The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Community => Coffee Lounge => Topic started by: bamford6 on December 28, 2009, 04:08:02 pm
-
Northern Britian is currently in the middle of the longest spell of cold/snowy weather since 1996 and with these conditions set to intensify and spread south next week (the south has already had much cold & snow) the question could be asked whether this winter will be the first severe winter since 1979.
Severe winters in the UK. are generally regarding as those with a mean Winter CET below 2c so since the war only 1940, 1947 and 1979 have qualified, it is now thirty years since we experienced a proper severe winter.
Its still early days but looking at recent model output the cold will intensify over the New Year and 'could' set us up for a very cold January, of course much can go wrong but clearly the Northern Blocking we see at the moment is the most impressive I have seen since 1986. Yes, severe cold spells occured in 1987, 1991 and 1996 but these spells were always brought about by Scandy Highs which often lack the staying power of a Greenland/Arctic Block.
The current situation where pressure remains high from Greenland across the pole has the potential to be far more long lasting so I think the chance of a severe winter is increasing with time.
In my opinion we will just miss a severe winter (it started mild) but I think the chances of this winter being the coldest winter since 1981/82 are considerable.
If I had to put a figure on it I reckon we could achieve a CET of around 2.5c, the lowest since 1981/82.
I THINK we could loose all oure stock iff things dont change minus ten all day and no end in sight .i spent all day at the pens the water is naw being changed 3 times a day .it could get colder at the end off the week
We're expecting cold weather to push back south across the entire country during the week ahead with an increasing risk of snow in all regions. The cold spell may intensify further during the first week of January as air from Siberia sweeps right across western Europe.
Confidence on the details is very low, but it does look as though we could be looking at quite a severe spell of wintry weather. Computer forecasting models are suggesting the cold spell may persist for at least 10 days.
So after a cold December with widespread snow it looks as though January will start off in a similar vein. Our winter forecast suggested this would be the second consecutive UK winter with colder than average temperatures, and we are now increasingly confident that this will be correct. We've heard some people suggest the chances of a cold winter in the UK are now as low as one in thirty due to climate change. If this is the case it would suggest a one in nine hundred chance of having two cold winters in succession!
-
I THINK we could loose all oure stock iff things dont change minus ten all day and no end in sight
Just wondering why you think that you might lose your stock? I imagine that as the freeze continues it will wear down our animals but if we compensate with extra food and straw will that not be enough?
-
That's what I reckon too. My birds are getting almost twice as much layers pellets as usual, plus half a dozen bread rolls or old bread, plus any spare veg going plus porridge with citricidal and wine vinegar every second day. They have loads of extra straw in their sheds too. My dogs are having warm meals instead of cold; they have overhead heaters in their kennels plus old duvets and pillows to keep them warm. I'm pretty sure I won't lose any from the cold.
-
at the moment we can cope for saterday and sunday minus 18 to 20 is forcast day temp minus 10 when we get to minus 20 the diesel cars wont run the next cold spell will start wich will be colder
-
saterday 2 nd
-
North Fife Sunday the 3rd, still the same as yesterday...
http://north-fife.blogspot.com/
:&>
-
Ok getting fed up now. I have developed a rotten cough and can't even go for a proper walk. We have resolved the shower problem though. We just visit our friends with a towel and soap bag. There are great folk around here who are pleased to help. We're even getting our tea cooked for us tonight...
:)
-
Happy new year everyone...(although it isn't very happy here at the moment !! lol.).
have had 6" of snow so far this time ...not much I know , but it is more than enough when you are walking 5 miles every day to feed the horses !!
The walk to the village is a bit rough to say the least , ice and snow down a steep track to the road. Once it gets too icy it is a matter of walking through the fields , although they are frozen solid and it is hard to stay upright .
The walk from the village to the land is clear of snow , so isn't bad at all , apart from the fact I have got a ligament gone in my knee , and it is bl**dy murder . Every step is like a huge electric shock going up your leg ...agony .
Now , after 3 weeks of this knee thing , I am getting problems with the right hip , due to the way I am limping to keep the weight off my left knee. The hip is the one I did most damage to in the car smash years ago . I just hope to god it lasts out till the knee eases off , which it is very slowly starting to do at last.
Once I get to the land , it is relatively ok . The track is very steep coming off the road , and the knee does not like going down hill at all , so very slow sideways walk down the hill !!. Then it is about 300 yards or so along the track , not a nice smooth track just an old cart type track , ok for 4x4 and tractors , not so good for bad knees !!
