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Everything posted by Quickthorn
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I don't do much over summer, david. Come March, it starts to dry up. There's a few day's spraying here and there, plus a few days pa6 assessing, but apart from that, I spend summer putting back together all the stuff that broke during the winter season! One problem now is that so many clients now believe that the bird nesting season starts earlier, and so they want everything done by the end of February. At the moment,I wish there was 2 of me!
Do they keep you busy over summer?
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I've got plenty to do in Winter, luckily..I'm actually flat out til end March. It's summer that's slow, and to earn decent money in this line of work, you need to be flat out all of the time!
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I'm self employed..I'm sure I'd be better off as an employee, but I used to feel pretty trapped working for others. If you're self employed, you get to choose what jobs you take on, what gear you use (if you can afford it), how well you maintain it all, etc. Since I moved to Lincs, I'd probably be better off on the dole, really, but if you enjoy what you do for a living, you don't need money to spend on holidays, hobbies etc. because you don't need all that stuff.
If I ever gave up self employment, the next best thing would be working for the right estate. I did think of trying to get in here, but it's a good job I didn't, because they've sacked all the woodmen and now contractors do it all!
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Hi Matt
I've just been going through your epic 130 thread again. I'm thinking of retiring my 110 at the end of this season and going for a 130. I know where you got it from, but can you tell me what sort of price you paid, who had it before you and what sort of mileage it had on it? I've seen a few at dealers for £7-8k ex Environment Agency, with about 120000 or so on the clock. Did you try approaching the utility co direct, or auctions, to cut the dealer out before going to Drake's?
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I've heard the hazel thing too. It's a crying shame that there's so much overstood, getting on for 50-60 years old. I'd cut a lot more if I knew there was a market, but I'd need to ask 50p for, say a 5' hedgelaying stake, and an awful lot of people turn their noses up at that.
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There are supposed to be dormice in one of the woods I coppice. They now leave uncut margins between coupes, to act as corridors for them. In one way, it would be nice if they were there, but I wouldn't look forward to the possible restrictions that might come if they were found. I mean, they'd be there partly because of the way the place is managed..if they stop us managing it, won't it change their habitat?
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yes, that's me., messing about with my camera when I should of been working. There's hedging work around, but i get the feeling there's less now since they scrapped countryside stewardship. The new els doesn't tie the landowner into a particular task, such as hedgelaying. There are still grants, though. It can sometimes be 50% of my season, though I'm glad to finish some jobs. First job this season, after cutting hazel for it, was a 400 yd hedge with no vehicle access except for one end. Towards the end, I must have been walking a couple ofmiles a day just carrying materials!
Good idea to create that woodman's group. I like all the coppice crafts and stuff, but earning money always has to come first, unfortunately.