Amelanchier

Nice shots Rich. What was the reach on those stem picks? Seemed like quite a distance...

Not much use for you perhaps - I'm going back tomorrow to use my jedi mind tricks again!

er wasn't it mentioned in the membership pack? Sure I read it somewhere... Being sad and having dug the reciept out it seems I might have been wrong. The reciept says the discount was for "D of E Participants"! I assume my repeated insistance that there was a discount coupled with the pressure of a busy shop made him cave in... he wasn't at all surprised to see the card though.

Yep. I still have the reciept! Took him ages at the till as he had to check a database. I didn't realise there was a problem.

I used the discount last week in the Norwich Store... 15%

Ah well it's tough to beat brand loyalty... Specially with that ISA cotswold discount!

I've been meaning to post about this company for a while now. Amazing camping / climbing / outdoor gear - great prices. Simple effective stuff sold by a small company who are big on customer service. Love them. I've bought tonnes of stuff since seeing them at the Outdoors show a few year back (5?) including waterproof jeans / sleeping bags / kit bags / headtorches. Check them out. www.alpkit.com

Interestingly (or not!) but the galleries of the Ash bark beetle (Hylesinus varius) run in a different orientation to those of the Elm bark beetles (Scolytus scolytus & Scolytus multistriatus) with the main brood gallery running horizontally (whereas Scolytus spp. run vertically).

That was truly beautiful.

How about a traverse with both ends tied off at base? You could pull a seperate traverse line up your lifeline, throwline the next tree where you want to be, let the line hit the deck and attach the live end of your traverse line to the remaining end of the throwline, and let the groundies pull it through. Tie off both ends, traverse the gap and re anchor in the new tree. Groundies can then pull the treverse line out... I presume it'd only be worth doing in big trees so you'd need long lines!!!

Could be the early symptoms of Acute Oak Decline. Any lesions further up the stem Carl? I'm monitoring a couple on our patch - forest research can't identify the causal agent yet. Posting on my phone at the moment but i'll put some links and stuff up later.

I'm not paid enough to take the abuse that would go with that! Would be an interesting approach - the offences are ones of strict liability already. I dare say it wouldn't be a popular move!

Get someone in - best plan!

If it hasn't worked first time - prepare to loose days of your life. Have you checked that the computer you are connecting with is setup to connect to the internet via a LAN connection? Do some of the IP addresses clash? Check your network settings. On the router setup page are there any security features that need configuring? Is the cable the right sort (i.e., not a crossover cable)? Are your network drivers up to date?

Could be either a female or a lesser SB... If I remember rightly, there is some sort of willdlife trust that keeps records of sightings across the country - might be helpful to pass the info on.

Perhaps as water is used for photosynthesis, those species that expolited wet ground niches could afford to be wasteful with it? I have a picture in my head of 50's american muscle cars - very fast but wasteful on 'fuel' 'cos in the culture that 'evolved' them, fuel was plentiful.

Or the Habitat Regs 2009 Amendments!!!! Here's a handy FAQ from DEFRA regarding the latest changes... http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/pdf/protection/habitats-qa09.pdf Or if you have some time / braincells to kill, the full regs! Yawn. The Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) (Amendment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2009 No. 6 Basically the biggest change IMO is that the regs now state:- "(12) Guidance as to the application of the offences in paragraph (1)(b) or (d) in relation to particular species of animals or particular activities may be published by— (a) the Secretary of State (in relation to England) or the Welsh Ministers (in relation to Wales); or (b) the appropriate nature conservation body, with the approval of the Secretary of State (in relation to England) or the Welsh Ministers (in relation to Wales). (13) In proceedings for an offence under paragraph (1)(b) or (d), a court shall take into account any relevant guidance published under paragraph (12)" It will therefore be assumed that if guidance exists - you will have followed it!!!

Any leaf litter on the floor Dean? What about shoot extension? Does seem odd.

Y'all missed the subtleties of my comments. But hey, feel free to criticise the points you think I made...

Depressing isn't it. If you can be bothered it might be worth putting a letter together to the LPA asking to see their enforcement policiy and reminding them of their responsibilities under the legislation. Add in that you will be writing to complain to the Local Government Ombudsman should they not give you a satisfactory explanation for their actions. Is the owner not under a duty to disclose neighbour disputes? Might be easier to sell if the problem is sorted out. I.e., get the police in to investigate an offence of criminal damage.

Great idea for a poll!!!

Perhaps.

Either Eriophyes filiformis or Eriophyes ulmi on Ulmus campestris.