Agricultural Drainage Contractors in East Sussex & Kent
If you're searching for agricultural drainage contractors in East Sussex or Kent, you've come to the right place. We install, upgrade and repair agricultural field drainage systems across the Weald of Kent and the South Downs — helping farmers, landowners and smallholders get water off their land and keep it productive. From waterlogged arable fields to boggy pasture and flooded paddocks, we design and install drainage that works for your ground and your farming operation.
Based in Battle, East Sussex, we've been carrying out agricultural drainage work across Kent and East Sussex for over 10 years. We understand the heavy Wealden clay soils, the high water tables, and the drainage challenges specific to farming in the South East — and we own all our own excavators and drainage plant, so we can mobilise quickly and keep costs down.
Why Agricultural Land Needs Drainage
Agricultural land across Kent and East Sussex is underlain by heavy Wealden clay in much of the Weald, with chalk on the South Downs and downland. Clay soils hold water rather than letting it drain through, so after heavy rain — increasingly common in the South East — fields become waterlogged, crops suffer, and pasture turns into a quagmire. Without a functioning drainage system, the land stays wet for weeks, delaying drilling, harvesting, and turnout.
Many farms have old drainage systems — clay tile drains, perforated pipes, or mole drains — that were installed decades ago and have since collapsed, silted up, or been damaged by tree roots. These systems no longer function, and the land they were meant to drain has reverted to waterlogged ground. The result is lost productivity, damaged crops, and land you can't work when you need to.
Blocked ditches and outfalls are the third major cause. Even a good field drainage system won't work if the ditches and watercourses it discharges into are blocked with silt, vegetation, and debris. Water backs up into the field drains, rendering them useless — and the land floods.
Our Agricultural Drainage Services
We install new agricultural drainage systems and upgrade existing ones. For new systems, we design a drainage layout suited to your land — typically a herringbone or grid pattern of perforated pipe drains, laid at the correct depth and gradient to collect water and carry it to a ditch or watercourse. We install drains with our own excavators, using quality perforated pipes wrapped in geotextile membrane and gravel backfill.
For existing systems, we diagnose and repair failures — excavating collapsed sections, replacing silted-up pipes, and clearing blocked outfalls. We also carry out mole drainage on suitable clay soils — a cost-effective technique that creates unlined channels through the clay to speed up drainage. Mole drainage typically lasts 3–5 years and is an affordable way to improve drainage on heavy clay land.
All agricultural drainage work includes ditch clearance and maintenance to ensure the system can discharge freely. We're licensed waste carriers, so we handle all arisings in-house. And because we own all our own plant, we can mobilise quickly and keep costs down — no waiting for hired machinery, no subcontractor delays. Call us on 07376 622637 for a free quote.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Are you agricultural drainage contractors near me?
We're based in Battle, East Sussex and cover all of Kent and East Sussex, including Battle, Hastings, Bexhill, Eastbourne, Tunbridge Wells, Cranbrook, Hawkhurst, Tenterden, Hailsham, Heathfield, Rye, Lewes, Robertsbridge and all surrounding towns and villages. Call 07376 622637 to check your area.
How much does agricultural drainage cost?
The cost depends on the area to be drained, the depth and spacing of drains, the soil conditions, and the outfall arrangements. Mole drainage is the most cost-effective option on suitable clay soils; full perforated pipe drainage systems cost more but last decades. We provide free, no-obligation quotes after a site visit.
How deep should agricultural drains be?
Field drainage pipes are typically installed at 600–900mm depth, depending on the soil type, the crop, and the gradient. On clay soils, drains are laid closer together and shallower; on lighter soils, they can be deeper and further apart. We design the drainage layout to suit your specific land and usage.
Can you repair an old field drainage system?
Yes. We can diagnose and repair existing drainage systems — excavating collapsed sections, replacing silted-up pipes, clearing blocked outfalls, and clearing ditches. In some cases, a full replacement is more cost-effective than repeated repairs. We'll assess your system and recommend the best approach.
Need Help With This Problem?
Call us for a free quote. Based in Battle, East Sussex — covering Kent and East Sussex. We respond within 24 hours.