Still , it is off the road and the dogs can wonder as they please , rather than try to pull me off my feet . The haylage is normally dropped off by the farmer right by the gate, at the end of the track . But due to the snow he has had to drop 2 bales (really big round bales) off at the road this time. So that means carrying all the daily feed from the bales , to the feeder , 300 yards .
So each trip for more feed is 600 yards + and it will take 6 - 8 trips to get enough ...3600 - 4800 yards everyday. That, is on top of the 5 mile walk anyway ! I tried the wheelbarrow...forget it ...got about 10 feet ...nearly snapped my knee...lol.
If I can get some of the right type of wood there , I might be able to make a sled to take a days feed in one go , but I am doubtful that the knee would hold up to that either . So it looks like carrying 2 bags of haylage at a time will be the only way to do it.
This is why I hate snow ...I just hope that the knee and hip hold out ...roll on the end of April beginning of May !! God that seems like a long time away !!!
cheers
Russ
-
.roll on the end of April beginning of May !!
Good God, Rusty - what weather report have you been watching ::) This bl99dy snow and ice isn't staying THAT long I hope!
-
lol... I hope to god not too Annie... so far they are saying that the temp round here is likely to stay very low for for the next 10 days ..what comes then ? But the April/May bit was relating to when I can stop feeding the horses everyday , the grass should be growing well by then . Only another 120 days of walking 5 miles a day to go .... :o ;D ;D ;D
cheers
Russ
-
Boy, you must be fit though. Watch out for any photographers looking for calendar boys ;D ;D ;D ;D
-
fit to drop at the moment .....and if there are any photographers looking for calender boys .. then they won't be looking at me ....I look like a tramp when I am going to the land...the only thing I don't have, is the bit of string round the waist ....YET !!!
cheers
Russ
-
you're making me feel like a real wimp Rusty. Today I'm curled up on the sofa with a sore chest feeling sorry for myself cos I've got to give do the afternoon round of animals none of which is more than 250 yards from the shed. Have you ever tried those mineral salts Rustox? I used to give them to our old stiff collie.They used to help him......... If you want a piece of string I could probably send one of those. Compo eat your heart out
-
RUSTYME, do you have a "dumpy" bag, the ones that sand etc. for building come in hanging around anywhere. That would make a lovely sledge and hold a lot of hay.
-
lol... Kirsty ,I think being a wimp is the way to be at the moment .....it was hard going today ....perhaps I should try some of that rustox ? I was once as smart and tidy as the bloke in the picture.....then I got horses, and a smallholding ... ::) ;D ;D Keep that bit of string handy , just in case !!! ::)
I tried an old tarp today .. it was in shreds in less than 30 yards... then tried a dumpy bag ... it did maybe about 45 yards ....Trouble is the track has 2 ruts either side of the centre grassy lump . With everything being frozen , the ridges are like knives , and the track has brambles both sides which also make it nigh on impossible to drag anything that can catch . Also my knee can only bend a fraction of what it would normally , and apart from the first 30 yards , which are very, VERY steep , the next 100 yards are up hill ... So it was just a matter of filling a dozen feed bags with haylage , and then carrying 2 at a time along the track . 300 yards is such a long way when you are carrying 30lb in each hand and slipping on ice , tripping on brambles and limping with a duff knee, and then trying to wipe the frozen tears of pain from your face !! Even colder again tomorrow they say , with more snow maybe !!
cheers
Russ
-
Russ, I so feel for you! Puts my life in perspective...Get yourself a woofer volunteer quick! All you need to do is feed them and give them a bed - and they get an experience they never forget! :&>
-
lol... I don't think any woofer would put up with this at the moment ....I live in a static caravan .. no spare bed ...no running water ....and as of 1 week ago the gas ran out.... :o ::) another week of this and I will bugger off and stay on the land in the small touring caravan there... it has a small woodburner in it ...loads of wood around ... but it means carrying all my food and the dogs food 2 1/2 miles ... I also lived in a 15 foot caravan for 2 years ...and I get cabin fever in a very short time now ...thats what is stopping me at the moment . Sort of stuck between a rock and a hard place ...still, only 119 days till the end of April now... then the grass starts to move again...please god !!! ;D ;D ;D
cheers
Russ
-
Hey Russ;- What about selling your story to a reality TV show. I was told yesterday about some rich woman in Dorset who had a documentary made about her cos she was living outside for a month. Living outside my a*s! She was playing in the bandstand in Daddy's garden with a tarpaulin tacked over it and friends and family bringing her hot meals. Your day has to be more interesting and more real than that.
