Is this wood poisonous? (Conifer?)

[SimonMast]

Watch out; arboreal ignoramus about...

So, today I went and visited my parents. In their garden, where I spent much of my happy childhood, they have an elder tree. They also have conifer hedges. Or, that's what they've always referred to them as, but a quick Google search revealed to me that this is a fairly wide category of tree!

Anyway, I decided to have a go at making a whistle, using the excellent tutorial on Jon's Bushcraft (http://www.bushcraft.ridgeonnet.com/elderwhistle.htm). I used a branch from one of the 'conifer' trees to make the dowel. The whistle makes a note, which is pleasing.

HOWEVER, I realise that I hadn't taken into account whether it's safe or not. I feel a bit odd but then again, I didn't eat any lunch, cycled 18 miles and have a cold, so I suspect I'm being paranoid, but I thought I'd check; there's bound to be someone around here that knows.

For reference, I had a look in my photo collection, and I found a couple of pictures with it in. Here's a crop of one of them.

I suspect it's quite common, as I remember having seen a plant in a garden centre that looked just like it...

Thanks folks.

 

[John Fenna]

Leyland Cyprus
I have a skin reaction to the sap ..... hateful stuff!

 

[Bundleman]

Are you worried about the dust? Sap? Or how often you should blow the whistle a day?

 

[SimonMast]

No go then?

And yes, seriously. I feel silly asking, but I really know nothing about trees; please forgive my stupidity!

 

[Harvestman]

Unless you react to the sap, like John, it should be fine.

My only gripe with that tree is they smell like cat pee.

 

[SimonMast]

Are you worried about the dust? Sap? Or how often you should blow the whistle a day?

Sap, I guess? Or any toxins that might be present in the wood itself? As you can tell, I'm completely ignorant. If the sap is poisonous, does that remain a problem after it dries, and if the dust is poisonous, is that a problem similarly?

But yes, now that I think of it, the smell thing sounds familiar. I used to climb them as a kid...

 

[dwardo]

Dont bother me and i have cut, whittled, limbed and fell them. But then again lately its been cherry thats giving me grief.

 

[shaggystu]

leylandii, one of my favourite woods. i know it gets a bad press for all sorts of reasons but if it's properly seasoned it's a great wood for all sorts of purposes. it does need to be seasoned for a while though (a year or so should do it) otherwise you end up covered in horrible sticky sap. as for the rash, i'm with mr fenna, it makes a proper itchy mess of my skin too, but i'm fairly certain that it's just the foliage that does that. is wood dust poisonous? yes, all of it, regardless of species inhaling lots of wood dust will made you horribly ill, just work outside or wear a mask, either that or just don't sand it.

HTH

stuart

 

[bob_pickard]

I get the skin rash too but again that seems to be from the greenery when I cut it - doesn't seem to do anything when it's old and dry

 

[SimonMast]

Thanks Stuart and others - Very useful info.

I'll have to bear this in mind for when my parents next have to prune them. Pity I didn't think of it last time, as they had them cut down quite a bit...

 

[calibanzwei]

Conifer in an urban setting? Even without seeing pictures I would have (correctly) guessed Cupressocyparis leylandii