Ajay's Blog

I'm sure that us gardeners dread the thought of random mounds of earth appearing in our well manicured lawns, but whilst I have been out walking my newly acquired dog, Harry, the Lurcher I've noticed plenty of molehills and have wished I'd taken a bag out with me to collect the gorgeous dark fantastic quality soil that has been left in the numerous mounds. It is mostly in woody areas so I would assume that this soil s rich and full of nutrients from the rotten organic matter of leaves and wood.

Great video, Ajay. During that I was thinking along similar lines as you, Andrea. I remember as a kid going with my Dad to the local golf course with buckets to collect molehill soil. We used to also collect up cowpats, which he dissolved in a water butt and used as a feed for his tomatoes. Now, having been reminded of that, I know where there are lots of molehills within walking distance. Thanx, Ajay, my jobs in the morning now are; go to shop, buy Garden Answers, take a bucket and spade, pen and paper, count the molehills, fill bucket, come home, add to the survey, completing the box stating where I found out about the survey - brilliant!

Well, I have done some research and fieldwork. We walked out of our village and immediately found loads of molehills along the grass verges, at field edges, and at the edge of a nearby woodland. We collected a large plastic bagfull (2 pics uploaded). Have found a couple of references to the value of molehill earth, including one which says that mixing it with compost in a 50:50 ratio is a great way to bulk up compost for containers, etc, and gives great plant results. The earth is, apparently, filled with nutrients and the stones have been removed (which we found to be true). I suppose it might be a problem for those who like bowling green style lawns, but I would be thrilled to find a molehill in our garden as it would be a sign of a healthy garden. I look forward to obtaining more of this free, nutritious topsoil. Many thanx for the reminder.

I know where there are some molehills, too, but they are at least a mile away across several muddy fields and over stiles too. So I am NOT going to collect the soil. I do, however, often trot up the lane with my bucket and shovel to collect presents left by local horses!

Some horses passed us today while we were collecting the molehill earth. I'd be interested to know what you do with the stuff, Spritz. Do you dig it in fresh, allow to rot down or add to the compost heap? The Timesonline on Friday also ran the mole survey story. Did you add your local hills to it?

My husband has made a 'manure box' by the compost bins, and we collect manure from local stables (as well as off the lane!) and keep it in there for some months until its well rotted. We occasionally put a layer in the compost bin. I don't dig the fresh stuff straight into the ground in case it rots roots. I am ashamed to say that I didn't log the molehills, I didn''t have time to check out map references whuch I would obviously need.

Thanx, Spritz. I thought it would have to be stored until less "potent" in case it burned or rotted plants.

Wrote a blog back in May re - moles whilst understand no one wants mole hills in middle of their lawn really disgraceful methods used to eridicate them. if you trawl through the web and look for mole prevention some really shocking means of killing them available.Some have now been banned not because of effect on moles but more because it was dangerous to user.There are enviromentally sound ways of dealing with them and despite years of persecution they havent dissappeared so can we not acknowledge their right to exist and try and co - habit with them. Strikes me if we extended this attitude to all living things human and animal we d all rub along that much easier.

Thank you, Bonkers, for drawing my attention back to this. We really did collect quite an amount of molehill earth for topping up pots and raised beds. The herbs, especially, seemed to thrive on this.