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Post by NellyDee on Jun 19, 2015 10:55:10 GMT
Is there anything that I can spray on plants and around areas that deter sheep? All my efforts over the past few years to create a wild meadow and wild areas, and more recently planting up an area in memory of my husband, have been completely thwarted by the sheep eating anything that appears, and now the sheep are eating the azalea, lupin, the leaves off the young elderberry and have trampled down a young juniper in my memory garden. 2 sheep + their 2 lambs, have taken up permanent residence and are joined at the end of each day by 9 sheep coming down off the hill for the night - they go back up in the morning. It is like banging my head against a brick wall with the farmer, he does come and herd them back up, gives me a hard luck story, then the next day they are back.
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Post by grumpyaudeman on Jun 19, 2015 21:15:36 GMT
Hi
I am sorry to know your efforts seem in vain. Is the wild meadow your property or what what legal authority do you have on it
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Post by alf1951 on Jun 20, 2015 6:16:22 GMT
Legally it's the farmer's duty to keep his livestock under control. When we moved to our present home the boundary with a field was in poor repair and our neighbour's sheep were using our property to access the road. We offered to share the cost of rebuilding the stone wall but this was declined even when we repeatedly rang him to point out that his sheep were on the road again. A few months later he moved cattle into the field. When they started nibbling on our plants and shrubs, I pointed out that some of our plants were poisonous to animals. He very quickly put up a stock fence on his side of the boundary - no problems since!
Alf
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Post by Tringa on Jun 25, 2015 17:18:32 GMT
This is a difficult one, Nelly. There are a number of plants thet could be used as a hedge which sheep would probably leave alone, eg Blackthorn, Berberis, Hawthorn, Rosa rugosa. However, the problem with all of them is they would, I think, be vulnerable when they were young and would need a stock fence to protect them from the sheep until they had grown enough, which defeats the object of having a hedge, and a hedge would need looking after.
Do the sheep come in via a small entrance that could be blocked or so they have access over a wide area?
Is the farm a croft? If so, the Crofting Commission may be able to advise.
It would useful to know if it is your responsibility to keep the sheep out or the farmer's responsibility to keep them in, I would guess the latter but I do not know. Even if it is the farmer's responsibility I guess you want to keep on good terms with a neighbour and don't want to consider legal action.
Dave
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Post by dogghound on Jun 28, 2015 21:14:41 GMT
This is a difficult one, Nelly. There are a number of plants thet could be used as a hedge which sheep would probably leave alone, eg Blackthorn, Berberis, Hawthorn, Rosa rugosa. I would stay clear of Rosa rugosa its included on Schedule 9 and could cause problems in the future if it spreads off your land :-) |
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Post by Tringa on Jun 30, 2015 16:18:05 GMT
I didn't realise that R.rugosa was a problem plant. Interesting that the RHS don't mention anything about Schedule 9, though their advice is about varieties rather than the species.
Dave
Wonder if it is on Schedule 9 for Scotland or just England and Wales
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Post by aeshna5 on Jul 1, 2015 4:24:57 GMT
The main habitat I've seen R. rugosa being invasive was in upper dune systems. I have it in the garden +it has never self sown. I have seen a handful of self sown plants in the London area- usually along river banks or reservoir sides. but never a problem though.
It is such a common garden plant I think you would notice if it is being a problem locally.
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Post by dogghound on Jul 1, 2015 17:04:14 GMT
It's more to do with the fact that you can get persecuted and pay to remove it if it spreads and damages neighbouring land. It spreads well away from gardens in Yorkshire, especially in coastal grassland and such like. I don't dispute it's a good plant for wildlife, just be aware of the implications of plants on schedule 9. :-)
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Post by NellyDee on Jul 3, 2015 15:38:42 GMT
Update on sheep problem. It is our property and I have been pretty tolerant re the sheep for years (Farmer had lots of sob stories). Anyway it all came to a head apparently while I was on holiday. Neighbour's either side(fair distance between us) who were also getting the sheep and five lambs had been killed on the road apparently. One of the neighbour's contacted a farmer friend, who came with dogs and shepherds and herded them into a disused field. Owner of sheep appeared later (presume he had been told where his sheep were) Said if we gave him £30,000 he would repair his fencing! (None of us have shared fencing with him). The sheep have been moved up on to the high ground, beyond where (looking through bins) there is fencing. On my property we have put up a barrier, where we think they are getting through to us, via forestry and viaduct under rail track. One of the neighbours have contacted the local authority re sheep on his land. so far so good. Not seen any sheep for 4 days now. So hopefully, as our season is very late this year, I might still get something growing in my wild meadows. 1 is an acre and 1 is a flat area behind the house. What I use as an actual garden was fenced off last year because of the sheep. I have made notes of all your plant suggestions, thank you |
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Post by alf1951 on Jul 4, 2015 6:36:34 GMT
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Post by NellyDee on Jul 4, 2015 8:21:08 GMT
Thanks Alf. I have passed link to neighbour as well.
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Post by Tringa on Jul 7, 2015 15:18:14 GMT
Thanks for the update on your sheep problem. At least you have a temporary solution and it might be permanent; fingers crossed.
I've read that fleeces fetch very little now but would have thought the lambs had a value worth looking after.
Dave
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