Ditch time

Having recently posted a Claas tractor on "Tractor Tuesday" and commented that they are fairly rare around here, I seem to have hardly seen anything else!

Today MrW an acquaintance of many years popped by to clean out the ditch which runs alongside the border to the state owned forest (i.e. as a tax payer, it also belongs in part to me!). Back around 2008 after yet another flood which hit the village hard, the then mayor toured his "patch" and was convinced part of the problem we had was due to the poor condition of the ditch. As he knew the director of the local State forest office in Ottobeuren, he would get them to clean out their ditch. 

Naturally they said no - doesn't interest us but feel free to DIY! Sad modern day reality - the state forestry has been semi privatised and been given performance/budget/cost numbers to achieve. No room for any maintenance, it's now down to selling timber. During the 13 odd years we have been here, we have seen the ditches within the forest, year for year being demolished by the harvesters and forwarders. Our ditch now has to cope with a huge amount of run off.

Last time we had it done was 2008 and it has been noticeable that after about 5 years the ditch no longer was coping and our cellar was flooding more often. So MrW in his quiet, professional manner set about the 250+ meters of ditch - half from the forest side and half alongside our horse field which he carefully dumped and flattened as best as possible.

Sadly when he was finished he didn't leave his equipment as a present for having the honour of being allowed to practice on our property. The Claas 210 Elios is one of the smaller tractors in the range and ideal for us. The digger can always be found work and I know someone who can operate it even though I would have to pay his air fare from Ireland every time. I once hired one for a day - I hated every minute of it, convinced the thing was about to tip over at the slightest incline. Watching MrW drive the thing on and off the trailer was too much for me.

Job well done and I hope we have a bit of a break from pumping out cellars. Only saw one frog, so luckily managed to get it done before the "season" starts. In the village, the signs are up asking people not to use a certain road during the coming weeks and if they have to, then to observe the speed limits as at dusk an army of frog collectors with buckets help them across the road. Much of the road is now bordered by netting to prevent them crossing at unauthorised spots!