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Original poster

Living by a farm

78 replies

JE678 · 10/06/2016 15:53

We have found our dream house but it is literally opposite the milking sheds of a dairy farm. There are all sorts of farm machinery in the field next to the house too belonging to the farmer. Just in case that wasn't enough they also have a huge silage tank within 20m of the house. Would I be mad to go ahead with it? I have lived in the country before and close to farms but never quite this close. The smell was present when we viewed but not horrendous but that may have been a good day. Talk me in/out of this, please?

OP posts:
SquinkiesRule · 10/06/2016 17:30

I grew up surrounded by farms, I'd buy it.
I'm used to keeping the flies out and the smell of cows/horse/chickens. Go on a nice sunny day that will be the smelliest and after a really good rain.

Original poster
JE678 · 10/06/2016 17:38

To answer a question the cows do go past the house as they go from the field behind the house to the milking sheds on the other side of the road. I'm not too worried, I just got the wobbles today as it's a huge, and great, move for the whole family. Thanks for all the input. I think it's highly likely we will go with it.

OP posts:
origamiwarrior · 10/06/2016 17:44

The part of your post that rings alarm bells for me is that there is machinery all over the field next to the house. Farms can get very messy if the owner isn't the tidy sort, and under planning laws, they can leave equipment lying about, they can erect barns, build cattle sheds, site slurry tanks, store silage under tires, all without any consultation if it is in the course of their livelihood (as it should be). You have to ask whether that would bother you.

Footle · 10/06/2016 17:59

Make sure you're in the house and garden during milking time - the sound of the pumps can be quite loud, and it will be the background to your lives.

Thelovecats · 10/06/2016 19:37

We've just bought next to a farm, though there is a field of horses between their buildings and us. The biggest thing I am aware of is that there has been a lot of bait left around for rats and mice which is going to be an ongoing problem of course. We have cats though so hoping they might help with that issue! The farm tractors go up and down the lane next to the house too, but there is a big hedge along that side of the garden which should help cut down the noise a bit.

WellErrr · 10/06/2016 19:44

The people slagging off 'townies' on this thread are behaving like disgusting snobs.

I live on a farm and have lived in the country all my life. OP, you will find most genuine country people to be lovely and very welcoming to incomers.

The ones who moved here themselves ten years ago but have forgotten that are the only ones I know who are so horribly rude about people who come from towns. It's like some bizarre new money thing to be condescending to strangers.

Ignore it.

Wrt noise and children, mine can sleep through all manner of farm noises with the window open, because they're used to it. Yours will get used to it too. I find it lovely to wake up to, quite peaceful - even if it is tractors and mooing!

Coconutty · 10/06/2016 19:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Everythingwillbealright · 10/06/2016 20:12

Don't worry about noise, it doesn't matter what it is, the more you hear it the less you hear it. My husband is an RAF pilot and we live currently on a fast jet base. Here are kids all around and they don't turn a hair at that noise, they're used to it!

cressetmama · 10/06/2016 20:16

It's the rooks and jackdaws that will wake the DC at 3.30am in summer! Much noisier than cows; keep an air rifle handy. (They are vermin, no one will object). And if you also shoot squirrels, rats, magpies and pigeons, you will get invited rough shooting with farmers.

Original poster
JE678 · 10/06/2016 20:25

Thanks for all the new replies. I feel reassured, it was just a bit of a step into the unknown. My DC will adjust to any noise and are excited to be moving. Thanks WellErr that has been my experience so far. We have moved around a fair bit, including in the country, and you often get what you give. We'll make an effort and definitely won't be a PITA!

OP posts:
SquinkiesRule · 10/06/2016 22:21

Put this www.amazon.co.uk/ASPECT-A1281-Self-Closing-Flyscreen/dp/B004MED2Z0 on the outside of door the kids and animals go in and out the most, they work really well, my friend in California had them on her back doors, they had goats and all kinds of animals and this kept the flies out. I had a normal framed screen door attached to the outside over the backdoor. Like this www.flyscreensonline.co.uk/Aluminium-Rigid-Frame-Door-Fly-Screen-Kit/8.htm
It's worth investing in fly screens if you live on or near a farm.

FunnysInLaJardin · 10/06/2016 22:35

we live down the road from a dairy farm, across the way from a potato/arable farm and opposite a fish farm (they farm oysters and bring them up at low tide). We also have 2 stables up the road. There is a fair amount of horse poo, lots of horses trotting up and down the road, lots of crabs from the sea which drop off the sea-going tractors into our garden and a million tractors going up and down. But I love it. Not smelly or particularly noisy, just farming folk going about their day. We some times have to wait for a herd of cows to cross the road, but honestly you just have to chill out!

