Puffingbilly413

I do have some beech that has grain like that in some of the pics (ie with a fleck) but it came from a copper beech that had serious spiralling in the main stem so went for firewood. The bits that remind me of this came from one or two of the straight grained sections that I salvaged. Are we to take it that it's all the same species in the kitchen?

Ah - I see what you mean now. I would argue (I'm sure BSL might not) as was mentioned earlier that wood sourced from local arb firms is about as low impact as you can get. It's 'waste' ie someone's problem that needs dealing with, as opposed to harvested timber and rather than send it to greenwaste it can be turned around locally to be used relatively efficiently.

Not sure it should matter should it? The eligibility seems to be: The RHI Greenhouse Gas (GHG) criteria. Suppliers registering fuel(s) on the List will be required to verify that the emissions from the cultivation, processing and transport of the biomass fuel achieves a saving of at least 60% against the EU fossil fuel average for heat, when used in a boiler which achieves an average of 70% seasonal efficiency (≤ 34.8 g CO2 per MJ), calculated using the life cycle assessment methodology set out in the European Commission’s 2010 report on ‘Sustainability requirements for the use of solid and gaseous biomass sources in electricity, heating and cooling SEC 2010 65 Final’1. Based on the .gov webpage on it.

Lumps that won’t split I chuck in a big circular mesh bin I made out of weldmesh. They do dry eventually in a few years and as long as they fit in the stove it’s fine. Otherwise the firepit.

Cant help re the pump but I buy Aspen in the 20 litre cans and just use one of those syphon hose things - cheap and takes a minute or so. Out of interest what was the saving switching to Stihl versus just getting an Aspen drum delivered?

Yeah I did wonder whether the intention was to take weight out of the canopy from above the various cavities/rot pockets from historical heavy pruning - some of them look pretty extensive.

I've a Parkray Aspect 5kw (Hunter make them). Brilliant stove with a huge firebox. There's just one air control lever which does primary and secondary airflow. The draw on the thing is like a forge. I've a similar output Charnwood in the next room and it is also good but definitely comes second (but perhaps looks a bit nicer aesthetically I suppose). I got both stoves from stovefitters online - they quite often have good offers.

Some very skilful work there. Impressive. Out of interest, did you get to see the original justification for works? Just curious as to the height in the canopy where those cavities are (hard to work out exactly from the pics).

Possibly red oak? I split a tonne or so of it a few years ago and it was similar. Couldn’t be certain though.

Sounds awful - hope you get some good news

Be careful reading these reports. Wood burning is referred to but it doesn’t make it clear that they separate open fires from stoves in their data sets. Or even coal - as ‘domestic combustion’ is the section description in the charts they use.

18 max. More than that I’m too hot. Underfloor heating in the bathroom though which makes it feel warmer on your feet in the morning.

True enough. I guess it depends on the local circumstances eg an amenity woodland or one accessed as such by the public would make the danger more immediate.

Good question. I’d say the 5 cube exemption is still applicable (although this has a minimum overall size on the woodland - has to be over 0.4 ha I think?) But I’m not certain. i found my local Scottish Forestry guy pretty helpful and quick to respond so an email to your local one would be worth it I’d suggest. edit - I think this para from their online guidance gives the answer: 3.10 Windblown Trees Windblown trees require a Felling Permission unless covered by other exemptions, such as land occupied by a statutory undertaker. Don’t forget if they’re a danger and need removing for that reason then that’s exempt too.

Well working off a a tonne for a m cube of wet wood then I’d say around 380-400kg for the wood on its own. It won’t have dried that much in the round I shouldn’t have thought

You don’t need to provide a justification for works in a conservation area just state the works as per the requirements and the council has six weeks to come back to you or no.

Just had a look myself. I think that 145k is actually money advanced to the director by the company and yet to be repaid. There will be a salary (probably) on top of that and it looks like dividends too. They also paid out over 100k in managerial fees, but what that amounts to in fact who knows. They had 270 employees and if you divide their wage bill by that then that’s 25k a head. Assuming management and director get a good bit more than that then there are some v low paid staff in there. A real shame.

It would be interesting to see what the director(s) took out of the company…

Yep - was just thinking that too. How long you reckon for that greyed colour to come on? Got to be some time. I often see cedars crack then stabilise, albeit more often heavy lateral branches that partially sit on those below. You can see ears forming around / below the area of the inclusion but the reaction efforts of the tree lost the race - shame. I would fell. Reduction would make it look an eyesore in my view. Cedars IME don’t like big cuts but if it’s the difference between keeping a loved tree for a bit longer or losing it then fair enough. You could try taking cuttings but I read that cedars are v tricky - but you would potentially get to keep the tree albeit in a new guise. Any seed possibility?

True. Several utility spec ones though ie bucket or dropside. Certainly a good time to be selling. Have you got a decent independent landy garage near you? Worth asking them for their take on it.

Some interesting prices on autotrader: 1999 Green Land Rover Defender 130 2.5 TD5 Double Cab 4dr (High capacity) for sale for £26,000 in SEVENOAKS, KENT WWW.AUTOTRADER.CO.UK Land Rover Defender 130 2.5 TD5 Double Cab 4dr (High capacity) for sale in...

Ben I have a crew cab 130 with a galv chassis and it 'seems' to be worth anything between 9-15K plus with 200k on the clock. The galv chassis obviously makes a massive difference (fitted about 5 years ago). It's just got the original tub on it. Yours is appealing to arb types - not very (probably) to others as they would not need the arb bits. That said, if your chassis is good - I see the pictures but it's the inside that reallyt counts (ditto A pillars and bulkhead etc) then it would make a good base for a camper conversion so could have non-arb appeal. Low mileage too. In short, it's worth what someone will pay for it. As long as it is presented for sale in the best condition it can be then someone will pat well for it. Don't rush to sell it - these things are going up in value. If I had the spare cash I'd buy it but I love landrovers (and hate them too - just had the pdeal box welded up again). I guess the real question is what do you as a business owner need it to go for, find out what condition it needs to be in to sell for that and go from there. If I win the Euromillions tonight I'll be in touch...

I believe you are right the 6 weeks start when you send the notice, but to my mind that would put the onus on you to prove you sent it on a particular date and calculate your expiration. Maybe not a huge problem to do but on the other hand if you work to the dates on the planning portal then it takes the problem away, customer can also see the date is official, so I have always just followed that path as least resistance. The clock starts immediately on receipt of a valid notification. Emphasis on the word valid ie it needs to meet the requirements. i file mine via the eplanning portal which provides a dated receipt for you. this doesn’t stop the council sending a letter a few weeks later saying they have six weeks from the letter date. I tell them they’re incorrect every time and they ignore me every time. I just go with the correct date but it’s never been an issue as the council hasn’t objected yet…

It’s an interesting one. Houses in the Ardèche in France (and elsewhere I guess too) have thick stone walls and it’s nice to feel some warmth off the walls inside at night after the stone has absorbed the heat of the summer sun during the day

We do indeed agree 😀 Yep there’s no way I’d be putting external insulation on our house, purely for aesthetic reasons.