nepia

...something I've seen a lot of. A slightly overly serious response perhaps David but if you define your core tasks, appoint a deputy and 'train' a staff member in each one you can go to management and prove that their world won't collapse without you on Fridays. Laying out your reasons (family time) helps too. It's then more difficult for them to refuse you. Worth a go I'd say. Jon

I'll hang onto it then Ian; no probs. I'd rather have it hang around a while for such use than log it up just to get it out of the way. Thanks, Jon

Thanks. It's been down probably three months now. Frans eh? I thought he was monocultural, i.e. Monkey Puzzle! I'll contact him though. Cheers.

Ian, a slight derail but closely related... have you any experience of turning Catalpa? I have some at 20" diameter and can't persuade unadventurous turners to try it though I did find an American reference to it that highly praised it for turning. Thanks, Jon

I can put you in touch with a small dairy farm in Devon that's had one for years...

I've got some boards of that sticked and stacked: the change of grain looks artificial, almost as if it was drawn on the wood across a ruler it's that straight. I'll try and grab a pic or two soon. Jon

There are some fields near here - Caterham - where compost is being dumped by the bulk tipper load; the trucks are driving on steel mats. Do you want me to try and grab someone to talk to re pricing of it? No promises but I can ask. Jon

If he's no longer farming shouldn't he have a licence for that amount/sort of stuff?

It's not that: I think the pics may make the bodies look deeper than they are. They are flat and hug the branch. Thanks Paul. That looks a highly likely candidate whose saprophytic habit would seem logical. The branch is not exactly in rude health but it's willow - it could be 99% dead and still sprout growth every year. Limb removal is looking a serious option: it's long and thin, bears little growth, though some, and is lying only about 30 degrees above the horizontal so leverage is considerable. As I said before removal won't spoil the tree and the target environment is moderate in risk - occasional pedestrians, regular vehicles on the drive.

The owner would go for that but only if backed up with something a little more.... scientific?! Cheers.

This is spreading along the underside of a limb that rarely gets full sun. What is it please? What are its effects, if any? Is action likely to be needed? The limb could be removed without spoiling the tree which makes a pleasant change. Should I have been able to find it in the fung directory? If so how? So many questions... Thanks, Jon

ATS on the A281 at Lower Beeding. Horace Fuller also stock it at all three branches.

Yes, I've gone over to the Aspen side for what my tiny contribution to Aspenworld is worth. And partly as a result of this thread. I've done it because I got bored of breathing the horrible stuff in petrol fumes and because of the apparent benefit to machines in the long term. I've had new rubbers in my saws, one at a time, and now have just the one machine left running on 2-stroke: that's an 20-year old machine so will definitely get the treatment soon. An arb/garden machinery dealership I can conveniently use have just become stockists and are obviously aware of all the points above Barrie; they've done their research and staff training. And Aspen's selling well. The boss there told me 'I'm sick of pulling saws apart to replace rubbers that have been virtually dissolved by petrol.' Further, one of the largest arb outfits in the south east not far from here have thrown their weight behind Aspen and changed all their 2-stroke machines over to it. The message is getting out I think. Jon

Likewise and for the jobs producing little or no chip for removal the doesn't even need a trailer at 133kg: I carry it on the pickup via a pair of folding ally ramps and a rope.

Not sure about that. I use it under my pallets of firewood billets and it lasts years. The odd bramble and nettle push through but not grass.

This is very north west Kent John but may be worth knowing about. http://www.highamsfarm.com/index-1.html If you're over that way with logs I s'pose I might be able to help you out... How's the family?

...but there are several to choose from other than the wild ones (davidii) so they may still be worth considering.

April 8th; Caterham -> Newcastle. Got a drop off arranged in Essex and possible collection from there for Scotland. April 9th; Newcastle -> Wick, Caithness. Return trip probably April 17th & 18th, same route. Driving a Navara. Jon

Agreed; his price and standard of work both impressed on an old Vermeer 620i a couple of years back.

Was never a worry here; my daughter's a load scarier than I'll ever be.

From a few winters back...

Thank you Mr Ming. Seems our entomological friend depends on good coppice management then.

How does the White Pearl-Bordered Fritiladmiral benefit?! More food due to less competition from the trees or does it need the open space for courtship etc?

A bit more I found. http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/FC-BEC-InfoSheet-Wood-as-Fuel-TechSupp.pdf/$file/FC-BEC-InfoSheet-Wood-as-Fuel-TechSupp.pdf