| Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption |
| Beyondrusty |
Moving a smallholding - lock stock and chickens!HiOnly just found this site, by accident, wish I'd found it sooner! Have any of you experience of moving a smallholding? We have 16 acres here in a lovely position - we look over to Montgomery to the left and Powis Castle and Welshpool to the right - but my OH will be 75 in November, I am 64 and not in good health  .....so we are looking for something smaller further into West Wales - Ceredigion or Carmarthenshire. Its the move itself which worries me, does anyone know of any good stock movers? One other question, one of my ponies is 30 years old and lived most of her life here, OH feels it would be kinder to have her put down rather than subject her to the stress of a move  So any advice and all suggestion welcome.
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| marigold |
Faithmead moved from Sussex to Wales last year with various livestock and pets - her website is http://www.glynelwyn.co.uk/ | ||
| judith |
Brookfield Removals, just down the road from me, specialise in exactly this kind of work - including to France and further afield. | ||
| Chez |
I have just moved two dozen chickens from Llanrhaeadr to Somerset in the back of a Vauxhall Astra and am about to start desconstructing poultry housing to go on the van at the weekend. That was scary enough ... . I think it's planning that's the key to it.
Not sure about the pony - I guess it depends how calm she is generally. Could you take her for a little ride in a box to see how she responds and then make a decision? |
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| welsh lamb |
Our neighbours moved their 35 year old pony who had lived in the same place for 30 years with no problems at all 
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| Faithmead |
HI Beyondrusty - the link to Brookfield Removals posted by Judith looks fabulous - so I'd certainly make further enquiries if it were me  . We moved our lot (took 5 trips!!) from Sussex to Blaenwaun 15 months ago, but used hauliers from the Sussex area - so not much use to you.
As for the pony - I agree with Welsh Lamb - definitely take her. A friend of mine back in Sussex took on the care of a 36 year old pony...and I believe she lived another 2 years before eventually deciding enough was enough. Marigold - you MUST come visit sometime.....I've got plenty of eggs for you
Mx |
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| marigold |
I will, but travel is a really big deal for me and takes a LOT of planning!
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| Cathryn |
I would highly recommend these people to move your ponies http://www.whitehorseenterprises.co.uk/
The owner took an immense amount of time to ensure that my very nervous horse (and her nearly as nervous owner) boxed carefully and quietly. It took him all afternoon in the end but he remained patient and calm throughout and took her on and off several times over. |
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| Cathryn |
Got to ask as well, you are considering moving from relatively gentle, rolling countryside to definitely less hospitable and more remote land, much more beautiful of course but well, why? | ||
| Beyondrusty |
Thank you all for the very helpful info, especially about Della (my pony)
I have been worrying myself sick, but she will definately move with us .....if we go. Why are we considering it cathryn, because my OH wants to be nearer the coast and also wants to take up fishing again, ideally on our own land, lake or river, we have allready found a couple of places that fit the bill. I don't really want to move at all, all our fields are full of orchids, quaking grass, hay rattle etc, etc, and I have spent the last 23 years watching all of these increase, I could go on, I can be very boring about this place....BUT....Oh wants to go, there is too much work for him now and we can't afford to employ anyone.
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| Cathryn |
It was none of my business anyway but you sound like you have some good reasons. The land sounds lovely but you will find similar here. Remind him that rivers and lakes require their own maintenance.
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| Mutton |
On the maintenance side renting out some of your land might help. With the big BUT that you'd need to find a reliable tenant who respects the land and the wild flowers.
Other thought - selling meadow hay. Would depend on a friendly neighbour to cut it, perhaps for a share of the bales and you sell the rest. Fishing - if you do move somewhere be sure you have the fishing rights to the river/stream beside/through you new land. We have a river at the bottom of ours, but not the fishing rights, they were retained by the original land owner several sales ago. |
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| Mary-Jane |
Hi there - welcome to the site
We moved to our smallholding in West Wales just over five years ago, from commuter belt Buckinghamshire. Never regretted it, but have never been so poor, or worked so hard, in our whole damned lives... 
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