David oakman

Hi tom what sort of splitter is it in your video it seems very good.

Ben what hours do you work do you work saturdays?

Are you trying to catch up to steve as the top poster you need a few more good threads to get your fingers going.

I like the oil drum woodburner, thats got me thinking i could make one like that at the woodyard to keep me warm when working there on wet or cold days.

No i was going on saturday but i went out counting orchids instead. yes i have a new tractor with a loader it has a bucket and we are looking for a grab. Are you going to haughley park this weekend?

hi i have been to marks hall what a lovely place.

I HAVE GOT TWO WOODBURNERS in my house and it is roasting aswell they heat up the bricks in the chimneys and heat the bedrooms upstairs as the only woodman on a 6000 acre estate i get plenty of wood and pick the best. did you carve and make those things yourself? they are very good.

Not so good this week with snow and rain. Then on friday i had to go and cut out an overgrown footpath what a job a nightmare. The council used to trim footpaths but now they say it is the landowners job to keep footpaths clear, i have got 33 miles of footpaths and bridleways. How do you get on with footpaths on your estate? you sound happy in your work?

Did you PM andy collins about the work or have you found a job?

If this is to rude don't answer but what sort of illness? I had a shock this year i had 3 months off work i could not walk i had blood poisoning in my leg and it went through my body until it shut down in hospital for 8 days in a bad way a shock after never having a day off in 25 years

We are HLS so i am busy cleaning ponds putting livstock back in meadows hedges with 6 metre margins things like that. the woodmans group i will try and put more on after christmas. Have you got dormice where you are?

Hi what does a forest school leader do? and where do you do it?

Hi there i was watching tv the other night and they said in Somerset there is an apple called slack my girdle. David

Nice job. I am thinking of letting the local school around one of my woods it has two ponds and loads of wild flowers including three types of orchid.

Yes i will be going but i have got to go and see adam play with the wolsey orchestra on saturday evening. It is a good weekend plus there will be arbtalkers there.

how are things joe. i meant 17 trailor loads of firewood not 17 tonnes on my last message LOL.

Yes i have sold three loads its a start. I sold a load on sat the man was looking through it as i tipped checking it had a bit of spruse in LOL

Yes i agree the woods i know around suffolk which are unmanaged are empty of life, but the woods i look after are full of all types of wildlife,wild flowers,i remember reading in a book that hazel uncut lives to about 60 years but if it is cut the stools will live up to a thousand. Two years ago we felled a 400 year old oak when i went past it today it has good regrowth which i would not of exspected.

I am just about had enough of this weather nick rained all day today i worked in it this morning. My list of jobs for this winter is looking like not getting done, all i need is bright frosty days, what say you?

Hi joe yes i did know it was you, how is it at eastwoods? helmingham is allright i am selling a little firewood for some extra pound notes. do you and your dad still sell firewood? You will learn a lot on here it will help with your course work.

Happy new year Ben. When do you start back? with this cold i can't say i am looking forward to it LOL

Hi nick i have been ill and also flat out at work i have just finished cutting in a ride in a wood through blackthorn my arms are pricked everywhere ouch. how are you at the moment are you still busy.

In one of my woods are some overaged hazel the retired gamekeeper planted them 60 years ago icut one but it did not shoot and just rotted away what a waste. Is it my age or is being a woodman very hard work and makes all your bones ache.

that was a good link you posted on the woodmans choice i liked it a lot did you say you had been on one?

yes it is on sat and sun all about wood have a look on the arbtalk homepage at the flyer.