Every five years or so the bush growing under the power lines is trimmed back. It's a bit disheartening to see the bush hacked about and the birds seem to be a bit lost too - they sit on the stumps and gaze about, wondering what happened to the fruits and flowers that they had been feeding on. I realise why it's got to be done and at least there's the benefit of free firewood that will come in very handy as winter approaches.
 |
| Trimming the gum trees on my walk home |
The contractor started on 28 January and is going around all the roads where there are power lines. In places he can do a nice clean cut which doesn't look quite as bad as the hacked areas - I guess it's not easy chopping through bush lawyer and trees with a lot of branches.
 |
| 29 January - Back Road just down from my place |
 |
A foggy 29 January - intersection of Main Road and Back Road showing
the trimmed bush under the power lines |
 |
| Tractor and cutting arm |
 |
| The cutting blade - larger than it looks in the photo above |
I've spent most of my spare time in February hauling branches and gathering wheelbarrow loads from around the area. My woodpile is looking extremely healthy and I'll be kept busy with the bow saw and loppers for a very long time!
 |
| Tyres moved and neatly stacked so I can make a big woodpile |
 |
| One woodpile near the woodshed |
There's a mixture of different timbers; a lot of manuka and kamahi which burns very well, also wineberry and putaputaweta and a few pine and gum branches that I've hauled from Main Road. Native fuchsia is also available but it doesn't burn that well so will get the other branches first.
I enjoy being a 'gatherer' and it's a great physical workout too; my bed looks very welcome at the end of each day! It has put me behind with blogging though so waiting for some wet weather so I have a good excuse to sit inside!
