Paul in the woods

I think it's an earth ball, often confused with puff balls but not edible and considered toxic.

Earthballs

WWW.WILDFOODUK.COM

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There are four types of Earthball in the UK, Common Earthball (Scleroderma citrinum), Leopard Earthball (Scleroderma areolatum), Potato Earthball (Scleroderma bovista) and Scaly...

You can buy the traps from the various bee supply companies, such as Thornes.

There's some useful info about the hornets here: https://www.bbka.org.uk/pages/category/asian-hornet-resources

I know it's a serious topic but I did notice this and thought it was amusing:

Asian Hornet Costume | British Beekeepers Association

WWW.BBKA.ORG.UK

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The BBKA have commissioned an Asian Hornet costume which is currently in the process of being made. Create attention at shows and other events to raise awareness about Asian...

If you are worried then phone them, if they are busy get a time when they are available and phone. If anything is agreed you can write/email a confirmation but I wouldn't just wait for an email reply.

I would phone them rather than email and ensure you get the name and number of someone senior to speak to. Down here each reserve has a single person responsible so it would be worth asking for their name and phone number.

It may just be the photos but the branch doesn't look too big to me.

Possibly Wilsonaria megalocarpa which I think was called Sorbus megalocarpa.

What country is the tree in? Doesn't look like the UK?

27 minutes ago, David Humphries said:

Look like one of the Stemonitis slime molds. 

Yes, that matches up, thanks. Photo was taken yesterday and today it's a dark brown/black.

Something slimy, on an old hazel in my woodland. They are a little bit greener in real life.

51 minutes ago, peds said:

I don't think you should be allowed a stove or fireplace in any kind of urban area. If you're out in the sticks, hundreds of metres from your neighbours, burn away.

I wouldn't argue with that. There's plenty of people in urban areas using open fires or non-smoke controlled stoves burning things for effect. I was advising one relative about how to sort out sooty glass as the fire is never burnt hot, just used for a look.

But there's also loads of people still having bonfires, building sites burning all sorts, farms burning silage wrap etc. Much of which isn't legal but nothing is done, so I can't see the point of asking for more bans. 

Having said that, as someone who's wood burner is fairly essential I've always though I need to get a replacement sorted within five years before new ones are banned from sale. I might seriously consider buying a 2nd as a spare.

15 hours ago, 5lab said:

will it die slowly enough that new natural growth will take over (there's a few sycamores in a corner), or will it just be a barren wasteland for 30 years?

What age and size is the ash? I've got two patches of woodland containing ash with dieback. One, on a level site, has planted ash about 35 years old. Within a couple of years of them showing obvious dieback the trees die and fall over. Luckily at the base of many of the trees self seeded hazel grows up and is now taking over. We have loads of deer as well and the hazel copes. Have you had a good look around to see what else is there?

My other patch has mature ash, with many trees showing obvious dieback, they are still standing but shed a fair bit in the wind. Felling any will be fun, well I will need to be careful of large falling branches.

It looks a bit deep, remove the front post and pop a plank on the others and you're good to go.

But it's a great idea for a bee hive stand!

A google image search comes up with several direct from China links and a few places selling something similar. Such as these people:

https://www.stovemaestro.co.uk/anglesey.html

16 minutes ago, Dan Maynard said:

I think ash is only about 25% when green, 32 sounds too high. This is why people say you can burn it green, but actually it's better seasoned.

The Forestry Commission list green ash as 32% moisture wet basis, the stuff I've cut comes up around 35%.

https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/fr_bec_wood_as_fuel_technical_supplement_2010/

Have you tried a fresh battery and trying a fresh cut log?

I expect there's always going to be a duff one from time to time. My cheapie seems surprisingly good, I use it to test the moisture of fresh cut and split logs and then again when seasoned so I'm comparing it to itself.

Did you push the pins in as deep as you could? 

They could both be wrong of course...

Edit to add, the 32 reading sounds most likely as that is around 25% wet basis, so part seasoned.

I'd trust my own instincts. Firstly you're not using it correctly, you need to split the log and read across the grain. My cheap meter needs to be pushed firmly into the log as well. As for the reading, if the logs are fresh then 32% looks likely, if seasoned for a while then I'd expect something a bit lower.

And don't forget if you're selling in less than 2 cube amounts you need to be registered with Woodsure which is likely to wipe out most of your profit. I'm not saying you can't sell without it, like many small producers do, but if someone grasses you up you may get fined or forced to pay up.

(On that note, does anyone know of any woodsure fines yet?)

Round here agricultural land can be much more expensive than woodland. I don't know about the current grants but the older ones had fairly strict obligations for looking after the trees, replanting failures etc and I think public access? 

