In article , Rod
wrote:

On Wed, 05 May 2004 12:51:52 +0100, Stan The Man
wrote:

I know it's been wet recently but for weeks water has been lying in
stagnant pools right across my lawn which is on clay soil. I don't know
how thick the clay cap is but I would like to put in some DIY mini bore
holes, maybe using perforated large bamboo canes, to take the surface
water down at least 2 metres. Anyone had any success with something
like this or any other workaround for bogs? I'm looking for a cheap and
cheerful solution if possible rather than a proper and expensive
soakaway. TIA.

Stan

Try to get a look at a surface geology map of your area. You should
get an idea of the depth of your clay. If like us you've got several
metres of boulder clay, then you've probably got the makings of a bog
garden or pond.

Rod

I've been looking all over the net for such a map. Do you know where I
might find one?

Stan

In article , Sacha
wrote:

Stan The Man5/5/04 5:37
In article , Sacha
wrote:

Stan The Man5/5/04 12:51
I know it's been wet recently but for weeks water has been lying in
stagnant pools right across my lawn which is on clay soil. I don't know
how thick the clay cap is but I would like to put in some DIY mini bore
holes, maybe using perforated large bamboo canes, to take the surface
water down at least 2 metres. Anyone had any success with something
like this or any other workaround for bogs? I'm looking for a cheap and
cheerful solution if possible rather than a proper and expensive
soakaway. TIA.

Stan
If it's boggy all year, I agree with the bog garden suggestion but, if like
our lawn it eventually dries out, the bog garden is going to be a damned
nuisance to keep boggy. ;-)
Otherwise I wonder if Cormaic could help with the drainage queries.
www.pavingexpert.com

Thanks. I have discussed a related problem (septic tank soakaway) there
and got lots of sympathy but no affordable answers. And yes, the lawn
does dry out and will probably stay dry from June to Feb.

Stan

This sounds very like our biggest lawn. At times in winter we just have to
stay off it. We don't get a bog exactly but we do leave great huge sliddy
footprints where we walk on it and the water squelches up round our boots as
if we'd trampled on an over soaked sponge. Later in the year and in
prolonged dry weather, we can have fissures deep enough to plunge your arm
into up to the shoulder.
I don't know the size of your garden but given that the worst of the wet
seems to be when most of us don't spend a lot of time outside, can you
simply let it be? I mean, can you just ignore it and avoid it in the wettest
months? It is beginning to sound to me as if this might not be something
worth tackling if it's just a brief seasonal problem, as long as it doesn't
prevent you venturing out of the house, of course!

I would be more than happy to ignore it if it were not accompanied by a
malfunctioning septic tank soakaway. If "grey" water isn't being
absorbed into the ground it could present a hazard so I need to fix it
one way or another -- and thought I might also try to fix the
worst-draining sections of the lawn at the same time. Another problem
is that the grass in the boggy areas of the lawn is growing at 100mph
at this time of year and I can't cut it until I can get a machine over
the surface. I tried strimming and the mess was intolerable - something
like the fan blades of an Everglades hovercraft.

Stan

Stan The Man5/5/04 11:09
snip
I would be more than happy to ignore it if it were not accompanied by a
malfunctioning septic tank soakaway. If "grey" water isn't being
absorbed into the ground it could present a hazard so I need to fix it
one way or another -- and thought I might also try to fix the
worst-draining sections of the lawn at the same time. Another problem
is that the grass in the boggy areas of the lawn is growing at 100mph
at this time of year and I can't cut it until I can get a machine over
the surface. I tried strimming and the mess was intolerable - something
like the fan blades of an Everglades hovercraft.

