Gnome

I prefer to put young seedlings like that into 6 cell or 12 cell multi trays (like the ones your bedding plants come in). I place them off centre so that the roots touch the sides. Air is able to get down and helps speed up growth. I found putting them in large pots slowed growth and the growing medium becomes waterlogged easier. In winter there is then a greater risk of roots freezing. I keep them on the dry side in winter in a cold frame. Cold and wet trees bad. Cool and damp trees good.(Forest floor conditions) I then pot them on into small 9 cm pots ( Usually you get a tray of 18 pots with hanging basket plants) in early spring and then into 2 Ltr pots ( the size you get alot of small shrubs in at the garden centres) either that autumn or in the following spring. That way you also maximise the space your using for growing on ( could probably get 100+ seedlings in the area in the photo). Its easier to move them around. And your only using small amounts of growing media each time you pot them on. Watering is easier too. Also fertiliser rates in the growing medium increase as the pots get bigger. Feeding when they are too small is not a good idea. Hope that has been helpful. HND Horticulture.

I've been admiring your work. It's great when a wee yins face lights up. Out of interest how much time did it take to do. Is it done in one shot or do you go back over several days/weeks to finish it? I find i'm rushing things to justify my time spent away from my real job.

For the Jubilee I was asked to build a beacon on the estate grounds to celebrate the Queens 60th year on the throne. The first picture shows the poplar which I quartered with my saw using a standard chain. It was sore going as it originally measured 8metres long . (lots of wedges) The post holes were nearly 1 metre deep. The plan was to have the bark in the inside which would give me a square profile at the top in which to secure some flat panels which would then support a bonfire !!! I knew the wood would go white as well. The legs were lifted into place after i had built a my temporary scaffolding but had to cut a metre off each leg as it was just too big to assemble the firewood on top. Ropes were used to lift them up and each one was then tied off before being lashed together with magic blue rope. It was lit with my pole pruner from the ground. for the olympics and now the paralympics i added an olympic sign made out of willow and a flame cut out of a pallet. as i didn't fancy lighting it each day ! Flame was an afterthought hence the crapness!! Thought i would share the idea as the base construction could be used for other carving applications. The donks haven't chewed through it yet.

Here's the close ups. I've used the ronseal on decks before and is good stuff. Just using up what i had but I think i'll give it a coat of the ronseal before winter. I measured the wing span and it is 150cm (5ft). Spent most of my time extracting the timber from the woods. I had to do a rough cut in-situ to make it light enough to manouver (up hill) . By that time it was lunch time so I spent 3 hours that afternoon quickly adding detail and sanding so that i had something to show for my efforts. Had a few pallets stacked and screwed together to make a temporary staging and a couple of big clugs wedged at the base to stop it moving.

Thanks for the praise. The bottom wing was left slightly thicker at the back due to a flaw in the wood which i didn't find till i was gradually thinning the wings down . The piece split in two from the neck. there was a doh !!! moment followed by half a dozen big wood screws to get me back on track. chainsaw rested and finished off with angle grinder with 80 grit flap disc. Burned the eye with me little pyrography machine. The back of the wings don't have any detail. Of the visitors that I have talked to the back of the wings being left wasn't an issue. All well impressed. Haven't told any it was carving by numbers !!! I'll take a couple of close ups of the back for you. It's quite sturdy due to the weight at the base. It's in a nursing home so I have to make things pretty safe. I would say positioning the work is key. if its on a pathway it's going to get manhandled. placing it in a quiet corner makes people slow down . Grass or shrubs in front will stop all but the nosiest from touching. Horse Chestnut. Cuprinol wood preserver 3 coats.

Greetings. I've been visiting this site for some time. Started using a chainsaw on the estate grounds after the severe winter weather at the beginning of the year more out of necessity than anything else. Got kitted out with PPE and couple of saws and got my CS30. I got the chainsaw carving an eagle book which many will be familiar with to give it a go. Pretty hooked now. I've made a few bits and bobs since and got an alaskan mill to make some benches. Just testing to see whether the picture loads correctly for now. The local scarecrow competition is being judged at the end of the week and this year the chainsaw has opened up more possibilities. Hopefully I can upload a pic with the cup !!! Cheers.