This (left) is a picture of one of the many field drains which is the OH's main activity on the farm this spring. You can see the water running through the bottom of a stone trough and the edge of the "lid" of the drain. As tractors etc have caused them to collapse, the water from the natural springs and run-off from the rain (of which there has been plenty) has had nowhere to go. Hence the water logged and rushy fields. (picture of water jam, right)
OH is digging out all the drains that he can with a spade and uses drainage rods to clear the clay and mud away. Then he replaces the "lid" and covers it back up again. Hey presto! A nice dry field...eventually.
It is a back breaking and filthy job but it does mean that the fields are not trashed by a digger making its way across and all the original structures are in place.
To me they are like the stone walls. They are part of the traditional farming system here and it is right to try and preserve them. The only trouble being that it takes a very long time. Keeps the OH busy though (and fit).
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