Stan
Hate to say this, Stan but given the combined problems, I think you're
looking at a new septic tank/soakaway. I have no expert knowledge at all
but I would suggest not messing about with this too long because
Environmental Health can slap orders on you. Again - just my guess but I'd
be concerned that anything you do that doesn't deal with the problem in a
radical way will lead you to spend more money later along the line and even
involve you (perhaps) in legal issues with regard to polluting water courses
etc.
--

Sacha
(remove the weeds to email me)

In article , Sacha
wrote:

Stan The Man5/5/04 11:09
snip
I would be more than happy to ignore it if it were not accompanied by a
malfunctioning septic tank soakaway. If "grey" water isn't being
absorbed into the ground it could present a hazard so I need to fix it
one way or another -- and thought I might also try to fix the
worst-draining sections of the lawn at the same time. Another problem
is that the grass in the boggy areas of the lawn is growing at 100mph
at this time of year and I can't cut it until I can get a machine over
the surface. I tried strimming and the mess was intolerable - something
like the fan blades of an Everglades hovercraft.

Stan
Hate to say this, Stan but given the combined problems, I think you're
looking at a new septic tank/soakaway. I have no expert knowledge at all
but I would suggest not messing about with this too long because
Environmental Health can slap orders on you. Again - just my guess but I'd
be concerned that anything you do that doesn't deal with the problem in a
radical way will lead you to spend more money later along the line and even
involve you (perhaps) in legal issues with regard to polluting water courses
etc.

I bought this property 6 months ago and have already spent £1500 on
bringing the septic tank up to perfect working order. The problem is
not the tank itself but the soakaway, which I can't see and know
nothing about. Nor do I know how deep the clay cap is - although I will
be getting a test trench dug shortly to find out. If, as I suspect, the
clay is 3m thick, then no soakaway should ever have been built on top
of it - and no new soakaway is going to work for very long either,
unless I can perhaps combine it with an industrial bore hole to take
the grey water down below the clay cap. The only other alternative I
have been offered is a new private sewage plant costing well into 5
figures... which I simply don't have. Methinks there should be Govt
Grants for this kind of thing.

Stan

"Stan The Man" wrote in message
...
In article , Rod
wrote:


Try to get a look at a surface geology map of your area. You should
get an idea of the depth of your clay. If like us you've got several
metres of boulder clay, then you've probably got the makings of a bog
garden or pond.

Rod

I've been looking all over the net for such a map. Do you know where I
might find one?

http://www.geopubs.co.uk/section2/bgs.html#geological

--
Nick Wagg

In article , Nick Wagg
wrote:

"Stan The Man" wrote in message
...
In article , Rod
wrote:


Try to get a look at a surface geology map of your area. You should
get an idea of the depth of your clay. If like us you've got several
metres of boulder clay, then you've probably got the makings of a bog
garden or pond.

Rod

I've been looking all over the net for such a map. Do you know where I
might find one?

http://www.geopubs.co.uk/section2/bgs.html#geological

Thanks for this. I don't think these maps will do it. Like most of the
maps I have found so far, they give lots of plan information but little
or no sectional information except for the big, deep layers of rock or
whatever. The top 10 metres or so doesn't rate a mention. And at approx
1in per mile, I would have difficulty pin-pointing my property in an
area which is right on the borders of adjoining clay, chalk, gravel and
Reading beds deposits.

Stan

"Stan The Man" wrote in message
...
In article , Nick Wagg
wrote:

Thanks for this. I don't think these maps will do it. Like most of the
maps I have found so far, they give lots of plan information but
little
or no sectional information except for the big, deep layers of rock or
whatever. The top 10 metres or so doesn't rate a mention. And at
approx
1in per mile, I would have difficulty pin-pointing my property in an
area which is right on the borders of adjoining clay, chalk, gravel
and
Reading beds deposits.

Stan

Have you had a look at what the British Geological Survey
(http://www.bgs.ac.uk) has to offer? Some of the more comprehensive
reports are quite expensive, but in the context of your problem, may be
worth getting hold of.

As far as free information goes, I have found the 'Geology of Brtain'
(http://www.bgs.ac.uk/magazine/geology/home.html) interactive map quite
interesting.

Neil

On Thu, 06 May 2004 13:35:12 +0100, Stan The Man
wrote:

In article , Nick Wagg
wrote:

"Stan The Man" wrote in message
...
In article , Rod
wrote:


Try to get a look at a surface geology map of your area. You should
get an idea of the depth of your clay. If like us you've got several
metres of boulder clay, then you've probably got the makings of a bog
garden or pond.

