Starting a new life in Wales

[UndercoverElephant]

We have finally been connected to the internet, having arrived in Wales on July 26th. There is an unbelievable amount of work to do. I have spent much of the last three weeks uncovering a system of three ponds, a canal and a dam, all of which has been neglected for decades. All three ponds were overgrown with brambles and trees (mainly goat willow), two of the ponds completely silted up and the dam partially collapsed. It is now ready to be refilled (though nowhere near finished)...just need some proper rain!

[adam2]

Congratulations.
Do be careful WRT to dams, ponds, and the like. Large or unexpected releases of water can be dangerous. Is there any potential for hydroelectric power ? Just a few hundred watts if available 24/7 during the winter can be very valuable indeed.
300 watts will power a fridge, freezer, TV, laptop PC and lighting. 1000 watts will do that and heat water.

[UndercoverElephant]

Congratulations.
Do be careful WRT to dams, ponds, and the like. Large or unexpected releases of water can be dangerous. Is there any potential for hydroelectric power ? Just a few hundred watts if available 24/7 during the winter can be very valuable indeed.
300 watts will power a fridge, freezer, TV, laptop PC and lighting. 1000 watts will do that and heat water.

I doubt it has enough flow for a hydroelectric system, even in the winter. But maybe worth exploring the possibility once I've seen it through a whole winter.

[dustiswhatweare]

Best of luck with the adventure or should I say 'undertaking with an uncertain outcome'

[mr brightside]

We have finally been connected to the internet, having arrived in Wales on July 26th. There is an unbelievable amount of work to do. I have spent much of the last three weeks uncovering a system of three ponds, a canal and a dam, all of which has been neglected for decades. All three ponds were overgrown with brambles and trees (mainly goat willow), two of the ponds completely silted up and the dam partially collapsed. It is now ready to be refilled (though nowhere near finished)...just need some proper rain!

Got any pictures?

[UndercoverElephant]

We have finally been connected to the internet, having arrived in Wales on July 26th. There is an unbelievable amount of work to do. I have spent much of the last three weeks uncovering a system of three ponds, a canal and a dam, all of which has been neglected for decades. All three ponds were overgrown with brambles and trees (mainly goat willow), two of the ponds completely silted up and the dam partially collapsed. It is now ready to be refilled (though nowhere near finished)...just need some proper rain!

Got any pictures?

Taken a couple of days ago, before the new channel reached the middle pond from the top pond:

https://imgur.com/a/RODH9Q6

[Potemkin Villager]

Very impressed with the scope of what you are taking on.

The "truly gigantic pile of well-rotted horse manure" sounds awesome!

Not long to the end of the holiday season, I bet you find
local folk venturing out more come September time.

[UndercoverElephant]

3 min guided tour of pond system, which is now rapidly filling up. We had ducks on there this morning, but they flew off when they saw us coming.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Osj21hrIiO8

[adam2]

Very impressive, thanks for posting video.

[adam2]

In some of the more overgrown areas, an elephant could probably hide. One might even say that the elephant was undercover

[Catweazle]

That looks very useful, I'm a big fan of keeping ducks and that area looks perfect. Campbell and Khaki Campbell ducks are great layers.

[mr brightside]

3 min guided tour of pond system, which is now rapidly filling up. We had ducks on there this morning, but they flew off when they saw us coming.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Osj21hrIiO8

That looks fun. What's the long term plan, greater biodiversity, or are you farming fish?

[UndercoverElephant]

3 min guided tour of pond system, which is now rapidly filling up. We had ducks on there this morning, but they flew off when they saw us coming.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Osj21hrIiO8

That looks fun. What's the long term plan, greater biodiversity, or are you farming fish?

No plans to farm fish. We will keep domesticated ducks (there are currently 9 wild ones living on the middle pond), but apart from that the pond system will be managed for wildlife, aesthetic appeal and foraging value (I will probably run foraging courses on this land in future).

Not even sure which fish we could potentially farm.

[mr brightside]

3 min guided tour of pond system, which is now rapidly filling up. We had ducks on there this morning, but they flew off when they saw us coming.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Osj21hrIiO8

That looks fun. What's the long term plan, greater biodiversity, or are you farming fish?

No plans to farm fish. We will keep domesticated ducks (there are currently 9 wild ones living on the middle pond), but apart from that the pond system will be managed for wildlife, aesthetic appeal and foraging value (I will probably run foraging courses on this land in future).

Not even sure which fish we could potentially farm.

Brown trout might struggle with there being no flow and no gravel, but the bottom pond should be more oxygenated with the water having come down that waterfall. You could probably get away with Rainbow trout in the bottom pond, or certainly Carp and Eels.

[mr brightside]

Jellied Eels, guvnor?