Yesterday’s main reason for visiting my woods was to meet with Robin from the Woodland Trust but more of that later. It was a dull start again and I got stuck straight in with some chainsaw work. Cutting up some of the small sycamore I felled two weeks ago, chopping and stacking. It really is so much easier when the logs are still green. You hardly need to do more than let the heavy axe drop onto it to split it. But onto the more interesting part of my morning – continuing to “pimp” my shelter by adding a fire reflector.

One of my regular readers, I shall call him John (cos that’s his name) asked what I meant as the only definition he had heard was concerned with ladies of the night and immoral activities. Now that’s not what I am aiming for but if times get tough after Brexit, who knows? So maybe I should explain the word “pimp” used in this connotation. There was a tv program called Pimp My Ride where they would take an old banger (wreck to you John) of a car and tart it up – sorry I’m slipping back into John’s world yet again. I mean smarten it up with lots of accessories and modifications to make it a bit of a head-turner and more fun to drive. So that’s my use of the word.

To shield the fire from wind and help divert smoke away from the shelter I wanted to add a fire reflector. It also helps to focus some of the heat forward too. It’s just some green cut logs held between some stakes but I think it looks cool and adds some authenticity to the camp. I’m brewing up here.

A spin-off from my woodland activities is buying up old axes, or usually just the heads, at car boot sales and renovating them. I normally pay just a pound or two and they are covered in rust and blunt. I clean them up, re-profile the bit (edge) and sharpen to razor sharp, fit a new handle and might add a leather mask (cover) and collar (protects the handle or haft from scuffs). This is my latest one which I brought to try out. The haft is original. I really like the look and feel of it.

Now onto the visit from the Woodland Trust. Robin has been before and has been helping small woodland owners to slowly restore neglected ancient woodland to a more natural state by selective thinning etc. He has proposed an idea whereby he will investigate bringing in a professional contractor to fell some of the bigger trees that we amateurs don’t want to tackle. It’s not worth them coming to us individually to fell a handful of trees but if several people are interested, the cumulative numbers might be worth their while. The idea being that they keep the timber to sell on and use that to offset the cost of labour. So we might get the work done at zero cost to us or even make a small profit. I’m certainly interested as it would push my plans forward considerably. We spent a good hour and a half chatting about it and walking my woods. I always enjoy a visit from Robin. We also discussed a possible volunteering position for me with the W.T. but I am saying no more about that right now.

The shelter camp is looking better with the new fire reflector so until next time, bye for now.