Rustical

Category: Projects

  • Nature Notes October 25

    4th – The hare that seems to not really mind sharing the space with the dogs was caught short on the bottom path. Rather than run, it chose to swim across the pond which was a first for me to witness. Not particularly graceful but faster than you would expect. Sorry, no photo or video…

  • Turning tool handles

    Turning tool handles

    Never has ‘All the gear and no idea’ been so apt for my wood turning exploits. Plenty of good intentions that are never acted upon came to a head for two reasons. However, non of this has been enough to shame me into turning on my trusty old Albion Jubilee and making something specific… until…

  • Nines – Crop Circle 2

    Nines – Crop Circle 2

    Firewriting Album Art We do like doing something a bit different and hosting a large scale art project is always of interest especially when it means working with so many different people with such a wide range of skills. A break in a week of appalling March weather allowed the team from Glacial Art to…

  • Barn Owl Nest Box Installed

    Barn Owl Nest Box Installed

    I got a hand crafted Barn Owl nest box from my brother for Christmas and it has sat there waiting for the right opportunity to be fitted. Today was the day. In order to fit the electric lights in the roof of the new shed we needed to hire an access platform as it really…

  • Growing Firewood – 2019 Update

    Growing Firewood – 2019 Update

    We originally chose a six year trial for hybrid willow to test the claims made by retailers of the willow for firewood production. Not a particularly scientific approach but, hopefully, it might be useful to share the findings: Hybrid WillowThese were established willow stools which had been previously cut annually to provide more plants. Bred…

  • 2018 Hedge Planting

    2018 Hedge Planting

    Our 2018 hedge plants have arrived so it is crucial to get them planted as fast as possible to give the transplants the very best chance of survival. The plants arrived at 2pm and were all ‘heeled in’ by 5pm in an ‘on site’ trench where they will remain until removed for planting out in…

  • Work starts in our new Coppice

    Work starts in our new Coppice

    It really doesn’t seem that long ago that we were pricking out these trees as seedlings and growing them on in pots ready for planting out. It turns out we started planting out in this field in 2010. It was a bit of a milestone to be starting to do the first cut on selected…

  • Scrapes for wildlife

    Scrapes for wildlife

    Whilst clearing out are farm ponds last Autumn, whilst the digger was on site we also took the opportunity of putting in a series of wildlife ‘scrapes’. Our scrapes quickly filled up with rainwater during one of the wettest winters on record. The scrapes are just shallow depressions in the land with gently sloping edges, which (importantly)…

  • Detached Bungalow For Rent – 165 Moss Lane, Hesketh Bank

    Detached Bungalow For Rent – 165 Moss Lane, Hesketh Bank

    Large 3/4 Bedroom Detached Bungalow (Status: Presently Let) A spacious detached bungalow in semi rural location, gardens front and rear with off road parking. £195 a week / £850 pcm Council Tax: WLBC Band D Double glazed windows throughout Oil fired central heating (with new boiler) EPC Rating: D Strictly no smoking. Pets by negotiation. PRESENTLY…

  • Growing Firewood – 2018 Update

    Growing Firewood – 2018 Update

    The latest annual update in our trial of a number of species planted specifically for firewood. All species are on the same soil type so whilst not particularly scientific the findings are sufficient to judge which performs best for us. Storming ahead in both rate of growth and quality of logs is the Eucalyptus Omeo.…