Ash dieback at the Orchard

 We've had a letter from Derbyshire County Council asking us to cut down the roadside trees ("20-30 affected trees") as they are showing signs of advanced Ash dieback disease.  We're talking with contractors to undertake those felling works. The contractors will be using forestry equipment at the roadside. We have to complete the works within 6 months. During the operation, traffic control (lights) will be required on the Ashbourne Road (A517) between the rail bridge and the Ecclesbourne bridge to keep road traffic safe.

First, we'll need a Forestry Commission Felling licence before we can commence felling the trees. I'm in the process of cataloguing each Ash Tree as part of the application process. Only trees on the embankment will be processed in this exercise, the Ash trees on the south hedge will be considered later.  We've let the Parish Council know what is about to take place.

The catalogue process involves physically numbering each tree (aluminium tag), measuring its circumference "at chest height", and assessing how badly the tree is affected by the disease.  Given the steepness of the road embankment we are using safety ropes. As we measure each tree we are wrapping pink marker tape around the tree, this helps us to keep track of what we've measured. The pink tape doesn't not necessarily mean that we'll cut down that tree during the roadside operation.

We're also documenting the before and after situation with drone photography.  The picture below shows one of the worst affected areas of Ash trees. It was taken 28th Sept by drone about 50 metres above ground.. You can see bare branches, they'd normally still be in full leaf.

We'll be replanting with native broadleaf tree saplings to replace the felled Ash trees. We'll not plant Ash or Elm, both are locally affected by disease.

Carburettor Problems HYFT56 Clone

 A few weeks ago I decided to use my field trimmer to cut down the grass and weeds in the orchard. The 150cc 4-stroke petrol engine was running rough and not up to the task. After some research at the University of YouTube I established the problem was linked to the by-pass jet on the carburettor of the machine. Use "petrol mower engine surging" as a search term in Bing or Google. The machine is a bolt for bolt clone of a genuine Hyundai HFT56 field trimmer.

After establishing the identity of the Chinese engine, I placed an order for a replacement carburettor, as I've never had much success in servicing carburettors in the past. When I raised the order, it was marked in stock, but the day after the vendor emailed me to say they were out of stock and it would take a few weeks for supplies to arrive in the country.

I waited 6 weeks for the new device to arrive without success, before cancelling the order. The day after, I found a vendor who had genuine Hyundai parts in stock. A replacement carburettor arrived within a couple of days. When I tried to replace it I discovered the fuel pipes on the field trimmer engine were rotten, so I had to order new fuel pipe and also appropriate fuel pipe clips. Once they'd arrived I set to work. I took plenty of photographs to ensure I knew how everything fitted together, but within a couple of hours I had the field trimmer working again.

I decided to service the old carburettor, and retain it as a spare. When I disassembled the old carburettor I found it was clean inside, but that the by-pass jet was indeed clogged up. I tried using carburettor cleaning fluid, but that would not shift the blockage. I tried a carburettor needle tool, but the orifice was blocked solid. Eventually I had to dig out my ultrasonic bath. Placing the clogged jet in a small ziplock plastic bag, half filled with carburettor cleaner and isopropyl-alcohol, floating in a half filled ultrasonic water bath, I was able to soften the jet blockage with two 30 minute sessions in the ultrasonic cleaner bath. I then used my finest cleaning needle to restore the jet opening. This needle measured at 0.4 mm diameter. It was a tiny hole, easily clogged by gelled E10 petrol which ages in a few weeks.

0.4 mm carburettor needle against 1cm tape measure

Petrol or cordless hedge trimmer?

 I've not put a lot of time into maintaining the Orchard this year. Other issues keep me away, and to be blunt a bit of "wilding" is good for nature. However I noticed that the street side hedge was becoming overgrown and potentially a risk to pedestrians and motorists. In all there's about 450 Square metres (up to 3 metres high) of hedge to trim back to the fence line which normally takes 3 - 4 hours to trim and then tidy up the clippings. 

It was time to break out my Makita extended reach hedge trimmer (EN4950H) from the cellar. With the blade in the extended position it is about 2.6 metres tall and with the weight of the petrol engine is reasonably well balanced 7kg overall weight. The 25cc 4-stroke engine is relatively quiet at 104 dB when compared to a 2-stroke engine of the same size, though you need to wear ear protection to use it. I'd "winterised" the motor by draining the fuel from the tank/carb in the previous November.  To get it ready, I filled the tank with Aspen High Alkylate fuel. This works out at £22.50 for 5 litres, but doesn't "go-off" quickly like modern car petrol (E5).