Worth checking any future woodland purchase to see if any grants are running as you may have obligations passed on to you.

I went through this a few times over 10 years ago and know other woodland owners. I don't think anyone does it for an investment, they own them because they like being in their woodland - camping, cutting their own firewood, conservation, a bit of shooting etc, etc.

As you've mentioned you quickly realise that woodlotted woodlands can be an expensive and restrictive option (with good reason). I looked at large woodlands that were sold and then woodlotted so I got to know the prices.

I looked at woodland / land agents such as John Clegg and also looked at many of the agricultural estate agents / auctioneers in areas we were interested in. Sometimes farms and estates are sold in lots and sometimes the lots can be woodland. In the end we found 10 acres via the normal property sites but that was very lucky and cheap! 

I think some people can make a living from a decent bit of woodland but not by selling logs or timber but by adding value (apologies for that phrase) to the products and other activities such as keeping bees on the wood. Not easy and something you must really want to do.

It might be getting slightly easier to live on the wood if you can make a living, or just do what many people do and live on it regardless of the laws and hope for the best. 

Don't forget all the other costs and downsides, purchasing costs obviously, insurance, other obligations such as track maintenance, fencing, replanting, pest control and dealing with stuff you can't do yourself.

For help with management and getting some numbers on the volume of wood something like the myforest site should help you https://myforest.sylva.org.uk/ it could help with many of your other questions once you find somewhere.I

If you just want a woodland as a pure investment then I can't be much help. The main thing would be to hope the prices keep on rising but when you sell it you may be in for a hefty tax bill, CGTax allowances are being reduced and I expect more taxes on land owners.

1 hour ago, Johnboysevern said:

Could be one of the Farmers wanting Fox control but then should there Pest control stick to the farmers land to shoot foxes? 

I'm not defending the trespasser just suggesting who it might be and offering a solution. Working with your neighbours is often best.

Do you have a rural police contact? I went to a presentation given by our one and he openly admitted poaching is often not taken seriously. You may get some advice from yours and they may tell you how serious they will take it.

But it is worth remembering many crimes don't get much of a response. There's plenty of people who have equipment needed for work stolen who dont get much help so you may not get much sympathy here. 

On the other hand, perhaps your poacher will shoot your fly tipper.

1 hour ago, GarethM said:

We don't really care, if you wanting to try and brag your definitely in the wrong place.

A bit harsh although I agree, what @Johnboysevern is doing on their land is irrelevant. If someone is using a shotgun on their property without permission then thats illegal (and a police matter) regardless of the land use.

I am curious about the sporting rights, when I bought my property it wasn't straight forward to know if sporting rights were held as it isn't common to have any mention in the deeds. 

I have also come across people who claim to have been given permission by someone many years ago etc which is why I suggest asking locally.

You mention your neighbours are sheep farmers, do you know if they want foxes controlled? It could be someone has controlled them for years and assumes they can still access your wood.

1 hour ago, Johnboysevern said:

Unfortunately we have seen evidence of poaching taking place in the woodland but unable to catch who they are as we don't live near our woodland and can not be there 24/7 as have to travel some distance to visit our wood. 

The Poaching that happens is being done by more than likely someone locally in the area.We also believe they could also be responsible for some minor fly tipping at the wood.

How do you know there's poaching going on and what are they poaching?

If it's a woodlotted wood is it likely to be your neighbours and have you spoken to the company that sold it to you? (I know some have restrictions on what can be done).

Sadly unless you get something like good CCTV or catch people in the act there's not much that can be done. Your signs might also encourage people.

In my case I've escorted a couple of well to do game shooters off my land, politely obtained the details of the shoot and reminded them of their boundaries. The local fox hunt was more of a challenge but once I got hold of the main person running it I've not had any trespassers with shotguns about. Basically getting to know the locals.

Not sure there are enough woodland owners here to have a whole section. A thread in the woodland management section might be useful.

I'll add illegal fox hunting, trespassing game shooters to the list and the worst of all the local council damaging trees whilst fly tipping on private land.

I agree they look like two different species of tree. The pale one on the right looks like my mature strawberry tree and the bark doesn't look too bad to me. With mine I removed a thicket of brambles and roses from the base and the bark looked quite pale. The tree has survived and sent up shoots from the base and along the stems, it seems quite hardy.

I would also remove the lights if you wish to keep the trees.

3 minutes ago, manco said:

growing mushroooms? you sound like a fun guy.

bazinga!

That's a shitake joke...

As for the question, I've only grown shiitake on fresh oak, the dowels should keep for a few weeks a fridge if you're likely to get some oak in a few weeks.

Out of curiosity, I had a bit of a search and found a US paper that says sycamore and sugar maple can be successful. So might be worth a go on field maple. Birch and beech also seem worth a go.