Coppicing - The Benefits for Wildlife - Explained

[@marciakeilee1336]

Fantastic video! I learned so much! Thank you Joel!

[@rebeccaslater1398]

This needs reviving and practiced in our woodlands . Very productive . Thankyou Joel for this invaluable teaching ❤

[@elykj6539]

Great to know silver birch can be coppiced as I really want one for my garden, but have held off as I don't want to end up with a massive tree that will shade out some of my neighbours gardens.

[@joemyers5302]

Same here, except i have some electric wires overhead to worry about too.

[@dogproofwildlifegardening3164]

I've been so busy like you I haven't had a chance to do any new videos. Last autumn I took out our 45 foot dying privet hedge in the front garden put a windbreak fence in and planted native hedging to replace the privet. All the small brash got shredded, but all the roots and bigger stems are now log piles all around the front and rear gardens. I'll also be able to put in a 5m native hedge in the back garden this year😊 great to see you again, keep up the great work 👍

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hey! A delay in responding shows just how busy I am and I empathise completely with not finding time to upload videos, I think I've got about 50 here that need editing and sorting.... anyway, great to hear of the progress you have achieved - we should have native hedging on the website next week if you still need some. Take good care and, likewise, keep up the great work you're doing - best wishes as always, Joel

[@cawstongreenway]

Loads of good stuff here. I will be taking your advice, and thank you for coming across so natural and stuff. It's really refreshing to watch something that has not been edited to death and flicks about all over the place.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hey Paul - thanks so much for this, I am just trying to catch up with all the comments on YT after being away for a few weeks on site, but your encouragement and support really does make a difference to me, and I'm grateful. So glad that this was helpful - welcome to the channel too, we have a wonderful community here :) Best wishes to you and yours - Joel

[@kathrynnorman2253]

Please keep on doing the brilliant work that you are doing Joel

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thank you Kathryn. No worries there - I’ve got lots of projects to undertake 😉 Hope you’re well 👍

[@kathrynnorman2253]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton I am just trying my very best to survive :)

[@anemoneecology8816]

If you are planting coppice for the produce (e.g. a hazel for bean rods in the veg. garden) you can bring forward its productive years by planting it and then immediately cutting it off at ground level. Sounds horrid, you have to be brave, but it works a treat. Also works with hawthorn if you are planting a hedge and want the cover as fast as possible. Oak coppices quite well, albeit on a longer rotation. It used to be managed as coppice for tanbark (still saleable for high quality leather tanning) and for small size compass timber for boat building. it also pollards and this was done in wood pastures and some of the oldest single-stem trees in the UK are huge oak pollards in places like Moccas Park and Ashtead Common.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Great advice and info as always - thank you :)

[@hqprivat]

Hello Joel, I am very glad to have found your channel. Over the last three years I have let my garden grow "Wild by will" and now I am transforming a part of it into a Permaculture garden. I have plantet Willows and Hazels for coppicing already 🙂. I am going to do the round of coppicing this winter. I although have a lot of Ash trees. Are those suitable for coppicing too? As matter of fact, I thought about pollarding some of my Maple and Ash trees. But, what would you recommend? Pollarding or coppicing? Cheers, Hajo from Denmark

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi Hajo! Sorry for the delay, with over 200 videos on the channel it's difficult trying to keep up with everyone - however thank you for your kind words and support, it means a lot. Re the Ash trees and Maple, would it be ok for you to send me a photo of them and it will be easier to advise you (which I'm very happy to do) as it depends on their age of course and I don't want to give the wrong advice - please drop me a line at [e-mail] and I'll happy help you - very best wishes, Joel

[@woutslaets8509]

Good stuff! Just discovered your channel. Liking it so far!

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hey! Thank you :) I do hope you like the rest! Thanks for your kind words, I really appreciate your support - best wishes to you and yours, Joel

[@markrowland5393]

Interesting stuff. Thanks Joel.

