Field

No, not a hybrid portmanteau of Bossperson @velocio X buzzard

But birds of prey buzzards, kites, owls and hawks

How about a narrow boat in a field, just off a canal/navigable river?

https://thunderboat.boards.net/thread/5504/boat-field

I have wanted to do this for some time but I think unless you're lucky and happen to find something very cheap it tends to be uneconomical to buy small bits of land due to the paperwork and legal fees and regulations and whatnot that are involved. So I gave up. But you can afford a bigger bit of land (although south of England is much worse value), and should do it

There's some chat from here and a few pages onward: https://www.lfgss.com/comments/16536139/

Seems like a whole load of headache owning a random field.

For all the people who have considered buying a field, are you aware there are loads of nice campsites? Also, you are not 'wild-camping' sleeping in a field in the home counties.

The human desire to own things in the unfulfilled expectation that property will offer some form of transcendence is endlessly fascinating.

All land should be common land.

Are you and Owl in ca(hoots)?

(No need to reply. I have no skin in this game and frankly don't care. I just wanted to make a rubbish pun)

Thank you and good night.

we are birds of a feather

It’s not the act of ownership but knowing that our actions has increased biodiversity, given a space for flora and fauna to thrive is quite wonderful. Watching the seasons pan out, observing the changes, being able to track how much carbon is being sequestered into the ground makes it worthwhile. We are but temporary stewards and while the land is under our care we wish to enable nature to take its course.

Transcendence is not related to ownership, but being able to sit and meditate surrounded by the sight, sound and smell of nature can be quite incredible.

Am sure this’ll end up in both the golf and tofu threads but meh.

Honestly, I don't know what the fuss is about. Plenty of people on this very forum already own a whole canyon.

Couldn't far more people enjoy this benefit if it was in the commons rather than behind a large financial and legal barrier to entry? So it is inherently the act of ownership that is giving the benefits you described

You can hardly expect to properly meditate in nature when you're surrounded by the unwashed masses

Not the point I was addressing. And part of the joy is we have chosen to do this with the land. We could have continued to rent it out to local farmers but made a choice.

If you renovated your home and enjoyed it would you then suggest “ Couldn't far more people enjoy this benefit if it was in the commons rather than behind a large financial and legal barrier”?

We have made lifestyle choices (childless cat ladies if you wish) which gives us access to certain choices of experience. Others make different choices. We want the space to use as we wish, somewhere for nature, ourselves and the it dogs to exist without disturbance and this brings us joy.

Very much this.

Plenty of people on this very forum already own a whole canyon.

Very good :slowclap:

I would say it depends how large the house is and how much an individual is hoarding a finite resource to the detriment of others

What is the correct term?

The correct term for mass trespassers is heroes.

I imagine in another universe there is a small holding forum and on a thread about bicycles someone is posting “ The human desire to own things in the unfulfilled expectation that property will offer some form of transcendence is endlessly fascinating.”

And there are people arguing for the transcendent joy of riding a bike while others are arguing “can’t you just use a hire bike?”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXU9k3GabxU

The law has changed, you now have to ask people to leave and if they don't...you can call the police but no one will come out unless the tresspasser threatens you.

You will be arrested if you threaten the tresspasser.

Walking across a field is fine, hopefully not damaging crops. The idea that rights of way and stealing of common land is whole other issue.

The correct term for mass trespassers is heroes.

Currently reading The book of Trespass. Very enjoyable.

You appear to be further along on the journey my partner and I are beginning. Outlook is the same, we are stewards not owners, hence why we might also expand the site if we can. Longer term goals could be leaving the site in trust or to the nearby Kent wildlife trust to manage when we shuffle off. We will be engaging with them for advice on local biodiversity etc.

May I ask, what you found the biggest challenge or hurdle?

There are some access difficulties that would need to be overcome, unadopted road cost shared with at least 2 neighbours, the lane is not the widest with over hanging trees, site isn't flat except right at the bottom and don't want cars driving over and down the field etc.

Hence why our first thought was hikers/ cyclists on the north downs way. Maybe once we are set up with the planting etc some teaching/ local school visits coming to visit to understand the importance of nature.

I had 0 interest in owning a field before this thread, but wow that's cool.

Thanks for that link. Once we are in I am going to reach out to them to discuss. Ours is only 4 acres and already has a fair few established trees so might not be as suitable for their input. However there are a few places around the perimeter etc where fencing could be replaced with productive hedges so will contact them.

There's a number of pieces of nearby old farmland to the area that are now nature reserves where rewinding efforts are on going but it's also open for people to enjoy for walk such as nashenden valley reserve and ranscombe farm nature reserve. Currently it being only the 4 acres and unadopted road meaning access isn't easy are barriers to following that path but if the neighbouring plots owned by investment firm become available then that might allow us to expand out somewhat.

You could/can get grants to turn fields back to woodland and protect.earth can probably advise on that but when I looked into it I think it needs to be a minimum of 5 acres to qualify so that needs to be factored in.

Weeps in 4 acres