Saw-sick Steve

Spot on, just the way the pikeys operate down here, '' Just passing / in your area, was wondering if you had any scrap / wanted to buy some tools...'' etc. Usually on farms or isolated properties, a stock response if anyone disturbs them in their activities.

Yeh, my bad, :blushing:Ponticum contains 'phenols' and 'grayanotoxins' . I always assumed it was cyanide as we were always under strict instructions on the farm never to let stock get access to it, as its lethal.It also poisons the ground in order to out compete other species - horrid stuff, second only to Japanese Knotweed in its detrimental impact on native species.Laurel, on the other hand, was always devoured with relish, and no ill effects, by sheep and cattle.

Its Rhododendron 'Ponticum' that has the cyanide problem, never come across it with Laurel. As mentioned above, livestock don't have a problem with it, our sheep love it!

Amazing! Down here you tend to get used to the idea of the coastline remaining fairly constant for life. Can't quite get me head around the idea of a coastline changing so dramatically in such a short space of time. Bit like fast-forwarding erosion! Nice pics.

I forgot to mention that I also did a bit for The Really Wild Show, when working as a Warden. My assistant Warden had a real thing for Michaela Strachan, and was like a dog with two dicks when he heard she was coming. So i let him do all the liaison work in return for covering my weekend! Lets just say he was hugely disappointed when she turned out to be nowhere near as attractive in real life as she appears on T.V.

Just had an update, seems they're targeting farms and isolated properties as well. Farm near Fowey got done over, and a house near Cardinham - three blokes in a white Transit both times.

Does she drive lorries as well? Told Keith Chegwin and Maggie Philbin to get of their horses, in a previous life as a Warden. Oh, been on telly with Bill Oddie - it doesn't get more Hollywood than that!

They're called 'Slaters', and are indeed closely related to Woodlice. Tommer - Told you the wood would be green.

Just had a p.m from dangerous Brian, so i'll repeat here. Yards were Glynn Valley, near Liskeard, and just north of Bodmin, though the blokes claimed they were from Redruth and said they'd heard scrap was available. Fair put the wind up me mate and he don't scare easy.

Just a heads up for any Cornish members, some of our caravan dwelling friends are active in the area. 3 of them paid a visit to a mates yard yesterday looking for scrap, and got quite intimidating when he refused. Luckily he had 2 of the boys with him, and a mate who just happened to be passing, so they thought better of it and sodded off. Not too far though, turned up at another yard just down the road, where they frightened the hell out of the owners missus. They were in the yard going through the tool store,and when challenged made up a story about looking to buy a transit - so she 'phoned her hubby. Now the man in question is not a bloke to be crossed lightly, and has had his own issues with the boys in blue, so was not likely to resort to the police. Rushing back to the yard, he managed to find not only the power tools they'd stashed for collection later, but also persuaded them that his cement mixer would be better staying in his yard rather than their transit. Amazing how persuasive someone can become with judicious use of a firearm! Not necessarily condoning his actions, but given the almost total in- effectivness of the Police, how else do you protect your property? And as the man says, ''its the only language they understand''.

I know you Northeners think yer 'ard, but surely even you lot stop for a brew mid-afternoon? Yorkshire? Tea drinking? You even have yer own tea fer chrissakes!

Don't knock you're own worth. In over 25 years of working with/for/alongside Conservation organisations, its inevitably the enthusiastic amateurs who know more (sometimes vastly more) than the so-called ''professionals''.

Sh#t! another G.Q.T listener outed! How many do we need to form a support group?:blushing:

It depends totally on what wood your cutting, ground conditions etc.. If you're coppicing, and the stools are cut close to the ground, then obviously yer going to pick up more grit and dirt than if your 40ft.up. Its not uncommon for me to sharpen 1st thing, then not need to touch the saw for the rest of the day. Then again, if breaking down old windblow or other timber thats been in contact with the ground, chain may need a tickle 2 or 3 times.

Was listening to' Gardeners Question Time' () in the truck the other afternoon, and they had a query about Honey fungus. Apparently its not that robust, and easily out competed by other , not so damaging, fungi. Taking advantage of this weakness, apparently some Foresters are now adding fungal spores of these competitor fungi to their chain oil in order to limit the spread of Honey fungus. They didn't elaborate, but i was intrigued. As you seem to be the boards resident fungal expert, i wondered if you could shed any light on this, or even tried it yerself? Cheers in advance.

Absolutely, we had the same problem with the ''Working Woodlands'' scheme, a lot of small operations didn't have either the time or the expertise to complete the paperwork, and those that did couldn't find the 60% on top. So, yet again, the bulk of the cash went to the large scale operators and professional form fillers - hardly the point of the exercise.

Blimey, about 120 quid - more like 150 if it was split:biggrin:

As efficient and well constructed a stove as you'll come across. One of the pioneers of the ''air wash'' clean burn system and a sight cheaper than Clearview.

Goshawk, the Sparrowhawk's bigger cousin, and sadly still very uncommon - but making a comeback. This would be well capable of dealing with a Parakeet. Not surprised the Sparrowhawk had problems - All Para's go through a rigorous training regime and are notoriously tough... O.K, I'll get me coat...:blushing:

If you're wood is seasoned, advertise it as such. Otherwise, looking good!

Good post, I totally agree. If I could find the applause emoticon i would use it! Lost count of the numbers of customers i've had ask about weight, then had to explain. Word of mouth seems to be as good a way of advertising as any, had loads of customers delighted to have wood that actually burns. I sell a quality product at a reasonable price. Not the cheapest, but have never been busier.

From own experience - Negative - Aarrow, Hunter, Villager. Positive - Woodwarm (Fireview), morso, Charnwood

Yes, thats one i can remember, Oxford Uni. Wildlife Conservation Unit - didn't realise it had been trashed? Had similar info. from Vincent Wildlife Trust fairly recently. Also, anecdotally I can relate from personal experience. The river I grew up alongside used to be living with Mink when I was a kid. Playing in the summer hols, never fail to see at least 1 mink a day, usually more. Never saw an Otter. Moved away for 12 years, been back for 12, same stretch of water, not seen ONE mink - seen three Otters though. As to mink sprainting near otters, I once had a rat chew its way into the Ferrets cage - needless to say, that one won a Darwin award!

Glad to hear you enjoy the odd bit of swinging, I'm a fairly liberal sort of bloke myself, but I have my limits.