[@george-1961]

Joel!! Good to see you back my friend. Thank you for this insightful video 😊

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi George! So sorry for the delay, I don't seem to be picking up all the notifications for comments from YT :/ But I knew you'd be there somewhere :) I do hope you've had a great start to the New Year.... planning to see you this year - at last! Best wishes as always - Joel

[@george-1961]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Hi Joel Happy new year to you and the family as well. No worries. It’s been a very difficult 2 years for all concerned with social distancing and all that has gone on. Hopefully sooner rather than later will catch up some time. Keep up the good work 😊

[@Outaboutdetecting]

I've just discovered this channel, awesome content, learning a lot from it, thank you.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Sorry for the late reply - I don't always seem to get notifications alerting me, my apologies. But your comment really means a lot and I'm very grateful for your support - I have untold videos to upload, it's just finding the time, but I'm endeavouring to get them all on real soon - best wishes to you and yours - Joel

[@jenenamaughan1992]

In Western Australia we have the mallee eucalyptus which naturally looks like it has been coppiced. It is multi stemmed & grows from a lignotuber underneath the ground. When a bush fire goes through & destroys the tops it regenerates with fresh growth from underground.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Wow, thanks for letting me know Jenena, I learned something today :) We have such a great community on here and I know people like to know what's going on in other countries, so I'm grateful for this - hope you are enjoying the channel - best wishes to you and yours - Joel

[@kevinpowell7948]

Thanks for the education 🐝🍀

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

You're very welcome Kevin - so sorry for the delay in acknowledging your comment - I really appreciate it :) Best wishes, Joel

[@spencersanderson1894]

Was wondering earlier today when we would get a upload from you, and here it is! Great stuff, very useful information before I start my new job on a nature reserve!

[@wren5291]

You lucky duck! Congrats on getting one of the best jobs to have. I hope you enjoy👌🏽🦆🦋

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi Spencer! So sorry for the delay, I don't seem to be getting all notifications re comments so am having to trawl recent videos to check that I'm not missing any :/ First, GREAT news on the new job, that's fantastic - do let me know how it goes :) Yes, work has meant that I've been flat out again since 4th Jan, despite promises to myself to take a 2 week break and catch up, things just didn't work out that way - but more habitats created of course :) Hope you're doing well - best wishes as always, Joel

[@spencersanderson1894]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Hi Joel, no it’s fine, I understand, there’s no need to apologise! Thank you very much, that’s very kind, it’s going well, I started Friday, laid my first hedge today which was great! And thats crazy, a lot of time dedicated to the creation of habitats, I have no doubt that there’s been plenty made, that’s great stuff! You should take that 2 weeks off, you deserve it by the sounds of it! Thank you for finding the time to reply and I hope you are doing well yourself, best wishes!!

[@normancoutts]

Very helpful, thank you Joel. It's time I got my boots on!

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi Norman. You’re very welcome - I’m glad it’s prompted you 😉 Hope you’re well and thank you for the support 👍😊

[@UkAmphibians]

Brilliant this joe thanks for sharing 🐸💚🐸

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thank you :)

[@janiedunn637]

👍🏻 & so very interesting 😊

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thank you Janie :) Glad you enjoyed this - best wishes, Joel

[@markhunter2244]

Found that very interesting and informative, coppicing is not something I’ve thought about doing but might be perfect for getting more diversity into a smallish garden 🐝

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Absolutely it will Mark - am so pleased these videos are helpful - I'll do my utmost to get more up in a timely manner! ;) Stay safe, best wishes - Joel

[@karinvanspaendonk9917]

I just love what you are doing for our wild life! Please carry on :-)

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thank you Karin - I really appreciate your support, I hope the channel is helpful to you. Best wishes, Joel

[@karinvanspaendonk9917]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Yes it definitely is. I'm stealing ideas, trying to implement in the small space I have available. The space I need to mow is becoming less each year :-D

[@CEREBROBELFAST]

This is such a timely video, I have a spare area about half that size in a community wildlife garden that I work on and I've been planning to try and establish some kind of hedgerow along it before spring. It sounds like a coppice belt could be a great option, if you did a video on how best to start one or even put up a link to some good information it would be a big help. Thanks for another inspiring upload!

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi there! So sorry for the delay in responding, there are a few other videos on the channel but also a bit more detail in the book, you can find it on the website here: wildyourgarden.com/product/wild-your-garden-book/ Hope this helps - really appreciate your support, best wishes - Joel

[@CEREBROBELFAST]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton today I planted a 25 coppice belt with 5 of the species you recommended here, the idea all came from this video, thanks again!

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

@@CEREBROBELFAST Thank you, so very much - I am so glad this was helpful to you and that another great habitat has been installed - you'll be rewarded for all your efforts, I promise - best wishes, and thanks for the support - Joel

[@SereneSoakingSounds]

🌟😊♥Ur videos are my favorite vides not only informative but also enjoyable to watch 🌲Happy New Years everyone & God bless you all!