However, when I tried to start the engine, nothing happened. Something was jammed and the recoil pull cord would not turnover the engine. I checked the obvious things, but decided it was time to take it to the local mower repair shop to investigate the cause of the problem. Meanwhile I still needed to get that hedge trimmed. The repair shop said they we busy and it might take a few weeks for a fix. I considered rental, at £60 for a couple of days, but that would be wasted money I use a hedge trimmer a few times a year.

Eventually after a lot of research I decided to purchase a professional Stihl extended reach battery powered hedge trimmer and chose the model HLA86 which can extend from 2.6 to 3.3 metres in length. This device uses the Stihl AP series of battery which can also be used in over 20 Stihl devices. At the time of ordering there was a 2 for 1 offer on the batteries, so I purchased the AP200 battery and got one free. According to Stihl each battery should give 144 minutes of run time.  Given my previous experience of trimming the hedge I thought one battery would be sufficient, but it would be handy to have a spare. I also purchased a mid-range Stihl charger for the batteries.

The parcel arrived the next day, and the batteries had about 50% charge already. No real assembly required, just unpack, slot in a battery and I was ready to go. However I charged both batteries to 100% before setting off. to the orchard. The first step was to spend 30 minutes or so checking for any nesting birds in the roadside hedge.  It's a busy road just 1.3 metres from the hedge, and I've never yet seen birds nests in the hedge. The hedge cutting went well, to give my arms a rest I'd cut for 10 minutes or so, then swap to raking up the cuttings and brushing the path clean before getting back to cutting. As I progressed along the hedge I used three traffic warning cones to alert drivers to my presence.

The whole event took about two and a half hours. The Stihl HLA86 seemed to cut faster than the Makita used to last year. To my surprise the Stihl only used about one quarter of one battery capacity to perform the task. The greater reach was handy on some higher parts of the hedge. I found the unit well balanced in use, the battery acting as a counterweight.(4.8 kg for the cutter, and 1.3 kg for the battery).

The Stihl equipment cost £532 + £106 VAT.The Makita hedge trimmer (now discontinued) cost  £464 inc VAT, but the repair bill was £78 so the costs are comparable. Both are built for heavy duty work, but on balance I now prefer the battery powered Stihl hedge trimmer.

About three weeks later the Makita Hedge trimmer was fixed by the repair shop. I asked what the problem had been and was told the motor had been choked up with carbon. He said that the fuel/oil mix probably had too much oil in, and this was a common issue with small 2-stroke engines. I had the grace to not mention it was a 4-stroke engine until after I paid the bill. I did double check they'd used 4-stroke fuel to refill the tank.

Update 2 weeks later

As a consequence of the Stihl Hedge cutter purchase, I discoverd I needed some additional tools to sharpen chainsaw cutter chains. In addition to the kit I've had for years, I now need chainsaw sharpening files with a diameter of 3.2mm (1/8th inch).  I soon found some on Amazon and placed an order.  The research gave me an answer I've had almost since I started the orchard. My old chain saw can be fitted with tungsten carbide tipped chains. They are great and last about four times as long as a standard chain. The only problem is that sharpening a TC chain entails sending the chain back to a dealer equipped with specialist diamond coated sharpening wheeles. That is not cheap, and the TC chains are about three time the price of traditional chains at £70 (GBP).

The potential solution I have is the Granberg Pricision grinder (https://www.granberg.com/product/g1012xt-precision-grinder-12v/) This can be fitted with precision diamond  coated sharpening stones suitable for most chain sizes. The diamond stones can also be used to sharpen Tungsten Carbide tipped blades.  I've got one on order as it will allow me to recover my old TC chain pile.  If this works I'll recover the costs with just a few restored TC chains. No more embarassment of wood powder  being produced, rather than chips, when I'm cutting wood on the orchard.

  

River restoration Project - Ecclesbourne

A possible explanation why the Winter flood levels were so high at the orchard this last Winter? We didn't get any consultation on these works. 

 

Drone over the Orchard

 Yesterday I took my first training flights with my new drone over the Orchard. I was just exploring the basic moves, though longer term I'll be using the drone to document some of the maintenance work, such as pulling up blackthorn encroaching the grass area. I took a few shots of the surrounding area to check the quality of the footage. The drone is limited, by regulation to 120 metres above ground, though the landscape photo's I took were mostly at 30 - 40 metres above ground level.

