Paul in the woods

When I first saw the story there were several social media posts by people posting old photos of their children standing underneath the tree. If it was old and prone to dropping the odd branch I can see why someone would want to cut it down. I wonder if it had been fenced off and a notice put up would that absolve them of liability if someone had climbed over the fence and been injured by the tree.

I was thinking more along the lines of "one man's pollard is another man's unfinished job."

I deliberately didn't mention ethics, the link from the SD shows some are happy with it whilst others hate it. I've seen enough people shoot over the years to know it's not just a simple matter of calibre. My comment on surplus ammo was in regards to the cheapness as there's not much cheap stuff about any more. I load my own so it's not an issue for me, well not until I need to buy some more primers and powder. I'm aware of the differences between .223 and 5.56 and that's another area where FEOs and forces will differ, some will list .223 & 5.56 in your ammo table, others will only allow what the rifle is listed as. You can buy 5.56 that is sold as safe in a .223 but not all is.

The current guidance states you can be granted 17HMR for fox. I know some forces may be reluctant but you could argue your case... Can you still get cheap .223 milsurp? Down here it isn't cheap any more, and I wouldnt use it on foxes.

Looks like cherry laurel, the leaves give it away.

To be Hügelhedging you'd need to plant it on a mound with buried stumps, logs, bodies etc. I've planted some goat willow cuttings/rods/logs horizontally this year as I've left a few rods laying about in the past when plating rods normally and they've grown. I didn't bother nicking the bark at all as they tend to root and shoot from any buds. I planted mine in a small trench, partly to keep them moist and partly so the horizontal scion doesnt become a trip hazard in future. Mine are just showing their first shoots after planting a couple of months ago. I water occasionally in this dry spring weather.

If you're working on someone elses lawn do they really want rid of them? I've persuaded a few people to keep them as they are good for wildlife, plenty of bees on them at this time of year and in a week or two our lawns will be full of goldfinches sidling up to the seed heads.

Cabinets can all be in the same place down here. If I was starting again I'd have three tall cabinets with no locking tops as I find they don't hold enough and are awkward to get stuff in an out of. I'd have one cabinet for FAC, one for SGC / air rifles and one for ammo. Along with a wooden compartmented wooden box for powder.

I've got two of the 800mm bisons and find they work well. They stick in ash and oak ok as long as I hit the logs at the right angle, more parallel with the top of the head rather than the tip of the spike. (It's a bit of a dark art). I've not spiked my foot yet, but often think I will one day!

If the damage was low down on a healthy tree I would say it was done by deer, or other animals, rubbing. As it's from a dead tree it could just be bark dying off or being pulled off by things such as woodpeckers looking for food. There's been quite a few threads posted about Rowen dying off, worth a search if you're interested. Fireblight was one suggestion that might be worth looking into.

Food of the brimstone butterfly caterpillars, and brimstone means sulphur which is an ingredient of gunpowder...

If hedgehogs are about they can use the pile throughout the year. Hibernating, resting during the day and nesting.

A quick google will show you pics of droppings to see what might be there. If it is rats I doubt just clearing the rotting pile will get rid of them as they will be in the area and burrowing in the ground etc. If you're worried about rats best get rid of them by trapping/shooting/poison and get someone in if you don't know what your doing. I'd also look at steps to stop rodents getting in your van if you're worried about that. There must be van forums that can offer advice, I gather peppermint oil may work. Burning rotting brash in situ will kill all sorts of wildlife, frogs, toads, beetles etc.

It may depend on your local tree rats but I've not had greys go for saplings, more young trees 20+ years old. It can be useful to know what they go for, not just natives, I would avoid planting some trees unless you can guarantee long term control. Although I try my best, last year various things cropped up and the greys did quite a bit of damage - they move in from surrounding properties where they are not controlled and actively fed. I have seen some suggestions to plant something they love as a sacrificial crop. What I have found is as follows. This might change, damage can be quite variable year to year. Other people may have different experiences. Trees badly affected, some trees almost completely stripped. Hornbeam Oak Beech Sycamore Field maple Other maples such as silver leaf. Bird cherry (Not every year but some years quite a bit of damage to some trees). Trees sometimes attacked: Hazel (just the odd branch on the odd tree among many hundreds) Trees left be: Ash (mostly, I've had a couple with a bit of damage) Cherry Lime, small and large Alder Blackthorn Hawthorn Goat willow Apple (I could be tempting fate with this). Pines etc. (If I was planting up a new squirrel proof woodland I'd avoid things like Scots pine as it offers too much food and protection for the greys to hide in before moving out to harm other trees.

Easy for you to say. This last couple of months the air flow around here has been very wet. Quite a bit of almost horizontal rain in all these storms. Having said that I've been pleasantly surprised that logs a couple of layers down in an uncovered stack have still been about 20% moisture. If only it would stay dry for a few weeks.