spandit

About 5 years. Most of them have split the tube shelters. Haven't tried stringing my hammock in between them yet as it puts a lot of strain on things but they're probably strong enough

I didn't intentionally plant any birch as I have thousands that have seeded naturally, despite the grass. They're shading the grass out in some places, like a proper woodland.

It was the unauthorised engineering works they complained about. The fact they were part of a pond was incidental. That said, it has dragged on and on and is still costing me money

I know what you mean about cutting them (even though the alder was planted to provide firewood in the future). Some of the alder is 8" across - astonishing growth. I will take a few down this winter, I think, to see how well they regenerate. Got so much firewood already I really don't need any more. Saw a squirrel in the woodland today as I was on the tractor mowing the rides - lovely to see. Looking forward to seeing him again, hopefully through a telescopic sight...

They wanted cross sections of how the bund was constructed. A catastrophic failure in the thickest part would flood the house and possibly a couple of the neighbours. It has shown no signs of slumping/eroding and is massively thick at the base (the bottom of the pond being underground anyway). Anyway, they're satisfied with the construction, but the conditions they applied were totally unfair and, in my view, impossible to discharge, so I'm having to pay again to try and vary them. Still threatening with making me fill it in - not sure where all the wildlife or water is going to go... It's stunning in the sunshine as you can see down about 6 feet now it's cleared. Level has dropped over the past couple of weeks due to no rainfall, by about 6 inches. Last year it was down 12 feet!

I didn't ask for planning permission beforehand so had to apply for retrospective permission. I've now got it (after a lot of reports and hassle), but they imposed a load of conditions on it, including getting a professional ecologist to do a report (which was a few hundred quid). I am now trying to vary/cancel the condition but will have to pay another £234 for the privilege - feels like extortion to me but the fee structure is clearly set out on the planning portal. One issue I had is that they wanted detailed plans before and after - I tried explaining that because it was a retrospective application, I didn't have plans before and the pond was designed as we went along, in line with the terrain, so didn't have an accurate plan either. I've had to construct a 3D model of the pond, with contours. Most recently I've sent them an 130 page report showing details of every tree I've planted around it (with coordinates to the nearest cm :o). I've had no objections to the pond (only one neighbour can see it) and even the council member who visited said it didn't look out of place. The council drainage engineer who visited said the bund was well constructed but planning applications generally deal with buildings, not ponds, so the framework they use doesn't really fit. For example, I was asked if there was access for the fire department (in case it catches fire?) and was asked how many parking spaces it would generate... I don't know how remote the land you are looking to buy is - if nobody can see it, then nobody can complain, although there's always Google Earth to snitch on you...

I had a boggy patch of ground so dug a very large hole which has now filled with water. It's about 12' deep in the middle and beautifully clear. Unfortunately, the council did not like the fact that I didn't ask for permission and it's been dragging on for over 2 years now... Not easy to see from this angle but the bank on the bottom left are pretty steep and high. Lovely to swim in (the jetty on the left hand side is now in the water so I can dive in) although the lilies are struggling since the dog keeps trampling them.

Here's a drone picture of some of my woodland. Not as big as yours, although space to expand. The silvery looking trees on the left of the photo are osier viminalis but the bulk of the trees you can see are alder, which have done really well. Towards the bottom left there is a plantation of 120 basket willow plants (almond willow, salix triandra). The circle is scots pine but they keep falling over and I don't know whether I'll end up with an elegant ring of them in a few years, especially as they're difficult to mow around

Beautiful. That's why I bought my drone so I could see how well my woodland was doing

Interesting. Seen these on a few of mine and presumed they were flowers like the ones you get on hazel

I've started removing the guards and stakes from some of my trees - they're full of green slime and slugs. Hoping the wind and rain will dry them off a bit but already have a huge pile of scrap tubes

Had to have some limbs down on a large yew in our garden as they'd cracked. Some of the logs look like this, wondered if there was a reason why?:

They're still pretty solid and if you lived with your mother-in-law you'd understand why spending hours in the woodland is a more valuable use of time

I can snap them off but this way means I have a stock to replace broken ones or for planting new trees with the tubes I've been given or salvaged. Doesn't take long with the new jack

I've ordered a cheap generic one. It's for pulling out the 1" square stakes - when the tree has grown enough to press on them, they won't wiggle out. I use a steel cable loop to hold the stakes (used it before with a jack I borrowed).

I want to be able to remove tree stakes from my trees where the tubes have been removed. Is it worth paying the extra money for a genuine Hi-Lift or are the other brands OK? I'd also use it for lifting the drawbar on a roller to mount it onto the tractor

Actually, now think it's probably a weeping beech

Don't want to start another hornbeam debate, but was sent this picture and wondered if anyone had an alternative ID?

Cut from the side, not the top. Gives you masses of lovely shavings to use for firelighting. I light mine by dropping coals from the BBQ down from the top - need to make more - plan is to strap them to the forks on the tractor so I can cut down without hitting anything

http://digg.com/video/tree-bike

I haven't. They don't come every year so I'll have a chance to harvest some before next time and speak to them. Having a big summer party in 3 weeks - wish they could have waited until after then! Oh well, what's done is done and we're due a few days of rain next week

This is a load of willow that was delivered. I had it tipped up next to the new woodland for habitat as I've had some very generous loads from members on here and elsewhere: Here's the result of about 3 loads - unusually there was some nice oak and ash in the mix, but most of what I am given is softwood (which still seems to burn OK :D) A bit more hardwood - a lot of this was taken by a couple of chaps who were after some free logs. I didn't really have the time or space to turn it into firewood and would only have tipped it in a habitat pile somewhere. Quite a bit of oak in this load. Here's the normal delivery - this is actually a neighbour's hedge. I just spoke to the surgeons on the road and said they could tip at mine. It was pretty dead anyway but I haven't moved it since it was dumped. I'll get round to it at some point

I'd cut a couple of them a year, in the winter, back to the pollard. They'd be 1-2" thick and I'd cut them into foot lengths which dry really quickly and make excellent barbecue and firepit fuel. My wife used to cut whips for toasting marshmallows at forest school and for other crafty things. My daughter was planning on building a den under some of them too. Don't wish to stir up too much controversy, just found it a bit of a shock to see how stark the place looks - the ugly barn was almost completely hidden before (from a certain angle :D). I do understand the power company want their money's worth and I'm not intending on officially complaining - just having a bit of free whinge here!

Yeah, I understand that. Still a pity, though. I have managed them in the past - I created the pollards in the first place, but I wait until the winter before cutting the stems for firewood. Before they were cut there were plenty of birds as well as other wildlife in the trees I agree they're not excited but it's not a very sympathetic job - like coming back from the barber with Grade 1 all over rather than just a trim! I guess aesthetics are not high on their priority

Didn't realise you were a member on here - been reading your blog for a while. Just seen you've posted a video of some coppicing you did with an electric saw