Quote from: 18hammers on Sep 24, 2023, 10:56 AMNeighbour across the road from me mowed down his ditch 10-12 years back, its a particularly wide one. I would guess 70,80 feet from the road edge to his fence line and long, 1/2 a kilometer. I have to look at this every day, not a place for a rabbit, grouse, or bird to feed or hide. A band of dead earth that looks like it belongs on a golf course. I suspect he is spraying it. I just want to smack him up side the head every time I see his face or hear his stupid mower going for hours on end cutting it. I set a example for him to see something better, mine is a little strip of forest, with a winding path down the length just wide enough for walking down. The path part now covered in a thick bed of moss, tall willows and trees keep the path shaded and cool. My ditch is full of life, especially birds, squirrels, and bees, though in spring when the willow branches start to bud the moose like to snack on them. It is not just nature that benefits, the bush helps keep gravel dust down and reduces noise transmission, and increases visual privacy. What the fuck did he move out here for anyway, needless to say I really don't bother with the guy, I give the polite wave and smile when I see him but when he moves away my only thought will be good riddance. Now the A hole who moved in 2 years ago on the west of me is clearing nearly every tree he can, including his ditch. I just hate people.

Think positive! When they are long gone and have abandoned their rural dreams you will have wonderful pre prepared pasture and hay fields all ready to go into rotation. We have similar obsessives around here we refer to it as retired farmer disease. I do keep a good grass buffer around the house myself due to near ravenous levels of blackflies then mosquitoes. It's a mix of whatever grows with large wild buffers all around though.