the village idiot

:lol:

I'd say you were pretty perfectly built for long distance running Mark:001_tongue:

That's good to hear. I'll have to see if there's any info on tinternet:thumbup1:

Merry Christmas All, As promised here is a bit more information about the main wood I manage and what I get up to within it! Hopefully it will give you a better idea about the sorts of things a potential work colleague would be getting stuck in to I'll start with a bit of the history and see how we get on. Raydon Great Wood is about 200 acres of ancient woodland in South East Suffolk. It is actually two woods as I include Toms Wood which is just North of Raydon Wood and is under the same ownership (more about that later!) Being ancient woodland means that the site has been continually wooded since at least 1600. In reality, the wood will almost certainly have been there for many more hundreds or thouands of years. Before the Second World War the whole wood would have consisted of mainly Oak, Ash, Birch and Field Maple with an understory of predominantly Hazel, and was managed as coppice with standards as so many other woodland sites were. During the second world war, concrete roadways and pads were constructed in the Southern portion of the main wood, along with various Nissen huts and other structures. The wood was used as an ammunition store by the USAF for the adjacent Raydon airfield. In some ways it is unfortunate that ancient woodland soil was concreted over but there was a war on and the importance of these soils was not well known in the 1940's. On the plus side they make access to the southern portion of the wood a breeze (its a strange feeling to drive a large transit van around a woodland). There are also many large concrete pads for stacking and seasoning timber. At some point after the war the wood was purchased by the adventure author Hammond Innes. Mr Innes was concerned about the amount of trees being felled to produce the paper to print his books so he had large areas of the wood clearfelled and planted up with conifers. This would be considered environmental vandalism today, knowing what we know now. However at the time his intentions were honourable and the Forestry Commission were encouraging the activity. In the 1990's the wood was purchased by the present owner, Suffolk farmer, conservationist and all round good egg James Buckle. James' vision is to return the woodland to as close to ancient woodland and it's associated species as possible. To this end, over the past 13 years the sterilising conifers have been removed, the last 2 blocks coming out last summer. These areas are being left to naturally regenerate and the results have been dramatic and very encouraging. So that brings us pretty much up to date. Next post I'll go into a bit more detail about the woodland structure as this is very varied and very interesting. Well I think so anyway:biggrin: All the best. TVI

sklarg!:)

:lol: If anyone needs a hand to load up, give me a shout. I'm not far away

Think I drove past you today. I wondered if it was an arbtalker doing the work.

Sounds like we've got a deal:biggrin: Look forward to meeting you Felix. All the best, TVI

Hi Felix, A meet up in 2015 would be great:thumbup: I love cats. Just a couple of things spring to mind, and please don't take offense. It's probably best if you can get your owners to bring you over. I've just had the saddle bags re-lined and I've heard your kind can get a bit skittish in transit. I do also have dormice at the wood so I'll have to ask you to go on a lead, but just for the walking around bit. Very much look forward to meeting you, and a very happy Christmas to you, Mrs Logchopper and the kittens.

I shall be mostly praying to Odin that someone will come by and help pull my foot out of this frickin' badger hole:thumbdown: It's not been the best of weeks

Thanks for your kind words Sam, much appreciated:thumbup: Not quite sure how I've ended up prattling on about murdering wizards when I'm supposed to be recruiting a woodland worker:confused1: Your suggestion of some photos is a great idea! I'll get some pictures together and post them over Christmas, along with a lot more info on the woods and what I do in them:biggrin: Stay tuned.

.........

You're right there Bren! Chaos it was, with a capital K!

Ah, sorry Mark. Only just got back after a rough night. Tripped over my new battle-axe in the gloom and nailed me head to an Oak:thumbdown: I'd left my gauntlets back at the yurt so my fingers were too cold to undo the chin strap. Dead embarrassing, peasants keep coming through, had to pretend I was looking for truffles! Anyway, I'll clear some room in the inbox straight away.

Thanks Bren, worked a treat. Out he popped and I beat him to a pulp with a lump of hornbeam. Bloody hate wizards.

Hubba Hubba!!!

I've slain three of them Bren, but the last one has turned himself into a wombat and the crafty devil is hiding up inside a hollow log! I've tried to temp him out with the last of my apple turnover but he's not budging:thumbdown:. Any ideas?

:lol:

Bid placed! I'm not missing out on that little beauty.

You'd be most welcome:thumbup: I've got a little cabin/shed with a woodburner on a couple of out of the way acres if you fancied a quiet Eastern retreat.

Great reaction Paul:thumbup: I really enjoy your story and the photos:biggrin:

Yes, she's in the habit of doing that, it's getting a bit embarrassing to tell you the truth.

Are you going to bring sandwiches?

Oh yes, them too:laugh1:

Got room for a littl'un Bren?