TBH more annoying is the folk on their drive on mowers going up and down, up and down....

Oh and we often get free potatoes!

FunnysInLaJardin · 10/06/2016 22:36

oh and come summer we always have a fly screen across the door!

Willow2016 · 10/06/2016 23:20

Yes it will be smelly at times and noisy but you will get so used to it you will filter most of it out.

Something I dont think has been mentioned is that when they take the calves off the cows they will make a din for quite a few hours/a day or two afterwards. If they are housed in a barn during the winter near the house you will smell them too Smile And yes there will be a bit of cow muck on the road if they are led past the house twice a day.

But I live in rural area surrounded by farms and you dont have to live next door to smell the muck spreading or hear the cows.

The peace and quiet compared to towns and cities and the landscape, nature (owls at night are magical to listen to) far outweigh the small niggles. And rural folks are very welcoming.

Its also great for the kids as long as you have gone over the basics of farm safety with them first, its not a play park. (am sure you know this but its a fascinating place for kids) Plus they may get jobs to do to help out if the farmer allows them and get a taste for farm life Wink

Talk to the farmers/farmers wife and ask questions, they wont be offended. Ask how much traffic (farm) to expect, do they bring the cows into a barn near you in winter, etc etc.

Just think of all the free food you can forage for! Brambles, hips, maybe rasps, sloes, elderflowers and berries...kids love it and making things with them our elderflower cordial is legendary Smile

LizzieMacQueen · 10/06/2016 23:27

I would just watch that the farmer has no plans to sell all his lovely fields for development (and maybe with a vote 'out' who knows what subsidies might be lost!).

In your shoes I wouldn't do it but I am particularly sensitive to smells.

WellErrr · 10/06/2016 23:50

Farming will be far better off if we vote out, I wouldn't worry about that.

And most farming land is green belt and won't be built on.

Original poster
JE678 · 11/06/2016 00:36

Thankfully building on the land is unlikely to happen as it is an area with particularly restrictive planning rules. He may put up farm buildings but it is unlikely to move to residential use. I am sure we will get used to the rural life fairly quickly. Thanks again, lots of food for thought. It's in Scotland so what will happen in the event of Brexit is anyone's guess.

OP posts:
Therightthing16 · 11/06/2016 06:55

Flies, rats and milk tanker lorries driving like lunatics.

BlueUggs · 11/06/2016 07:01

More importantly, can we see the house??!

bakeoffcake · 11/06/2016 07:12

I've lived on a farm and the noise wouldn't bother me but the smell certainly would. The silage tank next to the house would be a huge no for me. It will absolutely stink!

Your house will be surrounded by dust, flies and if the cows walk past everyday, shit! No I wouldn't live next to a dairy farm.

mollie123 · 11/06/2016 07:15

I grew up on a dairy farm and as that was decades ago there was far less machinery/intensive farming than there is now - it was a hard-working educational childhood until the teenage years when it was a pain as there was so little to do.
Now I live surrounded by fields which belong to the local farmer
I have a dung heap about 80 yards from my cottage but the actual farm buildings are some distance away.
Agree about window and door screens during the summer - flies can be a problem
silaging is NOISY but does not last more than a few days (unfortunately when it is nice weather!)
muck spreading - also lasts about a week for the smell to dissipate
Do bear in mind that sounds carry in the country and it is not that peaceful and quiet.
Good luck but do approach the move with realistic expectations and an open mind - if your children are teenagers they will need a lot of ferrying around - how far to the nearest town?
personally I would put up with all the above rather than live in a big city - but everyone is differant Smile

greengreenten · 11/06/2016 07:19

Flies,flies and more flies.
It will be noisy, smelly and a bit dirty at times but that's the country.
(Farmers wife here).
By all means move next to the farm but please don't grumble to the council about the noise, smell and dirt or object to planning applications submitted by the farmer who's trying to make a buck from the failing farming industry.
Not bitter just sayin.

LizzieMacQueen · 11/06/2016 11:03

There's a beautiful house near me that fits yours desccription perfectly......

Is it right by a small place beginning with D ?

Original poster
JE678 · 11/06/2016 12:07

Lizzie yes it is! Well, in a small place beginning with D! Small world if it is. The DCs and DSS gave me a good talking to the morning, along the lines of, "stop being so stupid! It's a great place!"

OP posts:
LizzieMacQueen · 11/06/2016 13:56

If it is the same place (being marketed by Savills?) it looks lovely and not remote at all though it has been on and off the market these last few years.

Good school nearby, you'd be out of catchment but placing requests usually allowed.

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