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They called it a water feature


Part of the old farm topography is an impossible challenge to a farmer.  It happens all over the world.  In fact, most soil is unstable for agriculture.  On our farm, we have an area of about 7 acres that is simply too wet and where nothing ever grows because of constant flooding.  The soil composition is such that trees don't grow.  

Our ecologist sought permission from the local authorities to transform the area into a green preserve, where we would build a pond and surround it with grasses and small trees to encourage animals and birds.  The pond level (about 10 feet) would then allow proper drainage of the area and would be an excellent use of the area.  

On Friday, the local council decided that this was a "water feature for the Great House", and as such we needed approval from Historic England!  

Approaching the local council was a low-cost endeavour, plans and audits cost about £ 500.00 in all. Developing the pond would cost between £30,000-50,000 at worst.   Going to Historic England will cost several thousand will take months and be a total headache.  

The worst part is that this proposed wetland is at the other end of our farm.  About as far as you can be from the great house, and remain on the farm (600 acres).  

I got the message over the weekend from our ecologist.  He was very disappointed, it was a great project and would have been a nice feature for ramblers.  My wife and I have taken the decision to shelve the project.  We really don't want to have anything to do with Historic England.  You never know what kind of bullshit they will pull.  We have heard too many horror stories -- they could suddenly interfere with the house renovations, or at the very least delay the process by a year or more.  Our ecologist contacted Historic England and was told that their backlog was at least 18 months.  

Disappointment but so is life!  In the end, it doesn't matter whenever it gets very dry we cut the area (once a year), otherwise, the space is unused, and it seems that it will remain that way.  It's been disused for a 1,000 years what's another 1,000!

Aside from that today is our last day of skiing.  I am up at the crack of dawn because I had a two-hour conference call with our accountants so that we can file our 2023 results.  



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