Rod

I've been looking all over the net for such a map. Do you know where I
might find one?

http://www.geopubs.co.uk/section2/bgs.html#geological

Thanks for this. I don't think these maps will do it. Like most of the
maps I have found so far, they give lots of plan information but little
or no sectional information except for the big, deep layers of rock or
whatever. The top 10 metres or so doesn't rate a mention. And at approx
1in per mile, I would have difficulty pin-pointing my property in an
area which is right on the borders of adjoining clay, chalk, gravel and
Reading beds deposits.

What does www.undermystreet.co.uk say?

On Thu, 06 May 2004 17:05:37 +0200, martin wrote:

On Thu, 06 May 2004 13:35:12 +0100, Stan The Man
wrote:

I've been looking all over the net for such a map. Do you know where I
might find one?

http://www.geopubs.co.uk/section2/bgs.html#geological

Thanks for this. I don't think these maps will do it. Like most of the
maps I have found so far, they give lots of plan information but little
or no sectional information except for the big, deep layers of rock or
whatever. The top 10 metres or so doesn't rate a mention. And at approx
1in per mile, I would have difficulty pin-pointing my property in an
area which is right on the borders of adjoining clay, chalk, gravel and
Reading beds deposits.

What does www.undermystreet.co.uk say?

whoops sorry! It doesn't exist anymore.

In article , Neil Jones
wrote:

"Stan The Man" wrote in message
...
In article , Nick Wagg
wrote:

Thanks for this. I don't think these maps will do it. Like most of the
maps I have found so far, they give lots of plan information but
little
or no sectional information except for the big, deep layers of rock or
whatever. The top 10 metres or so doesn't rate a mention. And at
approx
1in per mile, I would have difficulty pin-pointing my property in an
area which is right on the borders of adjoining clay, chalk, gravel
and
Reading beds deposits.

Stan

Have you had a look at what the British Geological Survey
(http://www.bgs.ac.uk) has to offer? Some of the more comprehensive
reports are quite expensive, but in the context of your problem, may be
worth getting hold of.

Yes, I have already ordered one on the advice of the saleslady but I'm
ready to be disappointed by it.

As far as free information goes, I have found the 'Geology of Brtain'
(http://www.bgs.ac.uk/magazine/geology/home.html) interactive map quite
interesting.

Unfortnately the Java on that site doesn't seem to work too well with
Apple's favour of Java so I can't get as far as I would like - probably
I need to pay a visit to the Natural History Museum instead.

Neil

Simon

On Thu, 06 May 2004 23:38:41 +0100, Stan The Man
wrote:

In article , Neil Jones
wrote:

"Stan The Man" wrote in message
...
In article , Nick Wagg
wrote:

Thanks for this. I don't think these maps will do it. Like most of the
maps I have found so far, they give lots of plan information but
little
or no sectional information except for the big, deep layers of rock or
whatever. The top 10 metres or so doesn't rate a mention. And at
approx
1in per mile, I would have difficulty pin-pointing my property in an
area which is right on the borders of adjoining clay, chalk, gravel
and
Reading beds deposits.

Stan

Have you had a look at what the British Geological Survey
(http://www.bgs.ac.uk) has to offer? Some of the more comprehensive
reports are quite expensive, but in the context of your problem, may be
worth getting hold of.

Yes, I have already ordered one on the advice of the saleslady but I'm
ready to be disappointed by it.

As far as free information goes, I have found the 'Geology of Brtain'
(http://www.bgs.ac.uk/magazine/geology/home.html) interactive map quite
interesting.

Unfortnately the Java on that site doesn't seem to work too well with
Apple's favour of Java so I can't get as far as I would like

It doesn't have sufficient resolution and is not fantastic. I entered
locations well known for fossils on the N Yorks coastline and it knew
nothing of them.

- probably
I need to pay a visit to the Natural History Museum instead.

Java man is in the Dutch National Natural History Museum in Leiden :-)