This final picture is of the two bat boxes mounted in the large old Ash tree on the south boundary of the orchard plot. The boxes were given to us by the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust as few years ago to help provide homes for bats. It looks as though one of the boxes has urine stains under the entrance, so it may be that one or more bats have taken shelter in the box. It needs a ladder to reach the bat boxes, and I don't want to disturb any potential bat, but I was able to take the drone to within three metres and take a photo. 

I had to be cautious when flying the drone because there was a buzzard flying in the locality not too far from me. They are known to attack drones in their airspace. The device is insured providing a replacement, but I want to only use that for accidents rather than avoidable damage.

The Thorny Challenge: Controlling Blackthorn Bushes

 

Introduction:

In the world of gardening and landscaping, one formidable foe that often goes underestimated is the blackthorn bush. These seemingly innocuous plants can quickly turn into a prickly nightmare if left unchecked. In this blog post, we'll delve into the perils of controlling blackthorn bushes and share tips on how to keep them at bay while maintaining the beauty of your green spaces. We also mention why its a problem in Turnditch Orchard and what we plan to do.

The Blackthorn's Deceptive Charm:

Blackthorn bushes, also known as Prunus spinosa, have an attractive appearance, with their delicate white blossoms and dark purple fruits. However, beneath their charming exterior lie thorns that can cause real trouble. These thorns, capable of piercing skin and clothing, make controlling blackthorns a daunting task for many gardeners.

The Perils of Uncontrolled Blackthorn Bushes:

1. Garden Takeover: Blackthorns have a knack for spreading quickly and can take over a garden if not properly managed. Their vigorous growth can crowd out other plants and disrupt the ecosystem you've carefully cultivated.

2. Prickly Predicament: Attempting to prune or manage blackthorn bushes without the right precautions can result in painful encounters with their sharp thorns. These thorns make routine maintenance a challenge and can lead to injuries.

3. Wildlife Confusion: While blackthorn bushes provide food and shelter for various wildlife, their invasive nature can disrupt the balance of local ecosystems. When left unchecked, they can negatively impact native plant and animal species.

Tips for Controlling Blackthorn Bushes:

1. Prune Carefully: When pruning blackthorn bushes, always wear protective gear such as gloves, long sleeves, and eye protection. Use the appropriate tools and make clean cuts to minimize thorn-related injuries.

2. Timing Matters: The best time to tackle blackthorns is during the winter when they are dormant. This reduces the risk of spreading seeds and makes it easier to spot and remove new growth.

3. Chemical Control: If the infestation is severe, consider using herbicides, but do so with caution and follow safety guidelines. Consult a professional if you're unsure.

4. Vigilance Is Key: Regularly inspect your garden for blackthorn growth and remove any new shoots promptly. Early intervention can prevent a full-blown invasion.

Why is the Orchard suffering?

1. In a word "Lockdown." We were kept in isolation away for the orchard, and the Blackthorn we'd been intending to deal with  regained control of the land. Further distractions, such as flooding and family illness also kept us away from the land.

2. To help combat this we placed an order with a French company (Terrateck) via UK distributor  in August 23 to purchase a shrub pulling tool. The idea was for us to start work in October. Finally in late November the French company admitted  that there was no prospect of them delivering until Jan 2024 at the earliest. We didn't believe that date so we diverted the order to a Canadian company. They manufactured and shipped the product by the end of December.

Conclusion:

Controlling blackthorn bushes can indeed be a thorny challenge, but with the right approach and precautions, you can keep these invasive plants in check. By staying vigilant and taking necessary steps, you can maintain the beauty of your garden while ensuring it remains a thorn-free paradise for both you and your local wildlife. In the Orchard we're going to resume the battle.

Careful with your coffee!

 Today, I was standing at the roadside gate to the orchard, facing inwards, as a "white van" drove past on the A517. The passenger in the van thought it would be hilarous to throw his MacDonald's cup of coffee at my back and shout insults as they drove past me.

I don't supposed they'd noticed that I was engaged in filming a video on my GoPro camera at the time. The video caught the image of the coffee cup just missing me, though some of the coffee splashed me. I swung the camera in time to catch an excellent 4K video image of the rear of the van, including its registration plate as it drove on to Turnditch.  A copy of the video, including GPS data and timestamp, complete with the offending coffee cup in a protective clear plastic bag, has been passed to the police with a complaint of assault.