Peasgood

That's all very well but then the missus can't light it. (I'm sure your response to that would be well meaning but it would be a waste of breath, believe me I have tried)

Scaffolding Protection Foam

I have one inside my shed, it will keep the frost off but takes all day to raise the temp a few degrees. Works well enough, a bit noisy but not massive output if the shed is of any size.

Rotten Ash has a very strong and distinct smell of horse piss. First time I noticed this I was looking around to see where the horse was. I don't suppose everyone would know what horse piss smells like. (it's the same as rotten Ash btw)

Could be poplar, it still burns well once dried though despite what any ancient poems suggest. Wet ash doesn't burn like the poem suggests either and won't warm a kings feet.

Peru, that's where the asparagus in Sainsburys this morning was from.

This

I have leylandii and apple in abundance. Both are very good on the fire but have quite different characteristics. Leylandii light extremely easy, burns hot if a little quick but leaves very little ash. Apple burns slower but less hot and copious amounts of ash to clear out of the fire. If I had to choose just one it would be leylandii.

I hope it is and love your optimism. Not so convinced myself but will find out when I cut my way in.

I was going to saw some wood today with my pto sawbench but couldn't find it. Eventually realised the last place I left it was where a load of trees have since fallen down. Not sure if that is Karma or not but I am pretty sure it will be completely fecked. I don't know because I can't even see it or the 3 ton trailer that I did know was under there. These are a row of 90' tall leylandii that have uprooted and laid flat in the storm a week or so back. It may have survived but I very much doubt it given the trunks are flat to the floor. So, I am going to have to buy a new one which is a shame as I really liked this one. I made this one myself but have lost all enthusiasm of fabricating stuff. Any recommendations? Mine was 13" cut and would like to stay at or near to that. Pto driven.

Very impressed with the handle if homemade.

This is good stuff for waterproofing, restoring and preserving. You won't get a shine though.

Th ones in the pic didn't snap, they just blew over completely and lifted the root plate. I do have one that is either just as big or bigger that has snapped out into the field where I keep my geese and have had many over the years. They mostly snap out as a result of not being single leaders and the union where they fork becoming a weak point. Once they snap out the weak point is still there and the other fork is very likely to snap out at some point. Very often when there is a strong wind from the opposite direction. If you cut the top off you will create multiple leaders all of which are prone to snapping. Plant another leyland if you like them that much, there's a good chance it won't snap in your lifetime/ownership.

From an owner of thousands of these things point of view ,once they start snapping they keep doing it and more frequently. Yes you can cut the top off and it will rapidly regrow but this time with multiple new leaders and each with the potential to snap out, this time from higher up so potentially more damaging. Remove it and start again, with a new leylandii if you are desperate but there are better choices. A pic of my carnage this morning. Seen it many times before.