All Activity

@Johnsond

We pugged it up in a wild corner of the garden to give it the best chance. They are getting quite rare apparently. Not sure why they emerge from a safe spot and embark on a dangerous journey to find somewhere else to pupate.

The surrogate Gaul is referring to the Romans if wikipedia is to be believed.

Removed a dead Beech. Quite interesting thinking of how to achieve it with a big enough safety margin. The tree was dead, Kretz, Ganoderma and HF around the base. With a sounding mallet it was apparent there was no sound wood in the base. We have a large drop zone, with collateral to the rhododendron underneath being accepted. Some stone gate pillars and a post and rail fence on the drip line of the canopy on one side. I was happy climbing the upper canopy the wood was clearly dry and dead, but big enough to take my weight. The unknown was regarding the base and the extent of decay/strength of the wood. Considerations were predominantly around knocking big bits and altering the weight bias of the tree without knowing what margins we had before the tree may fall. My final choice on how to deal with it were concluded by not wanting to be in the tree for any big cuts. So the plan was set a winch line for the eder 1800, and another to side line against the weight attached the a 3t digger. Set the cuts at 1/2 height bail out of the tree and let the winch do the work whilst everyone was safe a clear Incase the tree failed at the base. It still took a suprising pull the get it over, the hinge held for more the I anticipated. It worked just fine, I left a bigger hinge than normal as the wood was dry where I put the cuts in. Got out the tree and let the winch do the work. It landed in the right place as planned with minimal risk to anyone. VID-20250909-WA0028.mp4 The remaining lower stem I went back up, stripped the remaining branches and winched it over.

I’m waiting for Alex to send me a recipe involving garlic and pheasant stock.

Apparently the larvae can live in the tree for 5 years. I was pretty lucky to see one on it’s journey to find somewhere to pupate, although I probably forced it’s hand with my rummaging. The adult moths don’t eat apparently.

I'm enjoying the way it seems to move by concertinaring itself.

Fleeing persecution? No, stop being a silly person.

I though that too. Nonchalant about the seemingly near misses with the roof as well.

It's good but I'd not say I was a massive fan. I read the books when I was younger and heard various bits of it on the radio probably. Random bits like the 42 just stick in my mind, another quirk of the human memory. I'll re-read it one day. And Lord of the Rings. They'll be a refreshing dose of human creativity in a wasteland of AI garbage in a few years.

It might have been one of those I found fifteen years ago on a golf range. Massive thing. Size of a small bird. Made a very particular noise. Had never seen anything like it before. I killed it without hesitation. New and different things shouldn't be tolerated.

I have a Morello Cherry tree in my garden, the base is riddled with holes from Goat Moth infestation, it has oozing goo and smells a bit funky, never seen the larvae though.

What’s it taste like?

I've been a massive Hitchhiker fan in the past. Wore out the tapes. Could recite it along.

Flushcut/chisel ground sidecutters. Looks unprofessional like that.

Anywhere between 30p to £1.5/tree depending on site conditions, planting design and protection installed (i.e. 30p for neat conifer and £1.5 is installing 1.8m tree shelters on top of planting). Mulch mats are a waste of time and material to be honest, not to mention the impact on maintenance. Don't bother. Labour cost is probably around 70p-£1 depending on material, number of pegs etc.

don't forget to yell 'way to go' at the end

Did you ever see the footage of the female IDF boat crew neutralising the HAMAS terrorists attempting to swim in to Israel?

Moved timber out of garden today, from emergency job last week when Copper beech lost big limb. 300m run out around garden so took trolley to make less trips,

Might be worth asking the old girls of plant on FB for parts and other stuff like that

Bit like the old saying Mick, I will be there now in a minute 😆

‘Putting feelers out’ Are they for sale or not?

I could be interested, pics and prices please, price for all three? Can never have too many saws. Where are you?

your watch straps are a joke

I think the Border force needs privatising .....and giving a contract to the Israelis !!!