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  • Hey Guest, Early bird pricing on the Summer Moot (29th July - 10th August) available until April 6th, we'd love you to come. PLEASE CLICK HERE to early bird price and get more information.
  1. TallMikeM

    Fiddle Orchestra of Devon (FOOD)

    Bit of a longshot here, but in case there are any fiddle players in the SW who fancy going, Wren music are starting a fiddle orchestra this weekend in Okehampton. Linky here: http://wrenmusic.co.uk/index.php/fiddle-orchestra-of-devon I know Becki who's running it and she's dead passionate (and...
  2. TallMikeM

    I'm not normally one of those who wish they lived somewhere else but...

    I love where I live, half an hour from Dartmoor, half hour from the North Cornwall coast, really quiet, gets properly dark at night, very rural but, a Finnish friend of mine has just gone for his boxing day bike ride and sent me some pics, they've got over a foot of snow there now, and soon he's...
  3. TallMikeM

    anyone made charcoal using a clamp

    sorry if this has been asked already, I did search a bit, but my search skills are poor. I've made charcoal using a kiln a few times but don't have access to one now. Got a fair amount of small wood (stuff upto about 2" in diameter) and am planning a biggish BBQ over the summer, and thought I'd...
  4. TallMikeM

    Forestry Commission Interview, some help appreciated

    I have an interview with the FC for an apprentice forest craftsperson role and part of the interview are a series of practical assessments. Does anyone know what form these take? I'd like to be as prepared as I can for them. Obviously I don't want to know "the answer" so to speak, but if someone...
  5. TallMikeM

    scything

    anyone do this? I just spent an hour or so (until rain stopped play) being a grim reaper. We currently* have about 3/4 acre of paddock that requires some serious cutting to keep in anywhere near workable. Eventually some of it will become a vege garden and the bulk of it will become a livestock...
  6. TallMikeM

    Tree Felling Advice wanted

    I feel myself to be a fairly competant tree feller, though I'm no tree surgeon of forester. I basically follow the simple rule that if I don't know what the tree's gonna do when I cut into it, I don't fell it. Which leads me to this post. At the bottom end of our paddock are a line of...
  7. TallMikeM

    Old member returning

    hallo all, been a while since I was around there parts. Thought I'd pop in and say hello to all those who remember me and to all those who don't. If I've missed anyone out, then hello to them as well.
  8. TallMikeM

    Forestry Commission application forms

    does anyone have any experience or knowledge in filling these things out? The bit I'm struggling with is that Quals, experience, skills and abilities bit, where it asks you, under the communication section, to demonstrate a time where you have actively listened and asked questions to check...
  9. TallMikeM

    Chainsaw Training in Herts area?

    Does anyone know of any colleges or companies that do chainsaw training to NPTC in the Herts, Beds, Bucks, Essex or N London area? I could do with doing a refresher course so I can take CS30 fairly quickly. I already know about Capel manor, but they don't offer a dedicated CS30 course till Feb...
  10. TallMikeM

    Went hedgelaying yesterday

    Went hedgelaying yesterday for the first time ever. Suprisingly hard work, but bloody good fun, and immensely satisfying. Here are some piccies to bore you all with: What the hedge looked like before we started work: My first cut (which I didn't cock up, that came later): About...
  11. TallMikeM

    snaring books/ web resources

    fancy learning myself some snaring techniques, (they'd be especially suitable on some of my hunting land as there are a number of footpaths through it that make shooting a challenge) so would appreciate if anyone has any reccomendations for good books or web resources on the subject. Cheers, M.
  12. TallMikeM

    zipped merino tops PSA

    Uniglo are selling 100% merino half zipped tops for £19.99. I got a couple and I'd say they're much, much better than the craghoppers ones I normally use. Good length on both body and sleeves (even for me and I'm 6'5") and a good fit. Well recommended for anyone who's after a wool baselayer.
  13. TallMikeM

    woolen forage caps with ear flaps

    I hope someone here can help me. What I'm after is a woolen or felt forage/cadet type cap with ear flaps. I saw one once when I was surfing t'interweb but for some reason never kept a note of the website. Does anyone know where I can find something like this?
  14. TallMikeM

    Start college in the morning (bushy related)

    not been 'round these parts too much recently (sorry, I will try and attend more often), been busy and all, but as I know there are one or two on here who are doing something similar I thought I'd delurk for this. I start on my NC in Countryside Management tomorrow, at Capel Manor college in...
  15. TallMikeM

    proofing an M65 jacket

    just landed myself a longterm voluntary position as an asst warden/forester at a local NT piece of woodland (this is part one of a longterm plan). Now, this will require me to be "outdoors in all weathers" and I suspect my Lowe Alpine jacket may not be upto the rigours of this sort of work. When...
  16. TallMikeM

    Big Choppers!!!

    Was wonderng what the collective wisdom is on a big, heavyish duty bushcraft chopper is; hatchet, machete type blade or billhook kind blade? This is assuming you already have a bushy and all other things being equal (price, quality etc).
  17. TallMikeM

    Saw sharpening

    was thinking about this the other day (which resurfaced on brtisih reds winter thread) as I put yet another new blade in my trust bowsaw. Now, bowsaw blades aren't exactly expensive, but is it possible to resharpen them at home? What sort of tools would be required? files, jigs etc? I may also...
  18. TallMikeM

    Ventile - is it warm?

    I'm on the lookout for a new wetproof (don't need one, just want one:lmao: ) and am considering a single skin ventile jobby as a possibilty (amoung others). Only problem is, I run warm, so will I find a ventile jacket too warm? TIA, Mike.
  19. TallMikeM

    New Toy (and question)

    Dunno if this is the norm here, but on a guitar forum I belong to it's tradition to post when you buy a new toy. So, in keeping with that tradition... just picked my first proper bushcraft knife, a Smith & Wesson CKH1. I picked it up off the bay, so don't really know anything about it...
  20. TallMikeM

    Bushcraft Courses - Worth doing?

    Hi All, Long time lurker occasional poster here. Had a very busy year this year, so haven't got out much but next year is looking promising and it's looking good for taking the spring and summer off work. Got a few things planned, but would serously like to get some bushcrafty type stuff in...