Saw-sick Steve

Seriously? Some strong language here, but 'Jonathan Pie' is bang on the money here - IMO; [ame] [/ame]

You'll love this guy then... [ame] [/ame]

I don't recall a more partisan reaction to an election - and a US one at that - by certain sections of the UK media. The BBC seem to be taking the result as a personal affront,and the 'Guardian' has really spat the dummy - with the exception of one standout article - https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/nov/09/donald-trump-white-house-hillary-clinton-liberals which offers a good explanation of why Trump beat Clinton, and of the issues facing the modern 'liberal left'. This quote in particular, stood out - ,"Maybe it’s time to consider whether there’s something about shrill self-righteousness, shouted from a position of high social status, that turns people away.". Reading through the vast majority of other Graun contributors to the debate - Smith, Mason, Friedland, Valenti, Chakrabortty, Freeman, Thrasher et al, and you begin to realise that the 'maybe' part of that statement is pretty much redundant.

This article may be of interest - https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/aug/05/bovine-tb-not-passed-on-through-direct-contact-with-badgers-research-shows Prof Alastair MacMillan, veterinary adviser for Humane Society International/UK, said: “The suggestion by some that TB is spread by frequent nose-to-nose contact between badgers and cattle has now been completely dismissed.” “It is much more likely that contamination by cattle of fields and yards by [TB bacteria] is the cause of repeated TB herd breakdowns,” said MacMillan, a former Defra scientist. “It’s clear that the government must divert the substantial resources being used needlessly to cull badgers and instead improve farmer education and biosecurity on farms.”''

This. Certainly not a frost issue, as hazel are wind pollinated. We've had a bumper year for nuts, but as stated above, don't rule out the squirrels!

I did a similar thing with a 17 acre arable field I purchased about 10 years ago, planted all the edges with a variety of self-seeded and home grown trees of local provenance, of which the largest single species type was Ash. Fast growing, attractive tree for both windbreak, amenity, wildlife and, of course, firewood - sod's law that ten years down the line the double whammy of both Chalara and Emerald Ash Borer loom large on the horizon. For that reason, I'm holding out on the Ash thinning until I get some idea of just how destructive these threats turn out to be. If Chalara strikes first, I will then wait, before coppicing the survivors - like the Elm beetle, I'm assuming the Emerald Borer can only affect larger trees, and not coppice.

That's the last thing I'd do. If approx 10% of Ash are resistant to Chalara, then surely it makes sense to do any thinning after the disease has struck - no point removing any resistant Ash.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jan/30/how-to-eradicate-grey-squirrels-without-firing-a-shot-pine-martens

I've just finished topping 5 acres far worse than that - including 2 yr old Willow saplings - with a 5' teagle topper behind an old MF135. Just take things steady and don't force things and you'll be fine.

Yes, deffo healthier for both the birds and you - only drawback with 'proper' free ranging is Mr - or Mrs - Fox. I arrived back in the nick of time yesterday to avert a slaughter, but a vixen still managed to kill one of my Indian Runners - in broad daylight at 5pm. My dog gave chase but to no avail, so I'll have to confine them for a few weeks, this one is so brazen she's killed hens when I've been in the neighbouring field.

Immigration is a subject that, sadly, usually generates more heat than light but is nonetheless an issue that needs debating properly. FWIW, I'm in favour of free movement of people throughout the EU, but of selected immigration from elsewhere. I'm not - along with, I suspect, the majority of this country - a proponent of unfettered, unlimited immigration from third world countries comprising mainly of young Muslim men who hold values that are - IMO - totally incompatible with those of a modern secular Western democracy. I'm rather attached to this country and the values and way of life that the likes of my father and his brothers fought to defend, and find it sadly ironic that any dissenting voices to the ''let 'em all in'' liberal media pro-immigration agenda are met with accusations of being a ''xenophobic,racist knuckle dragger'' - particularly as the majority of said immigrants are themselves adherents to a homophobic, misogynistic, medieval death cult that truly does fit the very definition of ''fascism''.

