[japagow]

Each autumn winter I have a bog drainage problem. The clay soil ish plot is exposed and half down a field with a slight gradient so water flows my way.

Areas of the plot get v. boggy especially near paths. This could be due to clay in those areas.

On the principle that it wants to go somewhere can anyone advise me where to dig a small trench, if there is any piping used in building sites that assists the movement of water/puddles etc

What are the basics of this problem and how can I go about de bogging the swamp areas?

[ANHBUC]

You can buy land drainage pipes which can be expensive or just use cheaper soil stack piping and drill holes in to do the same job and is about half the price.  Here are a couple of websites with plenty of advice on drainage systems.

www.pavingexpert.com/drain03.htm

www.diydoctor.org.uk/projects/landdrain.htm

Good luck.

[TerryB]

B&Q sell a 100mm /4in flexable drainage pipe (already has the holes in it).
Dig trench about 18in deep line with plastic sheeting (push fork thru it to form holes) or better still use black weed sheeting.
Layer of stones/broken glass cleared from site, on bottom, then drainage pipe, fill up with stones etc, cover with sheeting. You don't want the ditch to fill up with soil as the water drains into it.
If possible finsh off by covering with woodchip, allows rain to drain quickly.
This form a path so you waste no space.

[ex-cavator]

You need to be careful, though, that youdon't just divert the problem to somebody else - if a neighbouring plot ends up flooding as a result of your drainage 'solution' you may be held accountable 

[Kleftiwallah]

"Obtain". . . . . . (skiprat it) some 4" downpipe and drill lots of 1/2" holes along the length but only half way round.  Dig trenches and lay this pipe / pipes in in  herringbone pattern.   It's a lot of work but  Cheeepy Cheep.    Cheers,   Tony.

[japagow]

Thank you all for excellent advice. Cheep cheep does it for me and I shall not flood any neighbours.

Many thanks.

[N.WalesIdealist]

Dug ditches, fill halfway up with sticks and stones, then fill back in with the soil. That'll do the job!

[fatcat1955]

Rather than drill holes use a grinder or saw and cut thin slots one third of a way through the pipe. Quicker and easier in my opinion. lay the pipe so the slots are facing uppermost and bed in pea shingle.