was done with sections of the hedges on our farm over the winter and early spring. If you Google "layering hawthorn hedges" you can see how its done

I must say it looks lovely to see your donkey just free you are so good with him

The trees are being suffocating from the vines. The kitty cats are so playful, it’s a joy watching them. I love seeing the dog checking on Toby… from a safe distance. It was nice seeing Camper Vibe, Emily. It was them that recommended your channel. Now I enjoy both channels… lucky 🍀 me😊

Rebecca just seeing you sitting on top of the wall watching Sam put the hoist together. When you are finished the build you will look back on the video and say,” I sat on that wall” amazing. Great work again Sam the man. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Hedges are refuges for wildlife and biodiversity. And protection against wind. Obviously the trees must be healthy! I really like your videos and all the work you accomplished!

Hi Rebecca. It is much easier to plant a new tree than to rebuild the barn. I would also flatten out the dirt so you can get on top of the war on blackberries and ivy. I love seeing the progress on the reno. You have both learnt a lot of new skills. Watching all your animals is awesome.

Reckon you should keep the hedgerows, prune hard and add to them and they'll soon thicken up. Great channel 👍

Thanks for 2 videos a week always great to wake up and spot a new video, cheers from Calgary Canada

You could make hay for Toby out of that long grass. Let it dry and make a big haystack.

While the digger is there get him to do all the work. Take down the tree. Its not worth it if it falls. You can always plant new trees

As far as I know, it's illegal to cut down hedgerows here in Ireland between March and September. It's to protect wildlife.

I have been here done this all 4 years ago .. when u have the digger spread all the topsoil clean up the ditches get all the big machine work done if not you will find it hard to get someone back with a big machine for small bits of work .. the big hallow tree knock it before it falls on someone or something ye have a grate channel if we were closer I would help with with machinery and tools

Loving the regular content!

Bec and Sam can you wait till September to cut the trees? I'd be slow to remove the blackthorn and Whitethorn. Are you going to cut the boundaries trees? These give protection from the Winter storms. Great work Ye are tremendous 👏

Toby seems to really enjoy hanging out with you and all the other critters. Glad he’s feeling better ❤ You both are such hard workers! But I get nervous when you’re on the scaffolding handling those heavy headers! 😮🫣

Can totally understand you wanting to clear things however hedge rows are a really important part of Irish wildlife and are being cut back too much around the country. I would keep them if it was my land. Really enjoy the videos

You’re doing great! Whatever you decide will be perfect! 😊

Credit where its due, you guys certainly aren't afraid of a bit of hard work. It's amazing the progress you have made in the last few weeks. I certainly wouldn't have wanted to take on all that pointing, but your making it look easy. Keep on chipping away at it, and we'll keep on watching from the comfort of our sofas.😅

Hedges are very important for a healthy environment. If yours can't be saved by judicious trimming, then plan on replanting. A good hedge can act as sanctuary for small creatures and birds, act as a windbreak, and frame a view. Old trees need a lot of attention, and whether to keep them depends on what variety. If they can regenerate through pollarding, then keep them, but plan to plant background trees, as well as fruit trees. You are young and will enjoy seeing them grow.

Ooh can't wait for Saturday ! Toby is looking fabulous ❤

Toby roaming,Em throwing, and you two hard at work

OMG - that opening shot of the summer storm - with the strong wind and intense clouds in the closing in on the longest day of the year. The light in Ireland is magical and mystical at this time. Thank you for sharing. I'm feeling very nostalgic.

You will get there Sam just do what you can,take out the old hedge's and tree's and plant new ones at a later date. Lovely seeing Toby wandering around the farm x

Wow, wow, and wow!!!! You two are moving along at a fantastic rate, and making a superb job of it all. I would consider removing any trees that could potentially cause a problem now, or in the future. That way you don't compromise any work you are doing or will need to do later. I would think that people should realise that you are doing everything you can to preserve the habitat of wildlife. Can't wait to see what you get up to next. Thanks for being the family to watch on you tube xx

Yah!!! Love the mid week treats!!!

Cut the ivy at the bottom of the trees because it acts like a sail and ends up taking the tree down in a storm. You can use a pruning saw, hatchet or even a chainsaw if you’re careful.

You clearly understand and love the land and the wildlife. Do what you think is right and don’t listen to the aggression of some, and use the support from many watching your work as a touchstone.

I'm so sorry to say that your farmer friend couldn't be more wrong. Hedges are SUPER important not only to local wildlife but also to your landscape. Do much of the north of Ireland is completely bare of trees and wildlife because slowly these wind brakes have been taken down. The UK has huge problems with hedgerow disappearing and reducing the local bird, small mammal and invertebrate populations. Having said that, hedges need management in order to function properly. If you ever plan on having stock in your field the hedge will be helpful but only if it's full and lively. Have a look at hedge laying and other hedge managing practices. I do hope you keep it!

Hard work and a lot of pain and hours but just look how far you have come, fabulous. Toby is looking great too.

Amazing progress 👏 loving the midweek extra ❤thanks for sharing 👍 ❤

You mom and dad and kids make a great super work team. Happy Father’s Day.

