When we think of drainage, we tend to think in terms of the needs of modern life and human activity, but drainage is just as important for farmland and forestry estates as it is for a housing estate or industrial park.

Soil structure is coming under greater pressure through increasingly erratic rain patterns and the general reduction in organic matter levels in arable soils over the last 70 years which makes the soil more susceptible to waterlogging and better drainage all the more important.

Why does woodland need draining?

If commercial forest land isn’t drained properly, the level of soil water rises and waterlogs the soil, saturating the root zone of trees. This is damaging to tree growth by undermining anchorage and degrading soil structure and nutrient levels.

Effective drainage can maintain the water table at a lower level, which encourages deeper rooting as trees grow down to reach the water level. It also allows the soil structure to improve and strengthen.

Legal responsibilities

The question of responsibility for land drainage is a little more complex than you might imagine. The landowner is responsible for the drainage of their land and for keeping all drains, ditches and culverts within the boundary of their property clear and in good working condition.

However, anyone owning lower-lying land nearby has to accept any water that drains naturally from higher ground owned by someone else, natural meaning ground water, surface run-off and spring water.

Keeping farmland healthy and productive

As for forests, a well-maintained field drainage system is critical to the quality of farmland because it helps to remove excess water from the soil, preventing nutrients from being washed away.

It can also be used to control the water table. An effective drainage system reduces the risk of waterlogged land due to flooding or heavy rainfall which lead to standing water that makes working with heavy machinery impossible, delays sowing and harvesting, and rots crops.

There can be a number of naturally occurring problems on your land. A perched water table site on top of a layer of compaction soil, which reduces its ability to drain away, leaving a layer of saturated soil sitting over dry soil.

You may also have a natural spring on your land. However, springs can be intercepted with a drain before they hit the surface, helping to prevent erosion and permanent, localised waterlogging. If it’s uncontaminated, the diverted spring water could even be suitable as a reliable supply of drinking water for your livestock.

A perched water table is where compaction limits water infiltration, resulting in saturated soils overlying an area of dry soil.

If you have a slope, installing drainage on the slope can reduce the risk of soil slippage.

Floodwater due to heavy rain or a watercourse breaking its banks can also kill livestock and destroy infrastructure, such as roads or farm buildings. Poor general soil drainage also leads to pollution and landslides, which also puts lives at risk.

Signs of poor drainage include poor crop health or yields, soil erosion, limited field access without rutting, compared to other fields in the area, and the presence in fields of water-loving plants such as the common rush.

We don’t have to tell farmers that repairing and maintaining their drainage systems offers many benefits:

  • Increasing yields through improved soil conditioning, better nutrition and aeration for crop root development and grass growth.
  • Making operations easier in the field, especially for large vehicles
  • Livestock can be turned out earlier in the year
  • Reduces the risk of flooding
  • Helps increase the value of your land.

Do you need help with blocked drains or sewers?

During the year there are two important seasons for drainage seasons – March to April and September to October. It’s critical for a good yield to prepare the land, which includes your drainage systems.

At Drain and Sewer Services we have  clear blocked drainage ditches, pipes and culverts of obstacles. We can also pay land drainage pipes to extend and enhance your existing drainage system.

If you would like to talk to us about our land drainage services, us on  01252 312738 or email info@drainandsewer.co.uk for more information and a no-obligation quote.