Paul in the woods

Some sort of Asian pear, Pyrus pyrifolia?

I know it's not worth the effort to chase but did Amazon give a reason? As the price has dropped a number of times over the last year it doesn't appear a simple mistake and I thought the seller should honor the deal. OR are they saying the seller's accounts have been hacked? Here's a link to a price tracking site: https://uk.camelcamelcamel.com/HUSQVARNA-Professional-Chainsaw-550-XP/product/B00IA1QBWW

If the owner has just bought the house wouldn't any TPO or the fact the house is in a CA have shown up during the sale process?

They were charging £719 yesterday, seem to have the £250 offers every now and again.

It looks like one of our native dung beetles. Quite common around here in north Devon. One of these perhaps? https://www.naturespot.org.uk/taxonomy/term/20179

Is it not a small quince?

That would depend on the councils having the resources and willingness to crack down on the dodgy sellers rather than simply being a pain for those who generally follow the rules.

I wouldn't rely on it but they don't look like death caps or other Aminata to me. Something like Agrocybe rivulosa or similar look a better bet, although don't take my word for it.

The common cockchafer lays eggs in July, so perhaps there's still some about due to the very dry July we've had? I'm sure I say one at the start of this month. Other low buzzing critters we have at the moment are hornets, they are often about late in the evening.

I think a new chain would make sense, a quick google suggests they're about £7 on eBay. Without wishing to sound harsh, I would suggest you would benefit from a little training if you didn't spot the chain was b*****ed after sharpening. A badly sharpened chain can cause more kickback as well as jamming. I did a simple one day domestic course and learnt how to sharpen chains as well as basic maintenance and cutting.

I'm not a farmer but at a guess would be some sort of canary grass of similar. Phalaris canariensis

If you search there's reports of deaths due to CO being given off by wood pellets at room temperature*, so I wouldn't be confident CO2 wouldn't be given off in a kiln. *this was the first thing I came across: https://academic.oup.com/annweh/article/56/7/755/172902

Do you think it would last long? I've been looking at some more permanent solutions but can't find anything that's as cheap as a water butt. The underground tanks, for example, seem to work out as more per litre than a butt from B&Q.

When I tried to buy a piece of woodland the offer price was set to encourage more than one bidder and it went to sealed bids. We won but agreed a price a fair bit more than the asking price. The sale didn't go through in the end as too many surprises cropped up during the sale. Obviously if the price looks too cheap make sure you investigate the area in case there are hidden costs, access issues etc, etc. Can you talk to whoever manages it? Don't forget to factor in replanting costs, and looking after the new trees, to your expenses.

I can't offer any advice but have a couple of questions. Do you really wish to remove the sycamore, I'm seriously thinking about planting some if all my ash succumbs to Chalara. Having said that the young sycamore around here don't grow well as it's very heavily damaged by grey squirrels. You say the area was a gladed area, any chance of being allowed to restore the clearing and then plant up with what you fancy later?

Interesting, from: https://www.gardenlines.co.uk/shop/chainsaws/cobra-cs620-20-20-inch-petrol-chainsaw

Thank you for the suggestions but I have looked into our meadow management needs and I do need a method of cutting and removing clippings myself. For example, I have asked local farmers but the fields are too small for them to bother with and their entrances too small for their modern tractors. Also they need to be cut much later than July as some of their main wild flowers are only just starting to flower now, e.g. knapweed. It has also been recommended to us to leave cutting areas until after winter as we have owls hunting and leaving cover for food for their prey helps. As I also mentioned I have a use for the clippings. I have also thought about livestock but the area would need to be fenced and I've not found sheep to be able to push with wheelbarrows. I'll have another look at compacts but I don't think I'll pick up a decent one for £3k and when you add a mower and a form of collecting the clippings the price is going to be too high.

The meadows have been commercially farmed for hay/haylage in the past but are transforming fairly well into species rich flower meadows now we own them. I'd like to remove the clippings for a few years to reduce the grass and I also have use for the clippings and mulch/compost elsewhere on the holding.

I need to collect the trimmings, so a mulching mower will not be of any use. I have also thought about a compact tractor but that would be at least double the price, if not more. Looking at the top of the range Stiga mowers they come with a tow attachment and sell their own trailer with a 200kg capacity, so I would have thought they should cope with that without problems?

I'm considering a ride on mower / garden tractor as we've over an acre of meadows to mow. I note many are sold with a tow bar to tow a small trailer but I can't seem to find much info about what a decent size ride on would happily tow regularly. Are the trailers a bit of a gimmick or are some of the larger mowers able to move fair number of 150 litre loads of soil or logs about 100-200m? Are any brands better than others for towing? I would need to mower to collect the grass and offer a good ride height as well.

I've not used them but would these sort of things be any use? http://www.postsaver.com/Postsaver-Fence-Sleeves.html I'm not sure how a sleeve would cope with shrinkage on a green pole though.

It's a bit of a strange story, starting off talking about oak grown well for timber and then talking about softwood and any old trees. I don't think many would argue there's far less oak being grown well for timber regardless of how much is planted. Not just because hardly anyone is managing them for timber but because of the damage done by deer, squirrels etc - something missing in the Guardian story.

When you take a look at the comments on here, and elsewhere, about the standard of workmanship of some 'professional' car dealers are DIYers any worse? I've certainly found fault with professionally done gas and electric work (as well as had excellent service from other pros). I also expect there's youtube videos about making dynamite.

I notice the BBC have the story up on their Cornwall local news page, 2nd only to "Vegan's shock at frog in Aldi lettuce". https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/england/cornwall

I've got those tools but it's for a different type of ball joint, one on the lower arm of the suspension that you need to press the body of the ball joint out of the suspension arm.