jonnygurkha

I had an air arms tx200 under lever when I was a lad and it was good. Powerful, accurate and superbly built but quite heavy with it.

Fair enough Jon. Are you planning on using it purely on the range or are you thinking of plinking a few bunnies?

Hi Jon, I know this has been said before in this thread but if you can bring yourself to apply for a FAC then you can get a lot more rifle for your money. I was looking at air rifles originally but they are so expensive so went down the FAC route. It wasn't that much hassle to do and I ended up getting a cracking .22 rimfire with moderator and a reasonable scope for £400!

Steamed a bit when it was moved!

I've just finished a contract on a SSSI which required us to burn on a raised platform and remove the ash. Where we could handle the arisings with a tractor grab we constructed large platforms with wriggly tin but where it was too steep or too wet we had half a steel tank, a chain and a little David Brown. Worked a treat, hardly left a mark and all the ash was contained. Could have done with being a bit bigger and with some more air holes. I'll see if I can attach a pic...

May be too far for you but I bought some waney edge larch from CO2 timber near Langport in Somerset. I think they only deal in larch and wr cedar, good product and reasonably priced

As an aside I was quite surprised to find the Honda engine on my GM Arb 130 is made in China...

No, not waiting for a lorry but I'm back and forth along the A39 between Glasto and Farrington

Cheers Jon

Hi mate, where on the A39?

I have a Woodwarm and without the restrictor screw you can shut it down so much it will go out. I don't like slumbering it as the glass goes black and the fire stinks of tar in the morning. Just keep a good bucket of kindling next to the fire to light the next morning. Highly rate Woodwarm.

Well, I have to say this book I was given by my MiL is up there. Called A new Sylva, its a rewrite and modern version of John Evelyn's 1660s book on forests and trees. I've only just started reading it but so far so good. Amazing illustrations too. Anyone else read it?

I have recently purchased a new Greenmech 130 with no regrets at all. Its a fantastic machine. My mate has recently bought a tw125 do I've had a chance to use both. They are both good machines and you won't be disappointed with either. The GM is longer and heavier than the TW but it has a brake. I don't mind it being longer as it is easier to see in the mirrors when reversing but if you have limited storage space it may be an issue. For me GM round blades, greasable bearings and wide infeed won the day but as I say the TW is great wee chipper too.

Roger that, thanks sloth

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Sorry David, my phone camera is a bit crap. The fruiting bodies were from ground level up to about 1m. Coal like and black crumbly. Here is the second giant beech with kretz and a bracket I will need to id later. I think this tree is a goner.

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Currently carrying out a survey on about 100 trees bordering a busy b road. Some amazing trees but sadly 2 of the beech have kretz. Is it worth getting a tomograph survey or is it too late by the time you find the fruiting bodies? (A3 folder for scale)

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Thanks for the replies. I have not come across this before, I had thought torsion crack as it spiraled round the trunk but lightning strike could be a possibility. In terms of recommendations, how does lightening affect the strength? Cheers

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Hi all, carried out a climbing inspection of a mature Scots pine today. The tree is a single stem to 5m then splitting into 4 stems then 6 stems. On the main stem there is a crack that stretches from nearly the top-most twig (~23m) down to roughly 8m in a spiral pattern. A similar crack appears on another of the stems. They seem oldish as there is quite a lot of reactive growth along the entire length. I am thinking its a torsion crack as the foliage on those two stems is only on the SW side possibly leading to uneven wind resistance. I am half inclined to recommend thinning and reducing the canopy to reduce wind sail effect but has too much damage already been done? Also there are plenty of targets nearby so want to err on the side of caution. Any views? Cheers

I have the same problem. I have found my load handler will unload a full dumpy bag but it won't necessarily be the right way up. Of you cable tie the handles its possible to right the bag again without losing the logs. Bit of a faff though. I'm wondering if a swing lift or similar mounted on the pickup or trailer would work?

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I bought a load handler and a grain shovel. Like humpo said, for the money you can't beat them.

Thanks for that, I'll give it a try. Sounds like I may have to get up the tree to harvest some more seed!

Well, I finally found the time to climb to the top of my local wellingtonia. First time I've climbed one and I must say the downwards sweeping branches were a challenge. Anyway, at the top I picked a green cone, brought it down, left it in the truck and forgot about it. In the warmth it has opened up and spilled seeds everywhere. Is it possible to propagate these and if so what is the best way? Thanks

Any takers?

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As per the title I need a competent, experienced freelance climber next week for Thursday 1 May and Friday 2nd May. PM me if interested. Thanks

I use the Clarks bio tack and had no problems that would stop me using it. I feel it is affected by the temperature becoming gloopy in the cold and quite thin in the summer. The other thing I have noticed is if I take a bar and chain off a saw and leave it for a few months it gets seized up. Easily freed up with some WD.