Paul in the woods

My OH has a spinning wheel made mostly from alder. I would assume from that it's a stable wood once seasoned. One of these: Spinning wheels & tools | Kromski Spinning & Weawing KROMSKI.COM Traditional & modern spinning wheels and accessories for you!

If it's a balsam popular it should produce a pleasant smell. When I looked up Melampsora I also noted other hosts are dog’s mercury and wild onions and along with larch seems a strange mix.

To my untrained eye that looks more like a poplar of some sort. (I don't see many so don't take my word for it.) The yellowing of the leaf could be a rust fungus. I would try and clear away all the fallen leaves, from the neighbouring garden as well, and dispose of them. Mulch/water if at all possible during dry spring/summer. The tree looks like it's had a bit of a hard life and the drier summers probably don't help.

I not seen any recommendation to burn leaf litter from infected trees, who is telling us to do that now? I gather if the ash trees are felled before too much die back then they should still be fine for firewood. Secondary infection with something like honey fungus can ruin any wood. From my own woodland I'm starting to notice dark patches in the trunks of infected trees I'm felling and some of the tops of badly infected trees are rotting off. As it's for my own firewood supply it still seems useful. There's a bit at the end here that suggests you brush off any leaf and shoot material from logs before moving: https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/pest-and-disease-resources/ash-dieback-hymenoscyphus-fraxineus/chalara-manual-2-managing-ash-trees-and-woodland-including-logs-and-firewood/

A better, clearer, more detailed picture would certainly help. Ideally two, one of the top and one underneath showing the gills/pores and stem if any.

Isn't it just an apple tree of some sort? The fruit look more like apples to me but the leaves and bark look a bit unusual from the photos.

I'd go for a Scalloped Oak, Crocallis elinguaria. Scalloped Oak BUTTERFLY-CONSERVATION.ORG Although there is some variation in the colour and intensity of the wing markings the most familiar form is a yellowish...

Out of interest, have any of those saws been repaired and, if so, was anything found that could have led to the seize?

Looking at the original post this damage was done over 18 months ago? You may also not be the victim, i.e. if the damage was done before you completed the purchase you would need to claim against the vendor and it would be them who the crime was committed against. I doubt the police would get involved so it might be wise to try and put it behind you if you can.

Does anyone know of anywhere else in the UK I can source parts? The attachment is £27 which I can understand but the bolt and two washers are over £5 each. And does anyone know if there is anything special about the lock washer or can a normal split washer be used? (Obv £7 is cheaper than a new mower but £7 for a split washer, does it need to be gold plated?)

Thanks both. I think the first time it broke at the pulley end. I will ensure the new one is tightened fully and enquire if both of the washers were on the bolt when it was replaced. (Both times the bolt also broke).

A friend has a McCulloch mower where the blade is attached to an adaptor that then drives a belt for the front wheels. This attachment has a star shaped fitting that grips the blade. This star shaped fitting has failed a couple of times now causing the blade to come off. The first time may have been caused by a stone but this time it seems to just be long grass. Does anyone have any idea why this is happening? Could it be the bolt needs tightening up to a specific torque (if so anyone know roughly what?). This is the part: https://www.ransomspares.co.uk/parts/brands/mcculloch/lawnmowers/m56-190awfpx (96141026202)/blade-adapter/420223.htm Seems to be a Husqy part so I would expect it to be well made. Having said that there's plenty of reviews over the pond saying the part often fails. https://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/B013TDMEU8/ref=acr_dp_hist_1?ie=UTF8&filterByStar=one_star&reviewerType=all_reviews#reviews-filter-bar

That's a lichen of some sort. Possibly some sort of Peltigera but I'm not that good with lichens. This might help: http://www.britishlichens.co.uk/pi_leafy.html Possibly Peltigera membranacea or Peltigera canina?

The leaves will have a strong smell if you rub them. Do you have many other interesting trees about? That's the main disappointment when we moved in here, lovely area and woodland but the previous owner only had one apple tree and one redcurrant as the sole fruit in several acres.

Oops. Sorry, I checked the MOT. The tax is still showing as out of date but it does say "If you’ve just taxed or made a SORN it can take up to 5 days for your status to update. You can check with your bank/building society to confirm your payment was successful." I would guess, or hope, the police will not pull anyone until their tax is out of date for a couple of weeks.

If that's your reg then it is showing as taxed now. Probably an IT problem that required someone to fix something this morning.

If the UK MOT expires before the end of this month it'll be extended for 6 months (for now) and you could check over here? Check the MOT history of a vehicle - GOV.UK WWW.GOV.UK Check the MOT history of a vehicle from 2005 onwards, including if it passed or failed, its mileage and why it failed

A bit of googling shows that as the internation site, the uk site doesn't seem to prohibit them (unless I've missed something): ? What I Can and Cannot Send - Hermes NEW.MYHERMES.CO.UK At Hermes, there are a few items we will carry and not cover, and other items we won't carry at all. Read the full list before...

It's not a prohibited item though.

Doesn't the courier need to show some proof it was poorly packaged? Otherwise isn't it an easy cop out if they damaged, lost etc a properly packaged parcel simply to claim it was poorly packaged?

I had wondered if you could attach those "survival" type wire hand saws to a throwline and if they would cut the rope.

No, I was making a bit of a joke. Escallonia usually has a more fleshy leaf with a toothy edge. The two leaves under the moth in the 2nd pic look just like privet to me and we have a fair bit about the place. Also seen the moths once and the caterpillars a few times about.

It would be good if they did!

Frosts could be a cause, we lost fruit last year due to frosts. I also wonder if the pruning is also a cause. Damsons can take a long time to fruit when young which makes me wonder if a heavy prune will result in a couple of years with no fruit. Any plum or damson experts out there?

I'd quite like an Ox, if they ever become available in the UK. OX • The Only Utility Vehicle Designed for the Developing World OXGVT.COM The world's first flat-pack truck provides opportunity for effective transport to be available to those who need it...