spandit

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

It's a pity they couldn't cut during the winter. Fed up with the power lines - wish they'd bury them

Had the contractors round to cut underneath the powerlines on behalf of the network. I know as it's willow it should grow back again but not a very sympathetic reduction... Before: After: At least I can see the target at the end of my shooting range, now, but my camouflaged treebog is now fully exposed...

My roe deer loved the aspen and spindle, haven't done so much damage to the willow. I had to send one of them a 150gr invitation to quit but generally I like seeing them around, especially now my woodland is better established. That willow will probably survive, although I might be tempted to put rabbit spirals around it

Yes, would also look like Slade prison...

Since they replaced Nitromors with something akin to distilled water, is there anything else you could recommend for stripping the varnish?

I have pine driveway gates. They were considerably cheaper than hardwood ones and I think they look great although they have developed dark mould stains down them. The one on the right has been pressure washed to see what difference it made but without removing quite a lot of the wood the stains are still there. They were previously covered in yacht varnish, I think. What wood treatment would be advisable one they're stripped back again?

Have a look in the tip directory and see if they'll take the logs. I'd take brash here especially now I have a means of moving it to a debris pile somewhere

https://arbtalk.co.uk/recycling/nearby-tipsites/

It has a leak from the oil tank so has been lying in a drip tray for some time now. I use the other one, although that’s also a bugger to keep running sometimes

Looks identical to my Wessex Scrubmaster. I'd had it on the tractor for 5 minutes when I hit my first brick. It smashed the brick and kept going. Does a good job and fun to reverse into heavy brambles

Being told I'm wrong is the only interaction I get

Don't want my trees bullying each other. I though too much water would be detrimental but glad to be wrong. Should have planted more!

Had an excess of willow (salix viminalis) cuttings from last year's growth so stuck a few into the banks of my pond, which was quite low at the time. Since then, the pond has filled up and the willows are now under water. Do you think they'll survive? Not terribly fussed if they don't, as we have plenty (as you can see I've planted a fedge on the island) but they have come into bud (this photo was taken today, March 1st 2019). Can't see it in that picture but just along from there is a huge mass of frogspawn, which is good news.

Looks like a good Hugelkultur base

A 14 tonne excavator makes a pretty effective conductor for 11kVa too

Managed to actually ask said neighbour as to what he meant. He reckons because we live in the countryside there is enough habitat around already and making some deliberate piles wasn't necessary. I disagree - my land is largely unmanaged but without the log piles, it's just grassland which is valuable for nature but limited in biodiversity.

I keep my cherry in a separate pile and I use it for cooking on in the summer

Ivy was that thick. Despite my insistence that the tree and the ivy could live in harmony, she had it cut. Wouldn't be surprised if the cut went into the tree trunk too (it's a hawthorn). I've looked into Swiss options but the AN-225 is booked out for years in advance. With the queues at Dover, the rental cost of a low loader would be unaffordable

Technically it's mine, but it was a gift that she bought for herself. Was going to fly the flag at half mast to mourn the loss of the hedge