He may well be, but that doesn't alter the fact that that non-Eu migration is a financial drain on this country.

Yep

TBF, he makes a valid point about the economic benefits brought by EU migrants compared to non-EU migrants.

Good advice from Chopper Edoff on this thread, I always use tweezers and a straight pull to remove the buggers - sometimes they're too small for the 'specialist' tools. It's a rare day indeed nowadays if I don't remove a tick from either me or one the dogs/cats.It's worth just giving them the once over when you come in - you can often spot them crawling over their fur and kill them before they attach themselves. Lyme disease is on the increase, due partly to the rise in the deer population coupled with a raised awareness of it's existence. There are four stages to a tick’s life-cycle: egg, larva, nymph, and adult. Larvae, nymphs and adults all only feed once in each stage. The whole life cycle lasts around 2 years, and it is the nymph which is most likely to bite you - though I have removed larva before, and they are really tiny. If a larval tick picks up an infection from a small animal such as a vole, when it next feeds as a nymph it can pass the infection to the next animal or human it bites. I'm fortunate in the fact that as soon as I'm bitten I get an itchy reaction, but not everyone does - if left undisturbed, a tick will feed for 5-7 days, and they swell up to the size of your thumbnail. Keep checking, especially if you're in the woods - it really is a most debilitating disease.

Looks like a Song Thrush to me.

Sarries deseved the win but I thought Farrell was lucky to still be on the pitch after his high tackle on Watson in the first couple of minutes - the fact that he waltzed past an obviously concussed Watson seconds later for Sarries first try made matters worse. Thought Barnes favoured Saracens, some inconsistent officiating this afternoon.

Agree with your ident, can't see the chelicerae but it's hard to see it as anything else. Quite far north for a record though, isn't it?

Haven't logged on for a while and I'm beginning to see why - hairy-assed tree workers discussing the colour of a dress. Is this 'Arbtalk' or 'Mumsnet'? Lime green and orange, btw.

Got a 30 year old Zetor which I use mainly to power the log splitter and do a bit of flailing with - antway, pont is it never goes on the road nowadays or leaves the holding. Saturday morning, I received a letter from DVLA informing me that said tractor was out of insurance (i know!!!) and I hadn't declared it SORN and was therefore liable for a £100 fine - no warning, no reminder through the post, nothing and of course as everyone here knows, it's impossible to speak to anyone directly if you want to contest a decision! What to do - pay up, declare it SORN and not pay, or contest it? If I SORN it, does this mean I have to repeat the procedure every year for the rest of the vehicle's life, meaning I'm liable for another fine if they don't issue a reminder? Anyone had similar run ins with our 'inflexible friends'?

Same problem here, almost all the cartilage worn away but I'm trying to put off surgery for as long as possible as it's not a permanent fix. Trying to reduce workload and keep the weight down, light exercise is good - cycling, swimming and walking but not running. Oh, and sorry to dissapoint all the snake oil - sorry, cod-liver oil advocates, - there's little hard evidence it works and, worse still, increases your chances of prostate cancer - Omega 3 fish oils linked to prostate cancer risk - Medical News Today

Thanks for the replies lads, this place never fails to come up with the goods.

My 50 year old MF 135 is struggling to maintain decent oil pressure. Starts off fine but then gradually drops as the engine warms up until after about an hour or so the gauge barely registers on tickover. Problem seems worse in the summer, I can only work a topper or mower for a couple of hours before having to switch off for fear of seizure - not so much of a problem in winter on processor. Oil is black, not losing any through leakage or burning - any ideas?

How different is the Hycrack splitter from the Eagle? What's the Eagle like in general to use and run? Thinking of getting one so any feedback welcome.

Anyone had any experience of using the cone splitter on the Hakki-Pilke 'Eagle' saw-bench?