Reply to: Thatch

[Big Blue Plymouth]

The insurance is around about £13-1400 per year though, and as we have standard central heating, we have not bothered to get the fireplaces opened up. I suspect if we did the cost would rise significantly.

Wow!

Got 2 chimneys. One is blocked, the other has a woodburner.

Was going to open the blocked one in the kitchen and stick a Rayburn in. May have to reassess that idea...

[shaunbhoy]

Fortunately, this one isn't listed. That was made clear in the particulars.

I do wonder if it would be possible for somebody to decide that will be listed at some point in the future though....

I have lived in a thatched property for almost 16 years now.

In that time we had the thatched porch completely replaced in 2012 (just over £600), and the ridge replaced in 2013 which cost about £1700.

Not as expensive as I had anticipated, although the thatcher we used opted not to put up scaffolding to keep the cost down. We are fairly well tucked away so he figured the chances of the HSE spotting him were minimal.

Mine is Listed which can give some issues (although not related to the thatch aspect). It does appear that at any given time someone from English Heritage can just arbitrarily wander past and decide it is worth "Listing", but if it has not been done already I'd say the chances are probably quite slim.

The insurance is around about £13-1400 per year though, and as we have standard central heating, we have not bothered to get the fireplaces opened up. I suspect if we did the cost would rise significantly.

[Big Blue Plymouth]

There are quite a few round where I live in North Devon, but apparently badgers kill and eat them.

Their biggest problem in many areas is finding drinkable water, such as ponds and streams.

Regarding thatch, if you have to re-thatch the roof I would use Dutch reeds. It's a fair bit pricier but lasts twice as long as the British stuff, anything up to 50 years, and that will make the place more saleable and means less to worry about for the foreseeable future.

This one will have been done with straw if it's been given a 20-25 year lifespan.

Hopefully I won't have to do the full re-thatch but, as Chuck has pointed out, I can expect to get the ridge done in a few years.

[OwlHoot]

Used to see a lot when I was a kid.

I even rescued one I found that had been abandoned by its mother. Eyes were still all closed up & I had him in a pen in my bedroom for a few weeks before I let him go.

He came back a few times as an adult & used to climb up my leg and let me feed him.

There are quite a few round where I live in North Devon, but apparently badgers kill and eat them.

Their biggest problem in many areas is finding drinkable water, such as ponds and streams.

Regarding thatch, if you have to re-thatch the roof I would use Dutch reeds. It's a fair bit pricier but lasts twice as long as the British stuff, anything up to 50 years, and that will make the place more saleable and means less to worry about for the foreseeable future.

[Big Blue Plymouth]

Are you sure it wasn't your missus?

That would be funny if it weren't so close to the truth

[fullyautomatix]

You'll be lucky these days.

I'd seen one in my garden of my last place in the 14 years since I'd moved in. That said, it was a massive flea ridden, bruiser of a boar. Gave me a hell of a shock when I heard it crashing through the undergrowth.

Are you sure it wasn't your missus?

[SueEllen]

Used to see a lot when I was a kid.

I even rescued one I found that had been abandoned by its mother. Eyes were still all closed up & I had him in a pen in my bedroom for a few weeks before I let him go.

He came back a few times as an adult & used to climb up my leg and let me feed him.

That was suppose to turn you into a vet not an IT contractor.

[Paddy]

Used to see a lot when I was a kid.

I even rescued one I found that had been abandoned by its mother. Eyes were still all closed up & I had him in a pen in my bedroom for a few weeks before I let him go.

He came back a few times as an adult & used to climb up my leg and let me feed him.

Didn’t it get ink on him?

[Big Blue Plymouth]

I've only seen one hedgehog close up in my life. It had moved in to a box on a patio of someone I was helping as a volunteer. She was feeding it so it decided to stay.

Used to see a lot when I was a kid.

I even rescued one I found that had been abandoned by its mother. Eyes were still all closed up & I had him in a pen in my bedroom for a few weeks before I let him go.

He came back a few times as an adult & used to climb up my leg and let me feed him.

[SueEllen]

You'll be lucky these days.

I'd seen one in my garden of my last place in the 14 years since I'd moved in. That said, it was a massive flea ridden, bruiser of a boar. Gave me a hell of a shock when I heard it crashing through the undergrowth.

I've only seen one hedgehog close up in my life. It had moved in to a box on a patio of someone I was helping as a volunteer. She was feeding it so it decided to stay.

[Big Blue Plymouth]

Chickens are a rat magnet (but if you get them from the BHWT, they are worth it), depending on what you put on the compost heap, you're more likely to attract hedgehogs.

You'll be lucky these days.

I'd seen one in my garden of my last place in the 14 years since I'd moved in. That said, it was a massive flea ridden, bruiser of a boar. Gave me a hell of a shock when I heard it crashing through the undergrowth.

[d000hg]

Chickens are a rat magnet (but if you get them from the BHWT, they are worth it), depending on what you put on the compost heap, you're more likely to attract hedgehogs.

I think they already have a hedgehog

We had joked about chickens although I'd prefer a duck or two... never heard of BHWT but what a neat project, thanks.

[Chuck]

Ugh, our new place has a large garden and the wife is keep to get a compost heap... is that a rat-magnet?

Never put meat or cooked food in it. Vegetables, peelings and garden cuttings should be ok.

[WTFH]

Ugh, our new place has a large garden and the wife is keep to get a compost heap... is that a rat-magnet?

Chickens are a rat magnet (but if you get them from the BHWT, they are worth it), depending on what you put on the compost heap, you're more likely to attract hedgehogs.

[d000hg]

Ugh, our new place has a large garden and the wife is keep to get a compost heap... is that a rat-magnet?