-
Can't you get anyone to help you, Russ? What about your family - bet those lovely little kids would have a ball helping Uncle Russ feed the horses. ;D
-
everyone round here that I know , are working farmers and are busy trying to keep their own things sorted . The family would help , but they live miles away , and have jobs, plus the horses are a real handful at feed time , not a good thing to have tots around, accidents waiting to happen type of thing .
The horses are fine with me , I have had them for ten years now , and we know each other well . But at feed time , they are all over the place ... :o especially when they see me get the buckets for their rolled oats and barley . All hell can break loose then . I am used to it , and just limp around between them , swearing profusely at them for a minute or two , then all calms down while they have their noses buried in their feed .
Wellie and his mum Ollie , are little sods . They normally share a bucket till it is empty , then go for the other one and share that . But they have less feed than Josie , the big lump , so eat theirs before Josie has finished hers. So I have to take Josie out of the field and feed her in the lane, otherwise the other two would try to nick it !!.
Josie loses condition badly every year at the end of October beginning of November , she had a rough life before I got her... but we get through it and feed her up and all is well . This year she had a reaction to the wormer , it nearly killed her . Just as she was getting over that , some really helpful person ( who all but accused me of not feeding my animals), decided to give her loads of carrots , without telling me . Well she got colic ... I though that was it , she went down was rolling on the floor had the sweats everything . All through this, I thought it was something I had done . The only thing I could think of was to give her small amounts of oats (very high fibre and long lasting energy) linseed and some oil mixed in , to try and ease her system . Her tummy was silent , not a rumble or anything , not a good sign when a horse is blocked up .
Well , just as I thought sure she was going to die , she went to the loo ....Jesus .... half a wheelbarrow load of undigested carrot came out . She was instantly hungry and made for the haylage . She has, since then , continued to put on weight slowly, and to get back to her old self again . Even with this very cold spell she is gaining weight . She even went for a trot along the lane the other day , after she had had her feed. 15 minutes of me running up and down the track trying to get her back in the field .
While I was running back and forth ( remember the bad knee !! ) chasing Josie , Wellie decided to join in , and opened the gate and came along for some fun ... ::) ::) I now have two horses in the lane , the gate has shut behind Wellie , and the dogs are now between the horses and the gate ... I eventually got the dogs out of the way , but everytime I tried to open the gate , the horses turned round and buggered off back up the lane... yet another 200 yard run to get passed them before they hit the road. Managed that 'again' , and now the dogs are back between the horses and the gate ....plus the gate has shut again . All this time Ollie is going ballistic because she is on her own in the top field ...not for long !!! Next time I opened the gate and Josie and Wellie turned and buggered off again , it stayed open as I legged it after J+W . FREEDOM cries Ollie...and she joins in the fun ? ... ::)
Now, I am totally knackered ... and totally p*ssed off... so I kicked one of the feed buckets ... horses hear this and think ..." more food !!" and all 3 come trotting down the lane , ignoring the dogs, straight into the top field ....bas*ards !!!
I am now about to have another heart attack , and can only just about manage to put my left foot on the ground ...but they are in ... shut the gate ...put the chain on ... and then lean on the gate laughing , crying and still swearing profusely ... go to turn round to get ready for the walk home , but Steve the spaniel is sat right behind my legs ... a*se over t*t I go .... do I hit the snow ...nope I hit a 6" deep puddle of freezing water , head first . ::) :o ;D.... Just another day feeding the horses ... but I still love them to bits ... and even Steve came and started licking the water off my head ... little sod ... love him too ... although the names I was calling him would have suggested otherwise.. ::)
cheers
Russ
-
Oh Russ you DO tell a good story - I'm laughing and couching at once! Wish I was nearer - I'd help if I could! Do you ride any of them? MAybe some pics on here would be nice
-
I have ridden Josie and get on her every now and then to keep her used to it , Wellie too has been ridden but not as much as Josie. Wellie is only about 14 hands - 14.2 maybe , so I tend to think I am a bit much for him. But Josie is 16 hands + and easily copes with my fat a*se on her back. Ollie is only a little Welsh mountain pony , and although she has been ridden , she doesn't like men much , so hardly ever lets me do anything with her ...unless I have the feed bucket with oats and barley in it ...