Lovely scenes. Remind me of my Granny's Haggard when I was a child.

I enjoy following your channel. Before removing the hedgerows, you might want to check into permaculture principles regarding how to plan out the property. Of course dead trees have to be cut but you might want to consider replacing them with new trees and keeping the hedgerows... Geoff Lawton has a great channel, Andrew Millison also has some amazing information on the theme. Looking forward to seeing you progress in your project.!!

New title: The care and feeding of tuck-pointing/re-pointing. In my opinion, 'derelict' was the state of the house when you arrived. Maybe 'renovation' or 'purposing' is more apt now. SO much has progressed since that first day! Questionable trees near your structures - hmm, ripe for harvesting. However, trees and bushes (fruit-bearing maybe) offer wind-breaks for gardens, etc. Mad proud of you all!

The drone shot looks so nice and tidy compared to what it was when you first got there 👍❤️

Looking amazing, and even before you asked for comments, I was thinking, just use the digger for all you need done now. Clearing out as much as possible will also free up your mind to make even better choices for the space. Sometimes only when we are past making a decision , does it come clearer that it was the right one. :) besides,the costs later on will be higher. Glad Toby looking healthier and healed up. Home stead is coming along nicely. God bless

Thanks for the up date on Toby❤Ivy is considered an unwanted species in Aussie. It strangles everything it climbs, including brick walls. Agree, take down dead trees. Keep any remaining nice ones. I'm not against hedgerows, they have been around for thousands of years & capture carbon, reduce flooding, & provide habitat for wild life and are a wind barrier for animals on your farm.

Coming along really well love your drive and determination.cant wait to see the ring beam installed❤

Why don't you layer the hedges as that would give them a new life, and don't forget hedges will help with the wind protection for your garden. I would get ride of the trees espceally the sicamores. As for your lake view a nice deck and summerhouse would be nice there with something like a pipsqueek stove for those winter days.

Thank you for an informative video and another look at the beautiful Irish countryside ❤️🙏👩🏻‍🦳

I love watching you guys. You're doing wonders to the place. I'm so excited about how the inside comes put. ❤ oh, please get the poor sad donkey a donkey friend. He looks so sad, and the dog he needs something more to herd. 😅

Decide where you want protection from the wind and the best place to grow plants. Have a look at the RED Gardens project , simplify Gardening and Mossy Bottom for ideas. Good luck from north east Scotland.

Emily has a point BUT does the hedge help the land from being swampy? If you took it out would there be more mud?

ive been watching a few channels, Im gaining a lot of respect when women get to work as well , just help out. they become very beautiful and strong. Grand

It’s going to be a beautiful place for you and your family to root for many years to come😊

Love this channel. You've got an interesting mix of content and such an effort you make to let us see the improvements you make every week. Superb!

I personally would keep and maintain all the hedgerows but remove any unhealthy/dead trees from the outside perimeter boundary, using any felled trees for firewood or wildlife habitat. Also remove any trees that could potentially damage buildings in high winds or storms. Then replace with healthy young native trees. The ideas for a 'picture view' left framing the lake and mountains is really good. I also love the idea of a weeping willow near but not by the pond as the falling leaves would choke the pond. As far as the dividing central hedgerow, I'd keep and maintain that for wildlife but bring the trees down to hedge height so that the stumps provide stability for the hedge and habitat for wildlife. Get some blackberry bushes in there too. Maybe some hardy fushia bushes? Have you seen the fushia hedgerows in Kerry leading down to the Dingle peninsula? Absolutely beautiful. As long as they're not harmful to donkeys though. 🙂 Land management is a very necessary task and sometimes needs brutal decisions for the benefit of the land and its wildlife. Anyone who has been following your adventures will know your ethos and love of nature so 'you do you' and follow your heart and instincts. It'll be grand. On another note...have you tried Barmbrack yet? I've got a great recipe if you want it. A great one for the kids to bake.

Take it down 🚜 I ❤love watching your hard work. You are all amazing!

Yes. Remove all the dead trees, plant new ones around the property line, remove the scrub and trees from the centre and have one large field. Looking at the new meadow and juvenile trees will be fantastic. So calming and rewarding😊

Great leaveling with the digger,why don’t you case the bancorse with the roof timbers the traditional Irish way. The deciding hedge should be left , firstly the hedge roe provides extra shelter, secondly the roots of the hedge extend out making a very wet aeria drier, thirdly as your holding is small the smaller paddocks are easier manage. I own fields from 6 acres down to one quarter of an acre and all have advantages Kr

If you do take down the last trees. Make sure you are allowed. It is breeding season after all

Love watching your videos. You all are living my dream ❤

You do what you think makes you feel happy and I think it would look a hole lot better with out the hedge

I know the idea to cut down a big old beautiful tree is not always great, but if it's hollow then it can be very dangerous (not only for the building, but also for your familie and animals. I have a friend who's dog got killed from a big branch that fell down 😪

Super progress. Great news about Toby. ❤

The hollow tree I would if I was you take it down before you get a good storm and it blows it down onto a building, always better to be safe than sorry

Hi there John dearden UK viewer,, Defo take it out and start from Afresh👍👍👍👍

Hi guys, just caught up with your journey over the last few weeks and ive loved your story. Your doing a great job all 4 of you 👍

My word the view is gorgeous. Great work as always ✅✅✅✅

We are removing some old bad trees in our hedgerows, but mainly just stuffing the gaps with pollinators for the orchard. Crap apples, Damsels, wild pears, but also wild cherries, Sloes, dog-rose, hazel, Gelder rose, Rowan, Elder and anything that gives flowers in different times of the year and attracts insects and help with other main fruit trees. At the same time provide shelter because exposed sites do not do well with fruit trees.

