sandspider

I'm in a similar situation, though only about 2 acres in total. I ended up with an ancient Yanmar YM1600 tractor and a topper - does a good job keeping the paddock under control and will cut most things (long grass, scrub, bracken higher than the tractor) if you don't try to go too fast. It doesn't leave a neat, lawn like finish though. (Might do if I cut more regularly, but probably not even then). I have a Honda petrol mower to cut and collect the lawn. Tractor also carries things, tows things, harrows things... (Harrowing helps keep grass healthy). And it could do more - log splitters, little digger attachments etc. The only issues with the tractor are that it's quite brutal, tricky to maneouvre in confined spaces and is a bit hairy on steep slopes, which I have lots of. The front wheels came off the ground once as I was carrying a load of logs up a narrow slope, and I had to eject - that was scary, and I was lucky. I now unlatch the rear wheel breaks and use them to steer in this situation. If you get a tractor I'd suggest a more modern one with roll cage.

I burn a reasonable amount of euc that I grow and coppice myself. I leave it lying sometimes for 3 months or more after felling and don't find it hard to split with an axe. Though I don't tend to let it get much bigger than 25cm dia or so before I coppice it. I also find it seasons quickly in a polytunnel, once split. The bark is thick & quite watertight, though.

Whereabouts in the world are you, woodlandgirl?

Horse chestnut or sweet chestnut? Either way, if you save it up then list it in car boot sized loads free on gumtree or Facebook I should think people would collect it. They certainly would down here, may be a bit different in London?

Thank you. Not worth the time for me I fear. Maybe I need a pickup or van!

Would a ton bundle fit in the boot of an estate car? And is it all barky, or is there a reasonable amount of solid wood? Would it be lots of conifer, or mixed all sorts? Thanks

Could do with some serious rain here Seems a shame to say it, but my trees need water

I thought juglones were secreted by the leaves / nuts / buds, not the roots? I've got a walnut tree I planted, now about 2m high, and lots of other plants are still growing around it...

How long did you dry them out for?

I find 2 stroke mix tastes horrible, but I've only ever put the petrol in first. Will try oil first and report back.

I use Makita 2t oil, which i doubt is as good... (But none of my kit is top end) I treat all the petrol I buy, then it's good as pure petrol for the mower & wheeled strimmer, and when I add 2t oil it's good for the 2 stroke kit too.

For what it's worth, I use various 2 stroke kit quite infrequently (home use only). I use E5 petrol (super unleaded or whatever) and a fuel stabiliser, Briggs & Stratton I think. I can leave a strimmer unused for 5 months or so with fuel in it and it will fire up after a few pulls. I've probably jinxed it now!

What is it? I want one!

How steep was the slope?! Got a few sloping sections in my garden and was thinking about a ride on, but maybe a robotic mower would be less risky...

Just tried again for two minutes - 8 this time! Blue tit, robin, chiffchaff, woodpigeon, wren, blackcap, sparrow and crow. Saw a buzzard, but it didn't call so Merlin didn't count it!

👍 I've just got 4 birds in a one minute recording! Chiffchaff, blackbird, robin and black cap. Probably better earlier in the morning as you say, or might try for a longer recording later on if I get a chance.

Is that 13 birds in 9 minutes?

Get a lot of leaflets offering insulation, heat pumps etc. round our way at the moment. I feel anything they're pushing so hard is not for our benefit, but to relieve the government of money. I fear the job would be shoddy, and the installers would be long gone when the problems started. I could be cynical and wrong of course!

That's my understanding too. But given that the winter stream flow is enough to pull apart gabions I'm not sure that fascines would gather much silt or make much difference?

Do they reduce erosion much? I've got a bit of stream bank where the gabions are collapsing, wonder if some brushwood could help hold it all together without much expense.

Told you so!

Bark in the first pic looks a bit like London plane to me, but I'm in no way an expert!

Wordle 1,342 2/6 🟨⬛🟨⬛⬛ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Boom!

It helps if you wear women's clothing too, apparently...

Holy cow. I just realised this update was 5 years later. Time has flown by. 😑