I would like to ride them far more often , but the injuries from the car smash make it really painfull . The spine goes into meltdown , and can take weeks to get back to normal .The hips make really horrible grinding sounds accompanied by searing pain shooting up each side . So I tend not to jump on too often .
I hope to get a cart made for them this year , that will make life much easier for me on the land , and they can earn their keep as well. Thanks for the thought of helping Annie....will sort out some pics of the little bas..... lovelies ...
cheers
Russ
-
After that story, I'm glad I only have 3 sheep and a dog - all withing 100yds.
Just a thought on the sledge:- when I was a kid, me and my mate had sledges made by cutting a plastic barrel in half - they weren't very good as they tended to roll over - but they slid down the hill well enough. If you don't mind emptying a water butt or something, it might work..
mab
-
Very funny Russ, but God I feel for you - you have chosen a very hard life, particularly bad dring this weather.
What is your plan for your land? Will you be able to build on it? You need some comfort for your aching bones or at least a good supply of whiskey!
Hope you have better luck tomorrow.
-
(http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc21/rustyme57/IMAG0021.jpg)
above is Ollie on the right , with Josie sticking her head in on the left.
(http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc21/rustyme57/IMAG0019.jpg)
above is Wellie he is getting whiter every year !!
(http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc21/rustyme57/IMAG0020.jpg)
above is Josie .. at the moment she needs a few more lbs to get her back to the size she is in the pic., but she is getting there...
cheers
Russ
-
Fab pics. Josie has a very beautiful and kind face.
-
Josie can be a big hefty handful at times , but 99% of the time she is the most gentle cuddly ole lump you could wish for ...
The land will supply all my veg ,hopefully this year ?, along with some wheat, barley, oats and rye.
As for the whiskey ...I don't drink ...a nice cup of tea or coffee will do though ... ;D
Life isn't normally this hard , it is much easier . Under normal conditions I can do the walk without thought.... but the knee going pop has b*ggered me a bit to say the least . Then the weather on top of that has made life very hard , hopefully only for a relatively short time though ... views like the one below make it all worthwhile though !!
(http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc21/rustyme57/the%20Land/Russellsriver.jpg)
sitting by the river on a summers day , with only the sound of the water and the birds is absolute heaven...
I did think of using a drum cut in half , it would work well , but I don't think I could pull it at the moment ...my knee is only just hanging in there at the moment !! thanks anyway Mab...
cheers
Russ
-
Changed my mind - its not a documentary its a series - pitched somewhere between Emmerdale and The Young Ones
-
lol....I think it would be nearer to the 'Young Ones' than anything ....well thinking again .... not so young ..maybe the 'Crusty One' would be better...
Not sure which one is meant to be me in the picture ...? but thanks for that .... made me laugh ...I need that today ...
cheers
Russ
-
(http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc21/rustyme57/the%20Land/th_IMAG0043.jpg) (http://s218.photobucket.com/albums/cc21/rustyme57/the%20Land/?action=view¤t=IMAG0043.flv)
you should be able to hear the river in spite of my waffling ... I was explaining to someone on video , something we had been talking about.
Unfortunately , there was some pillock riding a motorbike in a field nearby , and it can be heard buzzing away in the background ..
The video is shot in the river field , the hay field is the other side of the trees behind the caravan , and the track runs along the top of that .
(http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc21/rustyme57/the%20Land/th_IMAG0092.jpg) (http://s218.photobucket.com/albums/cc21/rustyme57/the%20Land/?action=view¤t=IMAG0092.flv)
the above clip is of a section along the track . At the gate you can see where the feeder is , just behind the yellow fertiliser spreader, and then where the caravan is in the river field .
cheers
Russ
-
Oh Russ, here i am sitting here moaning and groaning about the fact we've had MORE snow, on top of all the rest still lying here - it's just not for going!- but after reading your posts (and stopping the tears of laughter rolling down my face ;)) I'm so thankfull that I've not got any outside livestock at the minute, or indeed really have to go anywhere. We got about another 4 inches last night and the roads which still haven't been gritted since the first lot of snow - BEFORE XMAS ! are treacherous, to say the least. So it's ESSENTIAL journey's only - meaning I'm stuck here with my little 2 legged animals until the roads improve and I can even think about digging the car out to take them to school ::) ;D ;)
-
lots more heading south. we had just had a good dumping so watch out.
