Often the worst part of preparing to erect a new fence is clearing away the old one. Because many fences are ‘patched up’ for years, rather than being replaced, there is often a tangled succession of fences, with new wire on old posts, new posts knocked in at intervals, wires attached to trees and so on. It’s not surprising this happens when one realises the effort involved in removing an old fence by hand. The job is particularly awkward where there is any barbed wire involved, or where the effects of animals or cultivation have buried the lower part of the fence.
It is not usually worth trying to save the wire, although pieces of hexagonal mesh and stock netting are useful for odd jobs such as tree guards, seed bed covers and so on. Hexagonal mesh can sometimes be re-used, but usually when one has got to the stage of replacing a fence, not much of it is worth re-using. Salvaged stock netting is very difficult to re-strain properly. Barbed wire should not be re-used unless it is in exceptionally good condition. Barbed wire is one of the least expensive fencing materials, and it is dangerous to strain any that is of suspect quality. Avoid the use of any barbed wire where possible.
Posts are often worth re-using. Any straining posts in the right place, that are solid in the ground and free from rot, can be re-used as they are, or with the addition of struts if necessary. Other sound posts can be lifted or dug out, although this is not an easy job if the post is secure in the ground. One method is to make a small notch at the base of the post, and to lever it out using a crowbar. Otherwise, removal requires the awkward job of digging right down to the base of the post.
If a whole line of posts have to be removed, a digger or tractor with front loader will be worth using.
If the site is going to be used for grazing, and not be regularly cultivated, consider leaving one or two posts for stock to use as rubbing posts. This will save wear and tear on the new fence.
Make a tidy job of clearing up the old fence. The quickest way is to cut the wire next to each post, pull the wire free and bundle it up tightly for disposal. If the wire and staples are rusted, you may have to cut either side of the staple to free the wire. The posts are then removed with the staples still in place, and disposed of. This avoids the danger of leaving staples lying around.
If the posts are to be left in place, or re-used elsewhere, remove all the staples and gather them up carefully for disposal. Fold up all unsalvageable stock netting as tightly as possible for removal. Avoid at all costs leaving any wire to be cleared up at a later date, because by the time someone remembers it’s likely to be overgrown, and a hazard to man and animal. Hire a skip if necessary, or take the wire to the nearest recycling centre.
Clearing vegetation
Try and choose a line which requires the minimum of vegetation clearance.
In woodland or scrub, clear a width of at least two metres, to give sufficient room for working whilst erecting the fence, and enough room to walk up and down the fence line. When clearing the line, two or three people can go ahead with billhooks, bowsaws or slashers, keeping a safe distance from one another. Another one or two people can remove the cut vegetation, and drag it back to a suitable place for burning or removal. In sparse woodland or scrub, cut material can usually be disposed of by scattering, if it will not be a danger to stock. Do not leave cut brambles or thorny branches where sheep are to be grazed, as they will get entangled.
Bonfires can be fun in cold weather, but are time consuming and cause damage to the ground. This is acceptable if the area is to be cultivated, but in permanent grass or woodland the site is likely to become invaded with nettles, delaying the return of the original vegetation cover. Depending on the site and type of vegetation, consider leaving scattered piles of brushwood as habitat piles in woodland or scrub. It is not recommended to pile up the brushwood along one side of the fence, although this may seem a good idea where you want to keep people away from the fence, for example to discourage vandalism. The problem is that the dry brushwood can act like a fuse wire, and rapidly burn along its length, possibly setting fire to woodland or crops. Brushwood piles may not be a good idea in young woodlands, where they can give cover for rabbits.
