GrahamW

Interesting post above, would be good to see some pics if possible. I've used both Heras panels and Tenax to exclude deer and both are very effective. However, Tenax needs to be installed well to work properly (sounds obvious, but it's amazing how often you see it just thrown up in the hope it will be deer proof). I have found it best to strain a top and bottom wire from posts around the perimeter, then hog ring the Tenax to the wire. The next thing to consider is rabbit damage at the bottom of the fence. Rabbits like to chew holes in the Tenax, and they usually end up big enough for deer to get through, so it's worth adding a strip of rabbit wire to the bottom of the Tenax, again hog ringed in place. This adds expense to the whole operation, of course, but if coppice is your livelihood it is worth it in the long run.

Have your Stein's turned up yet John or are you still waiting? Having seen your cut and climb jacket in action I might have to invest in one myself. It's got to be better than my old Stihl 'waterproof' with the leaky seams!

I use a pair of timber tongs in one hand and a pulp hook in the other for moving cordwood. Saves your hands and back, and are invaluable when the timber is wet and greasy after rain (sweet chestnut for example). I wouldn't be without them.

Only a small show, but now in its fifth year and on the up. Well worth a visit if you are down Guildford way. It's at Birtley House, near Bramley on 4th and 5th October. Surrey Hills Woodland | Surrey Hills Wood Fair 2014 |

It should be arriving on our doorsteps in the next few days. My copy usually arrives during the first week of the month.

Yes, there were lots of rumblings and grumblings heard whilst walking around the Weald Woodfair this year and the rumour mill was in over-drive. However, separating fact from fiction will be important in the wash-up. It's true that the organisers have tried to increase revenue from stall holders in order to help prop up the show financially and that will always put people's noses out of joint. I was demonstrating as part of the Sussex and Surrey Coppice Group, and I know that our rep will be giving considered and constructive feedback to the event organisers in the near future. There were certainly a few gaps as you walked around the show and a number of notable absentees. But there were also a number of new stands as well. Btw, Frankie was there part-time and she had a display but she didn't have the horses with her as her personal circumstances have changed somewhat recently (though she is continuing with her horse-logging business). There were certainly plenty of punters there this year (especially on Sunday), most of the foodstalls sold out, and the Woodsman's Arms ran out of beer mid-afternoon Sunday, so that's great for them at least. But if some stall holders aren't coming back next year that's a real shame especially as 2015 will be the 20th anniversary of the show (if I'm not mistaken). Hopefully the organisers will take the feedback on board and pull out all the stops to make next year's show better than ever. It would be a crying shame if the show died out as Bentley is a perfect venue for the woodfair and the atmosphere has always been great.

Great range of clothing at the show. Bought a couple of t-shirts and a pair of the work trousers. Awesome kit, and great service too. Well done all!

We had experience of a certain brand of bio-chain oil oxidising when left in a saw that wasn't used for a few weeks. The oil pump seized up, and the chain and sprocket also seized. This was about 5 years ago mind you, so hopefully the manufacturers have come up with a solution by now. We switched brand after that, so don't have a definitive answer either way.

I use a rugged plastic toolbox for my spares. It has a removable tray for files, spanners etc. Ammo boxes are excellent though, will probably get a couple in due course

Not the rim sprocket itself, but the clutch drum that comes with it. There have been no problems with the clutch drums of spur sprockets, (at least that I have heard of) however. I'm no expert on the engineering side of things, but I know of several contractors and dealers who have had much experience of this issue. There is a suggestion that it could be down to manufacturing tolerances, but you would expect Stihl to be on top of it by now.

My understanding of the clutch issue with the MS261 is that there have been continual problems with the factory fitted rim sprockets damaging the crank shaft in double-quick time. I believe they now come fitted with a spur sprocket as standard and there are no problems with these. Hopefully the M-tronic wil sort out any overrunning / cutting out issues - I certainly haven't heard of any problems with the MS441 CM

Bet they wont do that again in a hurry!

Not a lot of brain cells on display there! Let's hope that for his own sake (and his family's) that he never picks up a chainsaw again.

Definitely Goat Willow.

Well said woodyguy, you have hit the nail square on the head.

Great article in the RFS Quarterly Journal recently on grey squirrel control. After many years research and trials in their own woodland the authors say that the only way to significantly control numbers is by the use of carefully sited, instant kill traps such as the Kania. It's a long and in depth article and definitely worth reading.

One of the contractors that we use has an AGT 850 that he uses with a forwarding trailer and also a winch. He did a job for us on steep hanger woodland and I was amazed at just how well it handled the ground. I knew they were capable machines, and this contract showed me just how capable they are with a good operator.

We use a Honda 4-track, 400cc 4WD with a timber arch and a mini-timber trailer from TCF Engineering. The quad has lots of grunt and easily does what we need it to. The only thing it could really do with however is a low ratio box. That said, if money were no object I would go for an alpine tractor everytime. More stability, and much more versatile in terms of implements that can go on it.

Gorse also grows on chalk, provided that there is a sufficient clay cap. Southwick Hill, on the South Downs, is a good case in point. Gorse burns with a ferocious heat and makes excellent firewood - assuming that you can find big enough logs of the stuff to make it worthwhile.