-
Lovely videos Russ. I can see why you put up with the difficulties to stay there.
Not sure which one is meant to be me in the picture ...?
My memory is a bit dim on the characters but I thought you might look more like Niel than the others, ......... Hope that' not offensive.. Hope your horses and dogs are not offended by their characterisation either.. I guess if they're sensitive you don't need to show them.
It looks in the video as though your daily walk is to the field behind your caravan? So you must have to do a big loop in order to get there? or are you staying somewhere else in the winter?
We are struggling in this weather in the shed and the static. The portaloo has frozen up and now we have poo bucket which is not the best. The shower has frozen up so we are showering at friends houses. It all works after a fashion but it is not convenient or private and needs planning. Last night I was desperate for my own bedroom where i could just retire and read a book. All the teenagers were in the shed for warmth and did not want to go to bed. I think that it is bringing us closer as a family but I do have fantasies about a comfy bedroom with an ensuite bathroom and endless hot water.
We must all make these lifestyle choices for a good reason;- could someone remind me what it is?
-
Hello Karen ,
yes we had snow on top of already frozen stuff. From the caravan on the farm here where I live , to the village is about half a mile . !/4 mile is the farm track which is 6" plus of snow .. nothing moving on that , it is a very steep hill . The other 1/4 mile is from the end of the farm track to the village, which the council don't grit anymore. It is like glass , almost impossible to walk on in places. But till today from the village to the land the road was clear, till today that is . On the walk to the land today , it was almost a white out at times , a proper blizzard. Very hard to see where to go , but thankfully the clouds would then clear and a touch of blue sky and sunshine would appear.
It took an hour plus to walk to the land today , normally takes 45 minutes. Then carrying the haylage from the road , down a very steep 30 yards of track , then along 300 yards of track to the top field. 8 trips it takes , and is very hard going . I got back at 4.30 that means it took 4 hour's , it normally only takes me 2 hours and a bit to do .
Yes Paul it has hit us already , so far only in short bursts , but they are saying we could get a real big load over night now. Which is great as I now have to go down the road to the shop for milk , and butter sugar and a few other bits , as tesco called off delivery today. Just waiting for the blizzard thats tipping it down at the moment to make a limp for the shop ...
I was just going to make a dash , but it just got even heavier...lol
I am still not sure which one is me Kirsty..? ::)
I don't live on the land as yet , I live on a farm 2 1/2 miles away . Feeding the horses would be so easy if I lived in the little caravan on the land. But everyday life would be even harder down there than it is here at the moment . However if the weather continues to worsen , then I may grab what food I can and go stay there till it improves. Even in this weather it is as warm as toast in the little caravan , as there is a little woodburner in there , and literally tons of wood to burn . The problem is carrying enough food 2 1/2 miles , not just for me , but for 4 dogs too. Why can't life be simple ? ::) ;D
cheers
Russ
-
would you be able to train a dog or 2 to pull a sled like a husky?
make them work for their dinner literally and make life easier for you ;)
-
Which one would you like to be? Isn't Niel the long haired stoner guy? You however don't sound like a stoner. you're far too active.
Have another look at the pic. You are the human being ..... Why don't you send me a head shot and I'll put you in for real?
The great thing about caravans in the snow is that it provides insulation, although the whole toileting thing is a problem as I referred to earlier.
WARNING THE NEXT PARAGRAPH CONTAINS TOO MUCH INFORMATION
You'll all be glad to hear that the portaloo guy arrived at our place today and emptied it so we are now up and running again (no pun intended) apparently he had to crowbar the contents out because it was one big block of ice- smash it up and then take it away - what a job (or should that be be jobbie)
-
Well at least it wouldn't have been too smelly and anyway if you are like me your poohs will smell of fresh rose petals! ;D
-
just got back from the shop ...no milk ... bugger... I will have to go the dairy farmer up the road tomorrow, to knackered to go now. I did get a tin of marvel milk powder...I hate that bl**dy stuff , but I also hate black coffee or tea. I forgot to get any ibuprofen tablets for the knee , cheese , and some other bits that I can't even remember now !! ::)
Snow was still falling hard , I hate to think what tomorrow will bring :o :o .
