Vedhoggar

Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne infection in UK however tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) has also been detected in UK but risk currently considered very low; if working or visiting central, eastern and northern Europe TBE is endemic in some rural and forest areas (also found in Asia). A vaccine is available for TBE (in three stages and good for 10 years) but as far as I am aware there is no cure for TBE whereas with Lyme disease it can be treated with antibiotics.

What diameter logs?

What diameter? Reasonably straight?

If you are not aware of it there are examples of woodland management plans on gov.uk website - Guidance - Create a woodland management plan - How to produce a woodland management plan - Example of woodland management plans (three examples management plans shown)

Those Ifor Williams built in locks are only only good for securing trailer to ball hitch when is transit to kept it in place and not to prevent theft as very easy to overcome.

I would agree with MattyF on that looks like Phytopthora bleeding canker which affects various trees including Tilia (lime)

I would agree those Bulldog hitch locks are well designed, used one for years, quick and easy to fit as well as ‘Solid Secure’ approved.

£35 sound reasonable to me, if you’ve got to get your own breakfast as well as an evening meal you would need all of that.

Employers don't have to pay but an employer should pay employees daily allowances as compensation for expenses incurred while away, often overnight accommodation is provided by the employer and travel time to and from location should be regarded as work time. Subsistence allowances when staying away from home are not taxed, allowable expenses can include cost of meal as well as cost of reasonable level of refreshments both alcoholic and non-alcoholic with the meal. Working in both UK and Sweden (arboriculture and landscape work) overnight accommodation was provided along with a subsistence allowance and travel time regarded as work time. The allowance for meal will be based on average price of a decent meal plus drink with meal. In Sweden max allowance tax-free is currently 290 SEK (£22.14) but in UK not aware of any max allowance, it seems cost just needs to be at a reasonable level as some of the figures put forward by others.

Cost new 12.5k, 3yr old, hrs 450, dealer serviced to date, depreciation 43-48% based on 3000 hrs life expectancy. Current value would be about 6.5K - 7K

It's an Aesculus spp. White flowers, large opposite buds, horse-shoe shaped leaf scar suggests probably Aesculus hippocastanum and in spring it would have sticky buds. Aesculus turbinate is a similar species which also has sticky buds but the flowers on the tree in photograph suggest more like Aesculus hippocastanum.

By what you say from an insurance point of view I would think they will be classed as ‘employees’ as it’s your job and the risk assessment will be your responsibility, you will be the one invoicing the client … if something goes wrong it will be your liability. On tax it sounds like if they have their own kit travel to the job in their own vehicles and raise an invoice you should not be responsible for their tax and they would have to do a self assessment tax return. If for example you got someone in with a specialist machine or skill and they give you a quotation/price for the work and they just basically got on with it then bonafide self-employed subcontract both for tax and insurance. If the climber for example was to give you a price/quotation for a job and got on with it without your involvement then bonafide self-employed contractor, if for example someone was independently working another area and not along side you, say you were felling part of a site and contractor another part for which a price was give at the outset and contractor traveled in own vehicle and using own equipment then not an employee for tax purposes but would need own public liability insurance and if someone helping him/her then they would also need employers liability insurance as well which is a legal requirement if you have ‘employees’ which may or may not be paid, they may be volunteers. Once in my life had I have a visit from tax inspectors and no problem, they were quite helpful actually.

You might also contact Langley Furniture Works, The Old Brickyard, Langley, Hexham … they use a range of locally grown hardwood as well as sell on boards.

Hexhamshire Hardwoods, Whitley Chaple, Hexham sell that sort of stuff so you might be able to do a deal with them.

Ash with dieback felled in June 2024, split and cut into 33cm logs at the same time then stored in slatted sheds is ready to burn now.