Matthew Arnold

Ruddy boiler just packed in. Keep saying to mum we need a woodburner. Ha ha tonight we will need one.

Chondrostereum purpureum - Silver leaf fungus - David Humphries’s Fungi Directory - Arbtalk.co.uk | Discussion Forum for Arborists

Cheers.

Found this lil cluster of gilled brackets growing on a dead Hazel stump. Not got a clue what they are and cant find anything in Rogers mushrooms.

Some of the recent shots. The misty shots were caused by a large Straw/hay rick that spontaniousily combusted down in the valley bottom.

Nothing like a bit of Ozzy to soothe the mind after a very tough day out in the field. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxcQAPSAD7s&feature=BFa&list=HL1354566581]Ozzy Osbourne - I Don't Wanna Stop - YouTube[/ame] [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rsa4HktvsU4&feature=bf_next&list=HL1354566581]Ozzy Osbourne - Let Me Hear You Scream - YouTube[/ame]

Just got this horrible rizzle at the moment. Not rain or drizzle just that horrible rain/drizzle mix. Temp is hovering around freezing too. Will make it a tad twitchy getting to the shoot first thing.

Its going in Tuesday for the full check over/tighten/hose replacement. Hopefully they will sort out the extreme smoking from the exhaust. Its not down on power but its belching lots and lots of black smoke especially when under load. It used to anyway but this week it has gone to another level. Think 2 shades thinner than a tractor puller and you get the idea.

Of all the plants to see in flower at this time of year......... A Lesser Celandine was a bit of a shock. It just shows how screwed up our weather is at the moment.

Last winter we were doing alot of tree work on a stretch of old railway line which was already opened up to the public. The homeowners along the stretch where we were taking the trees out were very happy and brought many cups of tea and several rounds of cakes and bacon butties. What spoilt it was 3 people who were part of the parish council. They didn't want the trees felled because "they were part of the landscape and were planted at the time of Prince Edward. The majority of the trees were 20-40 year old scabby, squirrel damaged Sycamores and some sizeable Ash stools (8 stems or more). We had one member of the public have a monumental go at us because there was 3 different vans down there (2 tree/arb team vans and our 4x4). There were two climbers, 4 groundies and 4 draggers to the massive fire we had to get rid of the. Apparently it was far too many people and vehicles for the job in hand and it was a gross waste of tax payers money felling perfectly healthy trees and paying for 3 vans to drive down a track used by members of the public. We had the head from the arb team and the countryside boss and both of them spoke to the member of the public on site. After the gent left the bosses came over and said crack on and only stop if we get physically abused. The same people which moaned are very happy because they don;t have to wear wellies to walk down the surfaced path anymore. Even though it was only about 300 metres of trees to come out would you say we were over manned for the job?

Any ideas on this little critter found lurking in leaf litter. It was found in a bed of mixed pine and broadleaf litter.

Cheers. Will be getting more tomorrow afternoon after it reacts to tonights batch.

My local river at 11 this morning and then again at 2.30 this afternoon. It is still rising and its raining again too. Some videos of the flooding too.

Where abouts was that in Yeovil?

Would you be shocked to be told it is raining again in Dorset. The local river was in the local news this evening. The flood gates are up as the EA are anticipating it rising with last nights rainfall and with tomorrows as well. BBC News - Dorset weather: Flood warnings remain after more rain

Had the BCS in the menders for a new set of roller bearings as the old ones completely collapsed. Whilst it was in it was given a full service. It starts first pull from cold with a proper length of cord as the old one was about 1/3 the length it should have been. Had the handle bars sorted as they were going very loose (they are now fixed in place). Also had the hammers sharpened all for £229 inc vat.

Local river has just breached the flood defences at their lowest point. All the flood gates are working as they should be and the EA are monitoring the pumping station as it is currently firing up every 5 minutes with the amount of river water coming back through the flood gate and the little brook that leads to the same point. It is already past the July level and is still rising. Will see if i can get pictures of the damage tomorrow afternoon whilst being out on the shoot.

This is my local river this afternoon. Chatting to an EA member of staff that i was helping put up the flood barriers the river was rising at the rate of 3inches per hour. It will be rising for atleast another 48-72 hours with the current rainfall and further rainfall to come. It will be much higher than the July flood as we have had 250% more than our usual November rainfall. Time to get the waders out and get the camera battery charged up n get some pics taken.

Charlie making him self comfy. He had slept there all night and didnt move a muscle when i turned the light on in the lounge at 6.30 this morning.

Not the most pleasant of jobs but very rewarding seeing what we had acheived in what can only be described as minging weather. Not a nice job to do on a south west facing hill with 40 mph horizontal rain pelting you in the face for 2 hours.

Oh cool. I know exactly where your to ha ha. As you have probably guessed in from sunny ol' Blandford.

RATM are back [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMjjsjNBS_4&feature=branded]Rage Against The Machine - Take The Power Back - YouTube[/ame]

Stihl HP most of the time but put a tank or two of HP Ultra to decoke everything.

Drizzle on my nizzle here at the mo combined with strengthening gusts. Glad i'm gonna be sat in a nice dry and warm tractor cab swiping rides tomorrow.

Hello dorset hedgelayer. Yet another Dorset Born and Bred clan member. Where about in dorset are you based?