I haven't got any clear shots of me , so will have to make do with a pic of Niel . No I am not a stoner ... never touched a single drug in my life apart from legal ones for pain etc. But I have 3 brothers who have been/still are, druggies , not my thing at all though .
I wish I could train them to do that scattyb....but I don't even have the sled or the gear to connect the dogs to it. This weather has caught me out completely . I normally have enough of everything for a week at least , but every now and then I run out or very low , and this just happens to be one of those times.... sods law .
Cheers
Russ
-
i think if you start with a dog harness and a small tyre,perhaps maybe for future. you can get dog back packs as well.
itd make life easier for you. we tried it with the samoyeds,one was fine,the other just lay down.the bullmastiffs are a bit dense,
tho ;D
goats can do it too.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dogcart_(dog-drawn) have alook at this
-
Russ, how does a wood burner in a caravan work? I want one in my house - a kit house aged about 23 years and they want me to put in a brick wall and a wide hearth. There's already a flue as they had a gas fire here before they put in this stupid electric one.
-
i think if you start with a dog harness and a small tyre,perhaps maybe for future. you can get dog back packs as well.
itd make life easier for you. we tried it with the samoyeds,one was fine,the other just lay down.the bullmastiffs are a bit dense,
tho ;D
goats can do it too.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dogcart_(dog-drawn) have alook at this
I think that's a great idea - you could make a test temporary harness from any leads you have around to see if they will tolerate it. My Brittanys travel in the dog cage but it's a bit small for my wirehair so she wears a harness attached to a seat belt on the back seat. Doesn't bother her a bit, and keeps her and me safe. She used to go hill walking with my late husband and she carried her own food and water in a back pack like a wee saddle.
-
4 FEET MORE SNOW TUESDAY the 53 pens arcs sheds etc are naw coverd .all you can see is a snowey field . we will atempt to move 200 birds ito my double garage we will be building a massive pen .the garage can hold 3 cars so im going to save these birds even iff it means recing the garage . iv got the wood and help some off the cock birds are worth pounds top silkies from darbey at 75 pound each 2 chocklate orpingtons cocks and hens .ornimental phesents ducks 2 rams 1000 each no room to feed round bale a day for 6 weeks .not had a let up since 19 december even new yere i was in the pens at 2.30 in the morning very concernd . will put new lights heat etc
-
Good luck, Gary. Hope you get your birds safe inside.
-
Annie , if you are talking legal wise , I have no idea. My caravan is just an old heap and the chimney is just a strong metal pipe stuck through a hole in the roof. The caravan was already there when I bought the land , and the hole in the roof was there already also . I put some ali sheet behind the woodburner to deflect heat , and it is about 4" away from the wall and the burner stands on a metal sheet as well. Even when the fire is roaring away like mad the wall of the caravan doesn't get too hot.
With the legal side of things , you can't do this , you can't do that ...you must follow this rule and do this or that .. I tend to say b*llox, and just do what I want . My caravan , my land , get stuffed... But thats me and I don't say that everyone should be the same . Building regs and planning are a nightmare , so I don't do either .... ::) But if the woodburner was up against an outside wall, I can't see why a stainless steel chimney couldn't be fitted straight through the wall and then up !! I know they look as ugly as hell , but they serve purpose and would work out cheaper than a whole brick wall I should think ...mind you I haven't looked at the cost of either bricks or s/s chimney pipe lately !!
cheers
Russ
-
Russ, how does a wood burner in a caravan work? I want one in my house - a kit house aged about 23 years and they want me to put in a brick wall and a wide hearth. There's already a flue as they had a gas fire here before they put in this stupid electric one.
We have a wood burning stove in our wooden shed. The flue is a double skinned flexible thing ( i will ask Simon for its proper name) and then the there is a square piece of metal with a flue sized hole in it through which the flue reaches the outside. The square of metal is steel and also double. In between the flue and the wooden wall we have tacked another piece of thin sheet steel to reflect any heat from the flue. The stove itself sits on a rescued flagstone whichis wider and deeper than the stove so that any embers that escape fall on stone.
If the whole thing sat within a brick hearth it would contain the heat better and act as a heat sink to keep the heat in after the fire has burnt down. But heigh ho this is a shed after all.
Simon has just come in..... the flue is 'twin wall flue liner'
The steel squares are the sides of old washing machines.