Fencing styles

[rob39]

Hi all

Just in the process of buying a cottage with around 6 acres of woodland. One side of the woodland is bordered by farm fields with sheep/cattle and has a stock fence, and the other side borders a very quiet country road, already a broken rotten fence here with hawthorn hedge. My plan over time is to re fence the road side but what kind of fence will suffice? A simple post and wire fence?? (4 levels of wire topped with barb. no stock fence) My overall aim is to lay the hawthorn hedge behind this.

-Any programs to help gauge how many post/wire you would need

-Maximum distance between posts

Also who should repair the fence bordering my land and the farmer??

Rob

[Johno219]

Hi Rob. Your deeds should tell you who owns the fence. I would wait till winter and lay the hedge before you replace the fence. Use stockinet and 1strand barb or plain wire on top with posts spaced at 2metres apart and straining posts on the ends and on turns

[TheHungrySquirrel]

What about post and rail at the front?

[timbernut]

Would've thought stock fence was farmers responsibility. I'd go with cleft post n rail on the road side cos it looks great, lasts well and is in keeping with your region. Is it a coppice wood with sweet chestnut? If so you're on a winner as you could produce your own materials.

[cornish wood burner]

Any cattle or sheep driven along your road? That might make your choice for you.

My favourite from a looks point of view would be post and rail as per THS but you have a risk of having a garden full of sheep until your hawthorn is tall enough to keep them out. Johno's suggestion will be stock proof but might be over kill for a front fence unless there is a lot of stock movement. Your idea of wire would be easy to erect but you might need an extra wire or two as it needs to be readily seen.

I think I would have chat with your local farmer ask his advice and find out if livestock travel up and down the road. If nothing else it would be a good way of introducing yourself.

Sounds like a nice setup you have there BTW.

[Johno219]

Not much looks better than a properly laid hedge if your hedge is shockproof when it's laid don't bother with the fence at all

[Treeation]

I would highly recommend BTCV fencing and hedging handbooks. Really great reference for any kind of boundary work!I have used mine loads. Only about £10 each on amazon. You wont be disappointed! Also, I would try and get hold of some sweet chestnut for stakes and strainers lasts 30years in the ground with no treatment and supports traditional woodland management techniques like coppicing. Most treated softwood stakes aint going to last 2 minutes these days which is going to cost you a lot if you have to replace the whole fence line in a 5-10years!