Yes, I'm so happy, 2014!

[Matt T]

Thanks everyone.

John - the shade material is a standard type of horticultural netting that we can buy here in the UK and can be used for both shading and wind protection. It's a knitted synthetic material (i.e. UV stabilised polyethylene) that gives approximately 50% shading/wind filtering. I believe different 'gauges' are available for lighter and heavier shading. I didn't buy this as I received it as someone else's surplus but searching 'shade netting' online brings up a range of suppliers - it's the darker green types you want.

I used a cheaper alternative on the fences, which is lighter green. This material is more commonly used on construction sites, i.e. on scaffolding as debris/safety/litter netting but can also be used around the home/garden. A 50m roll was extremely good value for money, and does the job just as well but it's a bit brighter to look at. It was available in black, but only in a 2m width.

Yes, in the past there would have been some trees on the Outer Hebrides at least. Today you can find small remnants of native woodland in inaccessible places here and there - mixed woodland in ravines, alder or birch copses on islands and headlands, rowans clinging to steep rocky faces etc. I wouldn't like to say that the islands were ever densely forested. Even at times when the climate was more conductive to tree growth, large areas would have been too windy, too wet or too poor in nutrients for trees. Also, at no time were the Outer Hebrides connected to the mainland of Scotland, unlike the Inner Hebridean islands, many of which would have had 'land bridges' during the glacial/interglacial periods allowing species with slower dispersal patterns to migrate. A pattern of habitat mosaics is more likely, which will have included some areas of light woodland of hardy pioneer species. Wood is/would always have been a very scarce resource, so early human settlers will have quickly felled for use any woodland there may have been. The only mammals that are native to the Western Isles are otter and seals, but the grazing pressure from introduced stock (historically sheep and cattle, in more recent times deer have been introduced - rabbits and voles will do their share of damage too) will have prevented widespread regeneration. Some trees can grow here (albeit slow and low), especially with a bit of shelter from a wall or fence, or in naturally sheltered places, particularly on the east side of the islands away from the prevailing winds. However, the few commercial (experimental?) forestry plantations we have are unlikely to ever be very productive.

Matt

[Chris Johnson]

I'm happy, because for once I feel truly ready for the winter, my third here on the Outer Hebrides.

This year I have erected a proper windbreak fence around the productive areas of the garden (veg and bulbs/plants in pots). This is enhanced with many willow cuttings and Rosa rugosa seedlings etc.

I've relocated our new compost bins (and their attendant small furries, which have been extraordinarily abundant this year) as far from the house as possible.

I've built seed frames for my many pots of ungerminated seeds. I'm planning on changing the top of the one I use for germinated pots to a PVC or polycarbonate lid to keep some of the rain out to avoid damping off.

I've also built a larger 'shade frame' for woodlanders and anything else that doesn't like drying winds. Rather than shade, I believe that the shelter provided is of most benefit.

When gardening in the Hebrides, you can't have too much shelter. I feel ready, so bring on the winter!

Hey Matt, you have been busy since I was round in the summer - must pay another visit.

Do you have you frame-lids anchored? They would just blow away here on the coast.

Chris

[Maggi Young]

Maggi - Not a chance he'll be blown across the ocean in this direction.  More apt to be Aberdeen bound given the blow here.
johnw

Hmm, hadn't thought of that - he'll get a terrible bashing on the mountains en route - I'll lay in some catch netting and bandages.......

[Matt T]

Hey Matt, you have been busy since I was round in the summer - must pay another visit.

Do you have you frame-lids anchored? They would just blow away here on the coast.

Chris

Hi Chris,
The seed frame lids are weighted down with rocks, so they should be safe. I may put hinges on the shade frame, or keep them removable and use some kind of catch. Until then, more rocks!
Stop in any time your passing.
M

[Matt T]

Hmm, hadn't thought of that - he'll get a terrible bashing on the mountains en route - I'll lay in some catch netting and bandages.......

And a cuppa tea and a biscuit too I hope?! 

[Maggi Young]

But of course!   

[Graeme]

Matt - not sure if you have ever seen these

http://www.swanflight.com/flightcase-hardware-hinges-lid-stays/flightcase-hardware-lift-off-hinges.html

I used to have a PA and lighting company so all the flight cases were fitted with these - it lets you take the front off flight cases completely

or I now use them so you can have fold down frame lights - or you can remove them all together - when they are closed they are like normal hinges

only thing is if you have a lot of frame lights then number them - or use the first one as a template for all the others - so they always fit

(I am just looking at the ipad cases on that site and trying to work out where I can hide it when it comes.......)

[Chris Johnson]

Matt - not sure if you have ever seen these

http://www.swanflight.com/flightcase-hardware-hinges-lid-stays/flightcase-hardware-lift-off-hinges.html

I used to have a PA and lighting company so all the flight cases were fitted with these - it lets you take the front off flight cases completely

or I now use them so you can have fold down frame lights - or you can remove them all together - when they are closed they are like normal hinges

only thing is if you have a lot of frame lights then number them - or use the first one as a template for all the others - so they always fit

(I am just looking at the ipad cases on that site and trying to work out where I can hide it when it comes.......)

Graeme

I've seen those hinges before; a clever design.

Our second big issue here, after wind, is corrosion. The air is constantly salt-ladened, especially in autumn/winter and mild steel would rust solid in one season.

Chris

[Graeme]

Chris - they were available in marine stainless steel as I have a box of 100 or so left over from when we used to build flight cases - I would need to have a look to see if the company is still going or if there is an alternative supplier

when we moved here I had to move one of the tunnels and I eventually had to get a welding torch round some of the bolts - so if I ever put anything up I always use stainless steel nuts and bolts and screws and hinges and washers (screwfix) - in the long run it makes life much simpler

[Chris Johnson]

Chris - they were available in marine stainless steel as I have a box of 100 or so left over from when we used to build flight cases - I would need to have a look to see if the company is still going or if there is an alternative supplier

when we moved here I had to move one of the tunnels and I eventually had to get a welding torch round some of the bolts - so if I ever put anything up I always use stainless steel nuts and bolts and screws and hinges and washers (screwfix) - in the long run it makes life much simpler

Sorry, Graeme, I made a wrong assumption. When I checked out the link you provided, they looked like mild steel and the price tended to reflect that.

When I first moved here I built a lot of wind-breaks similar to the style Matt has adopted, using 'normal' screws. These rusted through in two years and I had to redo it all with stainless steel screws. I now buy them 1000 at a time from Westfield Fasteners: http://www.westfieldfasteners.co.uk/

Chris

[Matt T]

Mmm, very nifty hinges Graeme. They could be a handy solution, so I'll bear them in mind.
Cheers.

[annew]

Me too, I've been using loose pin hinges but it's a right fiddle getting the pins in.

[annew]

Stainless steel ones here: http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/hinges/0687499/

[Graeme]

Stainless steel ones here: http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/hinges/0687499/

Annew - yes those are the ones - forgot about rs

[Matt T]

I'm happy, because for once I feel truly ready for the winter, my third here on the Outer Hebrides.
... I feel ready, so bring on the winter!

I didn't mean it! Winds up to 69mph so far and everything is still in it's place. Bit of windburn to the leaves of celery still in the ground but otherwise all looks fine.