blue beastie

Cheers both.

Cheers for the heads up - hope all's well with you.

Have 5 hectares to spray in the Oak wood here - Gaultheria and Rhododendron. Can anybody recommend the best product to treat both please? Spec says it has to be Glyphosate based - I have some here from spraying elsewhere, but no mention of either plant in the product label.... Also looking to source blue dye too. Am new to spraying so all advice gratefully received. Ta.

Happy belated one!

Windy Smithy all the way - had one for years wouldn't be without it. Hand made by Jon in Devon, you'd be supporting a talented Smith who feeds his family through his craft. He can be a bit gruff on the phone but don't be put off, you'll get a top product and service.

My Wife was out in The Gambia last year with a charity and took loads of Baobab photos for me unfortunately they're on her laptop at the mo' so I can't post them here (yet). She photo-documented the following event though. They ran out of glue during a classroom project with the kids and were scratching their heads as to what to do when one of the kids says his Grandfather showed him once how to make glue from Baobab fruit. The class empties outside and the kids are straight up the trees (no ropes and no worries from the teachers), down come the fruit and this kid shows everybody what Grandad (and more importantly GENERATIONS of his people) used to do. The glue is made, the project finished and an important skill passed on - result!

Difficult to say. I'm lucky enough to work in the woods around the village I live in - they literally start at the bottom of my garden. You'd think that would make it easier to stick to an 8-4 or similar routine as i've less far to travel than most, but the opposite's true. I find myself working silly hours as I can always see something else that needs doing! It's a bit like having a 693 Hectare garden to look after.... On the plus side though I work by myself for myself, so can nip home if it's raining, start and finish early or late depending on daylight etc. I don't earn megabucks and it's hard graft as i've no vehicle to get into the woods in so lug all my kit by hand, a large part of each day is just getting to site - I love it though and wouldn't give it up for the world. I grew up in the village and was tearing around these woods when I was eight daydreaming about being a Woodsman - here I am twenty years later....

If not, please post any advice here. p.s. I know after the "Which Cheap 4x4" thread you all said NOT to get an old Defender, but there's not a lot around locally at the moment and this is cheap and only 10 miles away....

Hi all, Anybody around in the Highlands (Tain - 45 mins North of Inverness) to have a look over a Defender i'm thinking about buying with me? It's a 1986 110 pickup 2.5 NA Diesel. Cheers.

Nice one Lyndon thanks for the offer and link.

Hadn't thought of that....

Would that be incl or excl VAT!

So in some sort of order of preference from what you guys are saying i'm thinking: Fourtrak -though what are they like for spares? Discovery - 200 or 300 tdi? SJ 413 - might be tricky to find a half decent one. Vitara - plenty around seemingly, which engine's best? Avoid defenders and series vehicles, Jimny probably outside budget, can't fit a brushcutter in a Panda. Sound about right to yous? Anyone who fancy's posting a list in order of preference please feel free. Thanks all for your suggestions so far.

Thanks all, keep 'em coming. What are the differences between the SJ410 and SJ413 - is it just the hard/soft top?

If you'd £1000 - £1500 to spend on a cheap 4x4 where'd you spend your money? Doesn't need to tow enormous loads or anything just carry a bloke, his dog and a couple of saws etc round some forestry tracks and snowy winter roads. Ancient Landy, Daihatsu Fourtrak, Ford Maverick (yuck - although I know a bloke who swears by his), Suzuki Vitara...... What do you all think? Ta.

Arghh...... wish I had a camera, SO much up here to show you. Rock cinquefoil being one of the best It's an adventure to say the least to get up to where they grow but well worth the effort - site description and pics on the page in the link below...... Potentilla rupestris Nice huh?!

Husky 346XP(G) - got to be! Just dropped down to a 13 inch bar on mine and it flies.....

Would be interested in this too.

I used a Berthoud Vermorel 2000 Pro 16 litre like Quickthorn mentioned. I think they're pretty much standard fare, both my trainer and assessor said they were the only thing to buy. They sell locally for £115 but you'll probably find 'em cheaper down south - as we get robbed for everything up here due to lack of competition! Here you go http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/berthoud-vermorel-2000-pro-16l-knapsack-sprayer-/270625084168?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Garden_Plants_Weed_Pest_Control_CV

Nah most of it was stuff I had l sitting about that I just chucked in the car before I left. The assessor had most of it there already when I turned up, but the more tickets and tests I go for the more I realise it pays to make a good impression by turning up well prepared!

Thanks for the advice and confidence boost fellas - I passed! My assessor seemed a decent guy which put me at ease, and he was really clear and concise with his questioning which helped. TBH I didn't want to have to get my PA1 & 6 to begin with as I didn't like the idea of working with chemicals - am really pleased now that I did though and the course was really valuable in terms of showing that if you follow the rules it doesn't have to be dangerous. ArbLloyd You don't need anything other than a pen & paper for your PA1, and they'll be able to advise you then on what you need for your PA6 and where to get it. My kit list for my PA6 test today was: PPE (visor, unlined rubber gloves, wellie boots & disposable suit all with approriate CE marks), 15m tape measure, 1 litre measuring jug, 20ml syringe, a big bucket, a washing up bowl with sand in to use as a drip tray when measuring chemical, a calculator, pen & paper, a pesticide product label and some tent pegs and warning tape to mark out the test area. My PPE cost me £35 and the sprayer I borrowed off a mate. If you want any more info gimme a shout or do what I did and post here for some pointers from other Arbtalkers. Thanks again to all who advised.

Ta very much all - you make it sound so easy.... Have had a good read over the course material again today, and just as well too - SO much that i'd forgotten! Not sure how much of it is actually testable if you see what I mean, but guess it's all applicable to the work situation later on so best to know. I've been spraying water all over the layby up the road all day, timing and counting and measuring, TBH I don't think I can do much else to be ready. Will let you know how it goes....

Morning all, Have my PA1 & PA6 assessments tomorrow so have taken a day off today to go over everything. What things will my assessor be looking for in particular? Where am I likely to trip up? All tips, hints and advice appreciated. Thanks.

HEAR HEAR!!