Rushes

Good call - I will take a look at some local arboreta.

I'd be happier if they came from UK/EU.

I would like to get some burr oak acorns to grow on - anyone got some they could post for the price of a beer? Quercus macrocarpa - Wikipedia EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG

I would pack some soil into the bandage lower down and reduce the height of the bandage over time - use you eyes to judge. If the roots are solid then you may get bark regeneration.Reduce the demand on the roots / bark for water by keeping the leaf down. I expect this will be an experiment rather than a success story but I think the chances are good. TBH it could be saved - but really the lesson has been learnt, don't strim / only strim with protection round the stem. Back up is let the plants either side fill the gap - they will, longer term grow some cuttings on and look to replace - realistically this is going to take more time. Personally I wouldn't try and replant -you will disturb the roots of the plants either side - a dig around the roots and see if this supposition is correct.

Pigs will clear anything, but ground nesting birds won't survive. Fenced off just to the bracken areas could work. Electric fences.

I would be worried that the highest thing for the lightning to find would now be the house. I hope their lightning conductor is up to the task and the ground around it wet when the next storm comes in. Had a colleague that had a strike on their house and it was devastating.Their son in the house survived but was unconscious for minutes as was touching a metal surface; fire brigade got the fire out fast enough, not something that is easy in the countryside.

Sore ears on dogs can usually be sorted with a diluted mix of white spirit vinegar. 3 water to 1 vinegar, put in ear, squidge the ear for a while let the dog shake the liquid out.

I think it sounds uninsurable.

You are all mad I tell you mad! You are creating a forest of willow that will never die and will laugh at you! This is the kind of thing that you do to enemies not yourself.

Get the gloves that stop you chopping your fingers off, cheap at the price.

Seriously need any rain here, had 5mm last night which kept somethings alive, others are giving up the ghost.

I had an injured bat that I thought needed dispatching - rang these people to ask if and how I should do it: 403 Forbidden WWW.BATS.ORG.UK They had someone come round within 20 minutes, evaluate and dispatch [don't think it was legal for me to do it]. They were amazingly helpful. Worth a try.

My mother has a couple of fields of these. My advice would be do nothing, the ones that work for the environment will grow and the ones that won't die. After 5-10 years you won't see much difference. One is 20 years and looks fine, one is 7 and the ones that survived haven't filled the space yet, they will.

Try taking the seeds out and exposing them in varying amounts to the burnt pine cone [some heat and smoke residue]. Species like this are often triggered to emerge by heat and smoke.

Recommend Kania traps for squirrels - work a treat and dispatch them instantly.