AJStrees

Not such a remarkable tree but always amazed how well trees can adapt to situations. Young oak taking over an old estate fence.

It’s a cracker. Best time of the year. Nice and cold and crisp. Lovely.

Have been in touch with the Woodland Officer, hoping to get a visit after this current lockdown. Will see how that goes. But yes I agree I need to get them out to the woodlands. As regards the expectation and desires of the owners: Two of the sites were purchased for the building that was on the land and thus there has been no real attention on the many acres of woodland. The largest site was an old school that happens to have 40 acres of woodland connected to it. the school before the current owners had done little with the woodland and it had been left to its own devices. I have been given the job of looking after the woodlands. I would like to make these sustainable so there is some purpose in getting them into a managed state. There are a few plots one of them looks to be an oak plantation in a pasture area with older hedgerow trees surrounding it. There are other areas within the woodland that are open pasture and then a very varied mix of planted poplars and then looks to be willow, holly and older trees within that area. boundary fencing and gates don't really exist. The site is mostly Sussex green sand from what I can tell and there are old rocks at one edge with beech, oak and other older horse chestnut. Quite a mix. A fair amount of cherry, birch and quite a few fallen birch at one end of the woodland. There are a fair few large fallen trees (wind throw) and areas that are inaccessible due to this. Along with some hazel, ash, willow which have self-seeded by the look of it. Of course having fallen deadwood is a good thing in most instances, but I imagine opening up the rides and tracks would need to be done to get on with management.

With butter and definitely not marge

With butter and definitely not marge

With butter and definitely not marge

Still looking through the books to be fair. They are probably all fairly common but hadn't seen the lilac looking mini mushrooms before picture 1. Going to have to keep going through my fungi guides. Cheers for the input though, will check them ones you have mentioned in my books.

Been out in the woodlands and found a few fungi of late. Haven’t had a chance to ID them all yet. Comments welcome.

Finished off the blue cedar and got onto some oak. Waiting for bigger kit to arrive to start on the big stuff.

Have you got on with any milling? Lets see some photos. If you don't mind....

TVI - I have to look after quite a few hectares of woodland on a few different sites. I am looking to find the best guidance on the management actions to take with these. I have read the Chris Starr book twice and tried to read up on everything I can find but am not much wiser as a result as to where to start and what to get going with. Of course the woodlands are all different and have their differences, can you point me in the direction of what best to read up on to get the idea of what practical steps I should take?

Hadn't seen this post. But looks like you bought one. I got it cheap on amazon during the first lockdown, doing a good job. Would rather buy a better one for easier adjustment, etc... but for now money is short so got this. Using a 28" bar on it so only able to get through maximum 20" at a squeeze. Hoping to get a 36" bar and chain some time soon.

Ok good to hear it. Will check out that book you mention. Do you use a grinder for sharpening or by hand?

Nice. Well milling is certainly an exciting way of using timber and getting rid of logs, etc... so fingers crossed I can make it a sustainable option along with the usual work. Thanks for the insight.

Thanks. What sort of size milling do you do?

So does that mean the winch is useful or not worth spending the money on it?

On the Panther mill did it come with the small winch to fit to the frame? Have you used the winch and does it make lighter work of the milling? I bought a mill and wondered if getting the winch is useful or not.

Continued with smaller blue cedar logs.

Bit of banana bend on a cedar branch milling today.

I've got a 36" lopro bar which I run on my 365xtorq, not a huge amount but it hasn't ever struggled. Thanks Dan good to know. I think a lopro is going to be the way to go for my milling until I can upgrade to a bigger saw. Don't want to use the 572xp for milling its a bit new and posh.

I would think Pholiota as the others have said, Armillaria mellea would surely have a very clear ring on the stipe. Unless its a different version or Armillaria.

Hey up!. The army cadet base is still there, if that's what you mean. Been at Crowborough over 20 years now. Lots of new housing being built near mine. Planning was approved for 156 new homes 2 years ago. Big thing in the papers at the time. On the subject of milling. What is the longest bar anyone is or has used for milling with a 365 Special? and what mill were you using? Panther, Alaskan, etc.....?

Nice, what bar and chainsaw are you using in the photos?

Nice milling. What kit are you using there? I have a fairly small mill and some big logs to mill up so I need to upgrade soon so looking to see what others are using that won't cost me an arm and a leg.

A few from recent. Black bulgar (Bulgaria inquinans on fallen beech. I would say. Versicolor is it? Jelly ear if I’m not mistaken