campanula

taxodium distichum, I think. I have seen a golden leaved cultivar

Thank you so much. Am going to faff about with the broken spring and have ordered a spare (which I will no doubt end up using). I was going to order a complete new starting unit (having already spent a ton.).. will at least attempt to get this right as costs will be coming out of my bulb and hedging budget

Yes, that's it. Took the cassette apart and the spring flew open...and have spent several hours trying to rewind...knowing there is some obvious method...but being too dense to actually figure it out...including using a drill to rewind the spring, snapping the small loop off the end. Can I rebend some of the spring and make up the difference at the other end (which has a longer loop)...or can you get replacement springs or even a complete unit? Can't quite believe I have been so dementedly dense.

Last autumn, my brushcutter died (again)...after £450 repair after the last time (when idiot offspring didn't get the oil/petrol mix exactly right...or at least that what I was told). Threw it in shed in despair. However, the horrendous brambles, nettles and other stuff is causing more despairing than dealing with the strimmer so... Took the string pull cap off...but the bloody spring has...sprung and I cannot get it back into its housing. FWIW, I am clueless but, you know, was hoping the inability to start the thing was due to a jammed string or summat. Too fearful to take it back to Ernest Does (they had it for 3 months! and charged the whopping bill)...but otoh, have sunk over a grand into this and certainly cannot afford to buy a new one again. Any ideas.

Broadshot - a good broadleaf weedkiller - trichlopyr, 2,4D...and reasonable price too - around $50 for a litre which will do around a hectare

How big is it? Possibly Salix alba var.vitellina. Or maybe S.chrysocoma (although that has a pendent habit)

Oh, OK then, respect - J.Rose!

I wish to say a public thank you to one of your (arbtalk) members. I was distraught when our horsebox was robbed, mostly because we lost our parents old spokeshaves, chisels and drawknives (as well as our mower, brushcutter, axes and woodburning stove!). However, a forum member (whose name is not a million miles from England's favourite flower) offered us a brushcutter which needs a bit of remedial work but should go. As we are completely unable to manage our wood without tools, this is a lifesaver - especially so since we had to spend every last bit of cash on massive, fortress-style reinforcements. I flailed around with my Austrian scythe - mysteriously not been nicked - but the grass looked more flattened than cut despite going at it like a full-on Zumba workshop (I am blaming the grass) - I 'cut' about a quarter of the clearing and my arms were dropping off), So yep, there are amazing acts of kindness to be found on this very forum.....Not to mention the brilliant advice and suggestions.

There is no doubt that land prices are rising, and quickly too....but nothing like the profits made from bricks and mortar. We bought ours (just over 5 acres) for £6000 an acre while 18months on, the value has risen to £10,000 an acre....but.....there are a number of factors here, not least being a certain zeitgeist moment, a bit like the massive increase in allotment waiting lists....where there has been a definite cultural change regarding the natural world, insecure finances, environmental anxiety and a renewed commitment and awareness of land(smallholdings, self-sufficiency, off-grid living etc).....which, a bit like a property bubble, has led to inflated prices which may not be at all sustainable....or may go through the roof. My understanding of investments (having never had any) are that it is always a gamble anyway....and at the worst, you would still have the woodland, if not a massive financial gain.

I like them - easy to use, can push one all day (and have done).

Yosemite is nearer than King's Canyon or Sequoia National Park and I would also second the suggestion to rent a car (or better, an RV) - a terrific sight.

sad to hear about your horror - I confess to having little fantasies where a massive swedish axe is rigged to land smack in the middle of a robbing forehead (cept I know I would forget and cop it myself). I hate thieves, I really do.

As an investment, I guess much depends on future use. Apart from growth in equity, I personally believe our little patch of wood is a priceless investment in many ways....but we are committed to using this space imaginatively rather than merely waiting for its value to appreciate. True, owning 5 acres of poplar is not going to make our fortunes as it stands.....but, we have space, a heartbreakingly beautiful location (along the Yare at entrance to the Broads) and we have (some) useful skills. We are essentially a family of gardeners, youngest is a metal worker interested in running a small forge, middle daughter works in play therapy and forest school type things while oldest is keen woodworker and bodger. We just want to hang out, grow woodland flowers (and maybe a small plant nursery), walk dogs and loaf in the horsebox......so the investment in our personal happiness has been a plus in every way. Moreover, even despite restrictive planning laws, I have every expectation that there will be a way to utilise this space to build a small, off-grid residence....but regardless, we have something which we can pass on to our grandchildren, add to the sum amount of beauty in the world, make a better wood and wildlife habitat and spend as much free time as we can idling in sylvan delight - what is there to quibble about? A priceless investment of £32,000 (and not through Woodlands.co either - try auctions and local estate agents).

mmmm, I am fainting at the numbers a bit too since in our little poplar plantation we have felled 7 to enlarge a clearing and so far, only planted 7 to replace.....although there are long lines of 5litre pots with tiny tree seedlings at my allotment. Have no money for buying anything so its seed collecting and home germination.....so the whole process is going to be years and years (and we are only one year in on this lark)........but on the other hand, the plantation had no diversity apart from a few oaks and hawthorn, goat willow, elder...the usual stuff) whereas I am growing service trees, redwoods, hornbeam and alder (lots of alder) plus a few experimentals such as locusts, pawlonia, golden ash, liquidamber. As forestry novices, we are somewhat staggered by the idea of planting on 2m centres.....and I am not going for full coverage either because I am a gardener and need light.