the village idiot

Sorry to hear this Sean. Stay positive, not always easy but always worthwhile.

I find the whole thing hugely depressing. Fracking (to me) just smacks of greedy and increasingly desperate energy executives using their ill gotten influence and scare tactics to push through the latest risky environmentally damaging scheme in order to keep themselves and their shareholders' in the lifestyles they have become acustomed to. Being the most 'intelligent' species on the planet has given us the false impression that we own the Earth, and that we have every right to destroy it in the relentless pursuit of growth. If length of tenure was used as the measure of ownership then the planet would actually belong to bacteria ( by many a country mile), and I'm sure they would be doing a much better job if we hadn't gone and evolved ourselves into existence. I don't know what the answer is to our energy issues, but fracking is not it. We'll all have to accept the fact sooner rather than later that we don't actually have a given right to live the way we do and we will have to consume less energy. The system will also need to become less centralised with much more people generating their own power. I suspect that renewables would be able to provide for our more realistic energy needs if only the monumental sums of money being invested into schemes like fracking were redirected to the development of renewables. I am no angel. I choose not to fly on environmental grounds but I do drive a van, use chainsaws, and have central heating, so there is much more work to do. Some use of fossil fuels is unavoidable at present, but if everyone took a bit more responsibility with their usage we wouldn't need to frack. Please feel free to rip me to pieces. I am no expert on this subject and my argument is probably riddled with holes, but this desperate scrabble for the last remaining drops of fossil fuels at any cost just feels very wrong.

Sad news indeed. At least his brilliant books will remain forever.

Seriously though it is an amazing piece of work:thumbup:

"It is my suspicion Watson that the recently bludgeoned body was pulled up and down the hallway several times before finally being dragged up the staircase to the acid bath"

Grotbags, the Cookie Monster and Mumra the Ever Living?

George Michael?

Stevie Wonder?

I know the name probably does me no favours, but at least my avatar demonstrates that I am a man to be taken seriously.

Interesting to note the differing local dialects. We call it Pig Husbandry round these parts.

Not signing! I think he is a dangerously influential prize A pillock.

Interesting article. I really hope 'the shooters' will see the bigger picture on this. It would be AMAZING to have the Lynx back in the woods.

Oi Dartmoor! I heard that:sneaky2:

A very excited triple thumbs up from me! :thumbup:

Not sure, best ask the FC

Hi All, I have had several people ask me for details on the new round of RPA grant funding. I have been sent this info today which may well be of interest. TVI. Countryside Productivity Grant now open for forestry applications. Woodland owners and forestry contractors can now apply for grants under the Countryside Productivity Scheme, part of the Rural Development Programme. Grants, that may cover up to 40% of the total eligible costs of the project, are for woodland harvesting, extraction and small-scale processing, plus covered areas and hard standing for storage and processing. The project should enhance forestry potential or add value to forestry products. This type of business support will be central to bringing more woodlands into active management. Before they apply for a Countryside Productivity grant, applicants need to register on the Rural Payments system. Online application forms for either small or large grant proposals must be completed and sent to the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) by 30 June 2015. Applicants need to send quotes, references to catalogue listings or formal tenders, and provide specific evidence, for example on how the investment will improve their woodland or business, woodland management plans, and proof of demand for services. All details are available on https://www.gov.uk/how-to-apply-for-grants-countryside-productivity . More information is available by telephoning 0300 0200 301 (Rural Payments Helpline) or emailing [email protected]. Woodland owners or forestry contractors can also contact their local Forestry Commission office for advice and support. Further information The following can apply to the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) for this grant: • woodland owners or those who represent a woodland association • small or medium-sized forestry contractors with an annual processing capacity of less than 10,000 cubic meters The applicant can apply for a grant worth up to 40% of the total eligible costs of the proposal. The application can be for either: • a small grant of between £2,500 and £35,000, or • a large grant of between £35,000 and £1,000,000. Applicants can apply to fund woodland harvesting and extraction projects and small-scale processing. The project should enhance forestry potential or add value to forestry products. Small scale processing is limited to chipping, splitting and sawing, using mobile or fixed machinery, undertaken either on, or immediately next to, the woodland holding, with an annual processing capacity of less than 10,000m3 If the processing machinery is ‘fixed’ it must be located either on or immediately next to the woodland holding. Eligible equipment Grants are available to buy: winches and associated equipment for extraction (including skyliners) self-propelled wood chippers tractor-mounted firewood processors, and mobile saw benches or saw mills. timber processor and harvesting heads for primary processing of felled trees forwarders forest harvesters skidders tractor-mounted forestry grabs or tongs. tractor-mounted wood chippers trommel or other types of chip-screening equipment. log decks racks log conveyors log lifters bagging shoots. trailers designed for hauling timber or logs cranes designed for extracting timber from woodland firewood and wood splitters kindling machines bagging equipment associated with firewood processors covered areas for processing, storing and seasoning hard standing for processing, storing and seasoning moisture meters A number of important specific criteria and exemptions apply; check http://www.gov.uk/cap-reform for details Items ineligible for funding The following equipment is not eligible for funding: • personal protective clothing • chainsaws • standard or small scale tractors • all-terrain vehicles • tipping trailers • flat bed trailers • box trailers • wood-fired boilers.

Definitely interested, could you send me a picture?

Not tried that brand but had trouble with my back for years. Changed to an expensive mattress 6 years ago, been trouble free since. Definitely worth a go.

That's a great one Mr. Sloth! Just the sort of thing I hoped would get posted. Totally impossible to comprehend, but awe inspiring at the same time. I was reading about the Great Pyramids before Christmas. Some of the figures regarding the largest pyramid are pretty staggering. It stands at 455 ft high and the stone blocks weigh between 25 and 80 tonnes each! There is an estimated 2.3 million blocks in the construction, some transported from over 500 miles away. Quite amazingly, the average gap between these hand hewn, hand hoisted 80 tonne blocks of stone is 0.5mm!! With all our modern techniques and lifting equipment we would find building one of these pyramids a monumental challenge, but the pyramid described above was constructed over 4000 years ago!! Incredible!

Excellent spots Sam:thumbup: No problem with Giants in the wood, especially as they can be easily bribed to bludgeon wizards and the odd unreasonable gamekeeper! Impressive scabbard on that one too.

Mull is right on the money, it's us that are hallucinating Stubby!

Apparently it is actually blue and black so there must be something very wrong with my eyes! Weird

I can make it go blue and black if I close one eye and squint with the other.

White and gold here too