I see you got your weedwhacker (strimmer) back from Louise & Emily and it's still working! It was so nice to see Em pop up in your video. You folks have such wild, wet, and windy weather over there - my hat goes off to you! Take care and remain safe. :)

Agree that all of it needs to come down and the. You can put in lovely trees that will provide shelter for wildlife and fruit trees for you!

I don’t know anything about farming or maintaining land, but I do know Sam and Becca will take everything into consideration before taking any action regarding the land. They are a great couple for taking sound advice imo. Comments made about taking drainage etc. into account sounds like good advice as does filling in the hedgerow by bending back the existing growth to create a thicker hedge. Local advice is probably the best. Maybe ask one of the older farmers? Either way I know ye will both do what’s best. Carry on with the great work.😊

Thanks for the mid-week update! Always a joy to see your videos. Toby looks good!

I know you have more than enough to do but you should consider planting deciduous trees now to provide wind breaks which will also add to the beauty of your holding in the years ahead.

Awwww you are both doing so very well sending hugs and blessings to you both and the children tc now the oldies 🤗🤗🤗🤗👍👍🌹

I love trees and I say get rid...and the hedge too! You'll plant something healthy, and that you love. Life is too short to try keeping ailing plants and trees going till they drop. I wouldn't have said that five years ago, the guilt at throwing out a house plant on it's very last leg. Now I throw in compost and replace! Happy out. 🙂

Hi! From experience on doing almost exactly the same journey as yourselves I would take out anything that could fall into the property. Some home insurance companies would require it but leave anything else for a wind break. Also, there will be nesting pairs and fledglings about so I’d wait until start of autumn. Really loving the extra footage. What a treat ❤❤❤

Gosh, the pointing on the stone walls look so awesome. I love it!! As for the trees, they are more of a hazard if they are dead. They could fall and cause a disaster. For safety, you are right to remove them. We are so spoilt to get a mid week video. Thank you so much. 🥰🥰

Na leave them,add new ones as well if you want but you want songbirds around, squirrel's too!

Take out the hedgerow that divides the land but enhance the planting on your perimeter with new hawthorn, blackthorn, elder, crab apple and flowering trees to enhance the habitat. Keep a mow-free strip of 1m around the perimeter as well to really enhance the habitat. Great work on the house - so keep going!

Get rid of the trees, they are offering nothing but are a danger in high winds especially near your buildings. You can always control hedgerows and the Ash trees would provide great logs for a fire. Me and my chain saws would love to get at them :) Good work on them ring beams - not easy at all.

Lovely 'orb' watching over you from inside the building as you put the lintels on the scaffold - 😉

I'd definitely cut the trees down and plant new, healthy trees.... and get rid of that ivy! That's likely what's killing them.

I would definitely get rid of the dead tree near the barn!!!

Sadly, trees don't live forever. I'd want to freshen things up by removing the weak/old/diseased trees and the ones that are not in a good spot. Nurture the remaining healthy trees and plant lots of new ones! How about a fruit orchard?

Bec, take down the tree next to the barn. It's not worth the possibility of losing the barn in a stiff wind. If you don't like the other trees, take them out. Personally, I like the ring of trees as a wind break. Of course, I'm from Wyoming where you'll find wind socks on the highways as warnings to drivers! Any wind break is a relief. See you Sunday! Blessed Be!

PLEASE keep the hedgerow as much as you can, it’s a habitat for insects and animals that will benefit your growing veg etc. just give it a very healthy pruning to tidy it up, but beware nesting birds this time of year. I would however, while the digger is there get rid of the rotten trees, especially the one by the barn, the work and cost if the tree were to come down and cause damage doesn’t bare thinking about. There are lots of comments about clearing it all but it will affect the water table, your ground could become wetter/boggier. And have you seen the cost of a decent sized tree or shrub, removing healthy and then replacing makes no financial sense plus trees and hedges don’t grow big overnight. 🌱

Yeah, clearing them out and planting new trees in a more appropriate location seems to be the best suggestion.

The before and after pictures are great. You can really see the progress you have made. I don’t know enough to comment on the hedgerows but I would take down the hollow tree so it doesn’t damage the barn .

You can really see the difference in the stone wall, looks good, thank you for the mid-week show made my day :)

Hedgerows are important for wildlife and help with flooding. I think you should keep it but trim it a bit to thicken it and have it neat looking.

Looking good guys but yes take it all out level it off and start again the risks of falling on your historic builds is not worth the risk It’s all looking amazing we have been watching your progress and very exciting times ahead ❤