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#1
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bonfires
I think that I need to have a bonfire (3 compost bins currently buried under
huge pile of "woody stuff") but am not sure how to go about it. In particular - how far from teh house/hedges etc does it need to be? Can I do it on grass (i.e. will it regrow?) and what will burn - i.e. do I need to leave all the stuff to dry out first? TIA, Hayley |
#2
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"H Ryder" wrote in message ... I think that I need to have a bonfire (3 compost bins currently buried under huge pile of "woody stuff") but am not sure how to go about it. In particular - how far from teh house/hedges etc does it need to be? Can I do it on grass (i.e. will it regrow?) and what will burn - i.e. do I need to leave all the stuff to dry out first? TIA, Hayley Seriously, you've never lit a bonfire before? Well anyway, it won't do your grass any good at all, I should cast about either for a better spot or try and protect the grass somehow. The only way comes to mind is to buy a galvanised incinerator ( costing from £17 up to £23 depending on how much your supplier is gouging you ) or lay a sheet of something non-flammable ( corrugated iron springs to mind ) on a collection of bricks so as to raise it off the grass. Probably the grass will still get cooked unless there's something else laid directly on it to protect it ( like paving slabs ). You'll have to see what is suitable you have lying around: or char the grass. The stuff you want to burn needs to be relatively dry - if it's too wet it'll smoke a lot and not get going properly. Also don't make an enormous heap and burn it all at one go if you are restricted to space. A small open fire in still air shouldn't toast anything too badly that's 6 feet or so away. You could bring that down to 4 feet if you're short of space and don't mind taking a chance. As for the house, your average bonfire is at the bottom of the garden for a good reason, to keep the filth and smoke nuisance down. Your neighbours won't like smoke drifting in through their windows. Also check for washing, some people get a bit irrational if you light a bonfire when their washing is on the line. Andy |
#3
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"H Ryder" wrote in message ... I think that I need to have a bonfire (3 compost bins currently buried under huge pile of "woody stuff") but am not sure how to go about it. In particular - how far from teh house/hedges etc does it need to be? Can I do it on grass (i.e. will it regrow?) and what will burn - i.e. do I need to leave all the stuff to dry out first? TIA, Hayley There are 45 gallon steel drums on ebay quite reglularly Just chisel the top off, punch a few holes in sides and underneath, set it on 4 bricks, and Bobs' yer uncle !!!! ( I think the last time i saw then they were a tenner + £11 delivery) |
#4
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On 6/9/05 20:40, in article
, "Teleman" wrote: "H Ryder" wrote in message ... I think that I need to have a bonfire (3 compost bins currently buried under huge pile of "woody stuff") but am not sure how to go about it. In particular - how far from teh house/hedges etc does it need to be? Can I do it on grass (i.e. will it regrow?) and what will burn - i.e. do I need to leave all the stuff to dry out first? TIA, Hayley There are 45 gallon steel drums on ebay quite reglularly Just chisel the top off, punch a few holes in sides and underneath, set it on 4 bricks, and Bobs' yer uncle !!!! ( I think the last time i saw then they were a tenner + £11 delivery) Is that what's meant by 'strike up the band'? ;-) -- Sacha www.hillhousenursery.co.uk South Devon (remove the weeds to email me) |
#5
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In article , H Ryder
writes I think that I need to have a bonfire (3 compost bins currently buried under huge pile of "woody stuff") but am not sure how to go about it. In particular - how far from teh house/hedges etc does it need to be? needs to be a certain distance from public road - 30 ft???? It's an offence to have it nearer (apart from being dangerous if smoke blows over road) For general safety, don't just put everything in a heap and set fire to it - burn it little by little so you can keep it under control. Can I do it on grass (i.e. will it regrow?) Eventually. OK on a lawn, but not on longer grass as longer dry grass may catch and your fire go out of control. and what will burn - i.e. do I need to leave all the stuff to dry out first? Yes, otherwise you will have a smoky fire which is not fair to your neighbours. If you are in a smoke-free zone, then you should not have a bonfire at all. Have you considered taking it all round to the council recycling centre? -- Kay "Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river" |
#6
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Kay wrote:
H Ryder writes I think that I need to have a bonfire (3 compost bins currently buried under huge pile of "woody stuff") but am not sure how to go about it. In particular - how far from teh house/hedges etc does it need to be? If you are in a smoke-free zone, then you should not have a bonfire at all. Hi Kay, fortunately a "smoke control zone" only prohibits the burning of certain fuels on domestic appliances, e.g. no bituminous (household) coal (although anthracite is OK). Being in a smoke control zone does not prohibit bonfires. |
#7
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In article , Chris Bacon
writes Kay wrote: H Ryder writes I think that I need to have a bonfire (3 compost bins currently buried under huge pile of "woody stuff") but am not sure how to go about it. In particular - how far from teh house/hedges etc does it need to be? If you are in a smoke-free zone, then you should not have a bonfire at all. Hi Kay, fortunately a "smoke control zone" only prohibits the burning of certain fuels on domestic appliances, e.g. no bituminous (household) coal (although anthracite is OK). Being in a smoke control zone does not prohibit bonfires. Yes, you're right - I've done more ferreting around. -- Kay "Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river" |
#8
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Have you considered taking it all round to the council recycling centre?
