Newly inherited allotment infested with voles

[Earthhare]

Hi there,

I’ve just managed to get my first ever allotment. Really excited. Plan is to use the no dig method option 1 as I have quite a lot of tough weeds and am limited with compost at present. Problem is, the allotment is covered in vole burrows and holes. The grass in places is dying, the ground sodden and is quite uneven and spongy. I guess I just assumed I would have some nice firm land and didn’t bank on having a family of voles living on my patch.
I’ve read a lot about how voles love covered ground. I’m yet to speak to anyone on the allotment about how they deal with them as it’s a village allotment and I’m yet to see anyone there!
Any advice? Is it worth doing some light digging/turning of turf to destroy the burrows before adding compost and cardboard?
Thank you for your time.

Jenna

[charles]

Jenna, this sounds difficult, and a long term project.
See this forum post for some great information on voles, and how to trap them/reduce their numbers.
They are difficult pests, far worse than moles.
Your sodden ground is another problem, voles like moisture, and it needs organic matter for mulch to encourage soil life and improve drainage.
Not sure how you find the organic matter!
Try a small area first.
Is it the only plot you might have access to? Are you planning to stay for a long time? You need to be clear on those questions.

[Earthhare]

Hi Charles,

Thank you.
We may not be here for long. We will be moving at the very latest next year although hopefully this will only be a parish over. As there is no allotment provision in that parish (and both parishes are part of west Dorset) I am hoping I would be able to stay. But I will check this before I decide what to do. I have not yet signed on the dotted line as I’ve been considering what to do. I thought at the very least if I couldn’t keep it I would get a crop of squash out of it and have it in good order for the next person.
But of course now I discover the pest problem it’s made me wonder if I want to take it or not. It’s a difficult one to decide as I’ve wanted an allotment for so long!
Thank you for the link I will take a look at it.
I have been told there is free manure going so I’m going to look into this. Hubby is also village curate and has offered to ask some farmers if they have any.
Going to check the allotment again today and see if the sun has made much difference to the ground.
Will weigh up my options and decide whether to go for it or pass on it. I’ll let you know what I decide.
Thanks again.

[Earthhare]

Hi Charles,

I’ve decided not to be put off by a few rodent inhabitants.
I’ve since spoken to two people down at the allotment and both have said they have more mole trouble than anything. So my plot could actually be mostly historically dug tunnels by moles. I did see a vole scurry from one carpet to another on someone elses bed and the lady who had my allotment said voles ate her carrots on a few occasions, so I guess they have both. However, trusting the voices of my fellow gardeners that they are not too much of a bother, I have decided to go forward with the no dig.
The ground is much drier than it was also so that’s good.
The community I volunteer at are throwing their manure at me as they have so much so that’s great. I’m also going to invest in some locally sourced well rotted compost.
I plan on adding the manure right on the grass (having removed the docks and other woody weeds) and then the compost on top, with cardboard over that. How does that sound? The cardboard I have is really sturdy as it’s used moving boxes and I have more than enough to cover my plot which is quite small.

Thanks again 🙂

[charles]

This sounds encouraging.
If you have some decently fine compost for the top 3-5cm/1-2in, you could use the cardboard lower down, even on the ground first with organic matter on top.
Then you can sow and plant into the compost, as soon as it’s in place.

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