Thanks, @Obelixx. Yes, there are already goats in the moat (moat goats ), and they do a grand job but there is no way of securing the interior, plus there are too many areas there that the walls are too fragile. There is also the issue of obtaining goats or sheep for the summer only, when everyone has enough grazing for them, and there are no facilities there for keeping animals in the winter. I know it's been looked at extensively as it does seem an answer but sadly it only works partially.
OK @NormandyLiz. You may not be able to dig but you could maybe pull stuff out. You might need chains and a tractor for the bigger shrubs and their roots but, in my experience, shallow rooted plants like brambles and nettles come out easily enough by hand if the soil is soft after rain.
That leaves thistles and docks with their tap roots. We're trying a combo of constant strimming and occasional weedkiller but it's been too windy to spray them since June and, in any case, I haven't been able to walk around carrying the backpack spray gun I use since my new knee in July.
We have a patch of thistles proliferating in gravel and weed membrane (previous owners) just where i want to create a dry bed full of more interesting and less thuggy plants that can cope with drought.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Sorry to be negative to all your suggestions, @Obelixx, you must be wondering why I asked for ideas only to knock them all back, but apparently we're not allowed to pull anything out, I just checked with my husband.
Have you come across DRAC (La direction régionale des affaires culturelles)? I think they gave their name to draconian. They determine what you can or, mostly, cannot do. We can't dig, we can't pull, we can't look for relics. I'll check again if pulling nettles and brambles would be allowed, but with DRAC if you put a foot wrong they'll stop you doing anything, they'd rather have it not looked after at all than not control it all, or heavens forbid give you money and support to do it properly. Sorry, little rant, but they are infuriating.
Are you saying the thistles are growing up through the membrane, or that they have seeded on top of it?
Both @NormandyLiz. It's that felty stuff like an old wool blanket rather than the woven plastic type. It's a complete PITA and very heavy to move when we need to deal with horrors and they've laid it over an area more than 10m x 20m that we've found under the gravel.
Perhaps you should put on your best smile and ask how them to suggest how, in order to preserve the site for posterity and "patrimoine", weeds and wild scrub can be controlled without digging or pulling. They may have some secret method or maybe even see the folly of their intransigence.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
@NormandyLiz I've just come across this thread. I have a serious interest in castles, but admittedly, British castles. Interesting to hear about this one though, and your OH's involvement. I'll keep an eye on this topic. Thank you for sharing.
All sorts of historic places must face the same challenges in France, subduing / managing scrub. I wonder how they tackle it.
I guess goats and pigs would be easier for other places to manage on flatter and more securable plots.
Perhaps you could trial burning in a small set area and closely monitor the regrowth - rather than trying initially over a large area. If the trial shows useful data, then perhaps scale up.
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(23C, for once no rain!)
That leaves thistles and docks with their tap roots. We're trying a combo of constant strimming and occasional weedkiller but it's been too windy to spray them since June and, in any case, I haven't been able to walk around carrying the backpack spray gun I use since my new knee in July.
We have a patch of thistles proliferating in gravel and weed membrane (previous owners) just where i want to create a dry bed full of more interesting and less thuggy plants that can cope with drought.
Have you come across DRAC (La direction régionale des affaires culturelles)? I think they gave their name to draconian. They determine what you can or, mostly, cannot do. We can't dig, we can't pull, we can't look for relics. I'll check again if pulling nettles and brambles would be allowed, but with DRAC if you put a foot wrong they'll stop you doing anything, they'd rather have it not looked after at all than not control it all, or heavens forbid give you money and support to do it properly. Sorry, little rant, but they are infuriating.
Are you saying the thistles are growing up through the membrane, or that they have seeded on top of it?
Perhaps you should put on your best smile and ask how them to suggest how, in order to preserve the site for posterity and "patrimoine", weeds and wild scrub can be controlled without digging or pulling. They may have some secret method or maybe even see the folly of their intransigence.
Thanks for the info on the membrane. Very helpful.
I've just come across this thread. I have a serious interest in castles, but admittedly, British castles.
Interesting to hear about this one though, and your OH's involvement. I'll keep an eye on this topic. Thank you for sharing.