yes - we've got one of those bins but have filled it. The problem with the bulk of the stuff is getting it into anything to transport it. It is a huge mass of thorny stuff and I do not want my car full of loose thorns for my toddlers to step on Hayley |
#9
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H Ryder wrote:
The problem with the bulk of the stuff is getting it into anything to transport it. It is a huge mass of thorny stuff and I do not want my car full of loose thorns for my toddlers to step on Sometimes you see woven polythene sacks which are excellent for disposing of nasty spiky stuff (keep the bags!). These look like normal material which has been heated and flattened (like a modern tent groundsheet). If you chop your thorny twigs up small, they become far easier to handle - it doesn't take long, either. |
#10
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"Chris Bacon" wrote in message ... H Ryder wrote: The problem with the bulk of the stuff is getting it into anything to transport it. It is a huge mass of thorny stuff and I do not want my car full of loose thorns for my toddlers to step on Sometimes you see woven polythene sacks which are excellent for disposing of nasty spiky stuff (keep the bags!). These look like normal material which has been heated and flattened (like a modern tent groundsheet). If you chop your thorny twigs up small, they become far easier to handle - it doesn't take long, either. And to hold the bag open, get an empty dustbin, put the poly bag in and make sure it is right to the bottom. Wear sturdy gloves and force the small bits into the bottom of the dusbin and 'force it' into a dustbin shaped bag. Tie the bag with a cable tie or wire twist, lift the bag out and start another one. This will fit into the boot of the car. Loading the boot. Put an old blanket/dust sheet in to boot covering the bottom but making sure there is plenty to go up over the opened boot lid. Push the bags into the boot forcing the blanket/dust sheet to engulf the bags. Doing it this way stops ANY part of the bag touching the car's interior. On emptying out the boot, take the bags out one at a time then 'scoop' all of the blanket out with any crud enlosed in it. Shake where ever suitable. This method has been used time and time again in my BMW. My son in law has used the same method in his Rolls Royce. Hope that helps Mike |
#11
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On 7/9/05 15:49, in article , "Chris Bacon"
wrote: H Ryder wrote: The problem with the bulk of the stuff is getting it into anything to transport it. It is a huge mass of thorny stuff and I do not want my car full of loose thorns for my toddlers to step on Sometimes you see woven polythene sacks which are excellent for disposing of nasty spiky stuff (keep the bags!). These look like normal material which has been heated and flattened (like a modern tent groundsheet). If you chop your thorny twigs up small, they become far easier to handle - it doesn't take long, either. Some nurseries - such as ours! - sell off old compost bags which are fantastically useful for garden waste. We ask only that people donate something to one of the charity boxes we have here and there. -- Sacha www.hillhousenursery.co.uk South Devon (remove the weeds to email me) |
#12
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In article , Chris Bacon
writes Sometimes you see woven polythene sacks which are excellent for disposing of nasty spiky stuff (keep the bags!). These look like normal material which has been heated and flattened (like a modern tent groundsheet). If you chop your thorny twigs up small, they become far easier to handle - it doesn't take long, either. And, if you pile them up into a large, err.. pile - you can use a hedgetrimmer to chop it up very quickly into manageable pieces - just chop down across the pile every 8-12" in one direction. And if you want ot make it even easier, turn the blade through 90 degrees and repeat. This is a pretty handy way of dealing with large piles of vicious and tangled garden waste. Only one major consideration - make sure that you know what's in the pile (no hedgehogs, metal, stone, etc) and make sure that you don't let the blade go down all the way through to the ground. As with all things involving sharp things and/or power tools, be sensible. It makes tidying large tangled piles much easier. I might even suggest it to the NHS. -- regards andyw |
#13
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Chris Bacon wrote:
Sometimes you see woven polythene sacks which are excellent for disposing of nasty spiky stuff (keep the bags!). These look like normal material which has been heated and flattened (like a modern tent groundsheet). If you chop your thorny twigs up small, they become far easier to handle - it doesn't take long, either. FWIW http://uk.aldi.com/special_buys/productnl_3714.html, £1.99 though. |
#14
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In article , H Ryder
writes I think that I need to have a bonfire (3 compost bins currently buried under huge pile of "woody stuff") but am not sure how to go about it. In particular - how far from teh house/hedges etc does it need to be? Can I do it on grass (i.e. will it regrow?) and what will burn - i.e. do I need to leave all the stuff to dry out first? TIA, Hayley And just to add to the other responses - I think there is (or should be) an unwritten law that implies that you: shouldn't start a fire until after 19.00 in the summer if you have neighbours - you might get away with 18.00 in the autumn/winter; tell the neighbours in order to ensure they aren't leaving washing out/entertaining in the garden. -- regards andyw |
#15
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"newsb" wrote in message ... In article , H Ryder writes I think that I need to have a bonfire (3 compost bins currently buried under huge pile of "woody stuff") but am not sure how to go about it. In particular - how far from teh house/hedges etc does it need to be? Can I do it on grass (i.e. will it regrow?) and what will burn - i.e. do I need to leave all the stuff to dry out first? TIA, Hayley And just to add to the other responses - I think there is (or should be) an unwritten law that implies that you: shouldn't start a fire until after 19.00 in the summer if you have neighbours - you might get away with 18.00 in the autumn/winter; tell the neighbours in order to ensure they aren't leaving washing out/entertaining in the garden. -- regards andyw There is no law, national that is, about bonfires. Unless there is a local byelaw, you can have a bonfire just when you like, BUT, even without a byelaw or clean air act or call it what you will, you can be prosecuted under the pollution act, nuisance act and god knows what other things. If you are bombastic enough to light a smokey bonfire on a Monday morning with the neighbours washing out one side and a Motorway on the other with a swirling wind which clobbers the washing one minute and obscures the Motorway the next, you are a pratt and deserve to clobbered. I had problems with a neighbour who had about as much consideration for the neighbours with regards to the bonfires he lit EVERY DAY, yes every day, that another neighbour complained. "I have checked up, there are no laws on when you can have bonfires" In this case he was correct, but I dug deeper and read the riot act to him. What "WE" could do :-)) He stopped :-)) Hope that helps Mike |
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