Free Bark

[Cubs]

Side-stepping all the weak dog gags here, one positive to come out of the recent monsoons we've been having in the UK is the profusion of toppled trees. I've just gone out today with my bucket, chisel and hammer and have collected a nice pile of good textured bark from dead trees blown over in the wind.

It's in the oven now drying out (minus the woodlice, who have been safely deposited in the garden) and although it's not as thick and gnarly as cork bark, it's still going to come in very useful.

Go and be Wombles!

[Mitch K]

I shall keep my eyes open. Oak or willow would be the best bet I guess? All I've got up the garden is a sycamore bough with bark as tediously anonymous as the timber underneath!

[Cubs]

Oak or willow would be the best bet I guess?

Pass. I'm not good on trees.

[fastolfrus]

London planetree is quite good (from what I remember).

[Mitch K]

London planetree is quite good (from what I remember).

Worth knowing, but a bit sparse up my way, more's the pity. I can't imagine the Castle Howard Arboretum being keen on my visiting for this reason.

I'm definitely going to have a look round. "Free" is something I can't resist. I was a big tight with money before I got to Yorkshire, but I've got much worse since I've been here!

[fastolfrus]

I hadn't considered the arboretum.
If you do go ask if Neil is there. He could probably source some for you.

[Eric the Shed]

Oak is a good option!

Just zap the bark in the microwave to kill all the bugs

[Cubs]

Oak is a good option!

Just zap the bark in the microwave to kill all the bugs

I baked it all in the oven for three hours on low, to kill the beasts and dry it all out.

[Elk101]

I just picked up a chunk of willow bark which has a lot of potential. It was just lying on the grass so I rescued it. I usually submerge it in a bucket of very hot water with disinfectant before drying in the oven (wet bark goes crazy in the microwave).

[Cubs]

(wet bark goes crazy in the microwave).

Hamsters too.

[Mitch K]

Well in the last two mornings I've aquired roughly an A3 area of ash bark (very characterful but a beggar to get away from the underlying timber) and about half a tabletop's worth of willow bark. Like I need more contruction products to store away " 'cos they'll come in handy eventually..."

[Dewbakuk]

London Plane should be pretty easy to locate throughout the UK. It's the tree that got planted along the side of city roads for many years. It's the one that gets pollarded heavily so the branches don't break buses, it's also pretty pollution tolerant, hence it's use.