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hello! Finally getting round to finding the comments on various videos, not sure I am getting all notifications. But it's so good to hear from you and your support, as always, is immeasurable. Best wishes to you and yours - Joel

[@wren5291]

How wonderfully strange. I was thinking about coppicing earlier this evening, wondering when we'd get the first video of the year from you and there you are!🥳 What a variety of lovely shrubs and trees. I coppiced a Sycamore by the back gate a few years ago and it has since produced many more stems and branches - very convenient for hanging bird feeders, and right next to the Leilandii where they nest😊 I hope you had a restful and enjoyable Christmas and New year. Great to see you back! My heads been spinning battling mortgages, finding work etc, which hasn't left much energy for anything remotely enjoyable beyond feeding birds. However, I've been getting organised and so I WILL send photos ASAP👍🏼🐦

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hello! Sycamore, although controversial because they're not strictly native, are great for providing small insects for birds in the Spring months, and, like you, I use mine for hanging feeders too :) Best of luck with the job hunting and do send some photos when you get a chance - stay safe - Joel

[@453421abcdefg12345]

Coppicing also extends the life of these tree considerably, but unfortunately "modern man" sees any cutting down of trees as an act of vandalism, if not cut back like this most of these trees will only live for 45 years, but coppiced they will go on for hundreds of years, it is an essential management plan if the Heath Fritillary is present, as was found out just in time at Blean Wood, so the more that people are educated the better for our wild life. That wall is fantastic, and must create a microclimate very beneficial to wild life! Chris B.

[@lynnrushton7458]

Really interesting....thanks Joel. Trees are a bad subject here in Aberdeenshire, after storm Arwen. Thousands & thousands came down 💔 one of our 70ft pines had to be taken down after the roots lifted ( that was scary!)🌲

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

That sounds pretty bad, Lyn. Hope you’ve managed to retain some trees! All the best 👍

[@Nathan_VC]

Great info as usual 👌🏽 I think you did another video on coppice belts and it inspired me to try on a group of withering (I think Verticillium) Elders in my garden 😬 will see how they respond this spring!

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi Nathan! Great to hear from you, hope you are doing well - do keep me updated, I am sure it will be a success :) Best wishes - Joel

[@PaulOutdoors]

Marvellous Joel as always. It is possible to create a woodland edge/ride type environment in a small garden with many benefits for wildlife. On a larger scale, I have a buddy who lives in 40 acres of deciduous English woodland and I help him with his coppice restoration rotation work each autumn/winter with a bit of hedge laying also. One of the byproducts is charcoal making and hedging stakes and binders. Modern mechanised hedge trimming is a scourge on the countryside yet when a skilled practitioner carries out the work at the correct time the results can be very pleasing. Keep up the great work Joel. Thank you. Paul 👍😊

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi Paul. Absolutely it is. A mini version of the wider landscape is the best thing you can try to recreate. It’s great that you can help to manage such a site and see the benefits for wildlife. Something I aspire to do one day when I’ve got the land 😉👍 Thanks for the continued support 😊

[@PaulOutdoors]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Always a pleasure Joel to watch, listen and comment. Here's to you fulfilling your ambition of obtaining and managed a piece of beautiful woodland 👍😊

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

@@PaulOutdoors one day…. 😊👍🤞

[@outoftownr3906]

Hello I’ve had a problem when after coppicing ,the following spring re growth is being eaten by our growing deer population,namely the introduced Chinese Muntjac deer.I’m having to create a dead hedge of about 4-5 foot around the cut stools using the cut hazels.I presume this is becoming a problem nationwide as these small dog size deer species are spreading & are unfazed by country or suburban environments. The other way is that cut them higher up beyond their reach like pollarding. Thanks for great videos. You very much remind me of the original wildlife gardener Chris Baines.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

What an honour, Dave ;) Yes, unfortunately, these Muntjacs have been extremely successful - introduced by us humans as always (!) - we have them around here too but I'm lucky enough that they don't enter the urban areas much. But yes, it will work in cutting them higher up and beyond their reach. An alternative would be to put mesh cages around the individual shrubs/trees with a single stake and some ties. This may however be a lot of work depending on how many you have! Chris Baines... an absolute pioneer, my mother had his book when I was a child :) Best wishes, and thanks for your support - Joel

[@snailboy5610]

Hi Joel. I’ve a self seeded hawthorn, holly and a dogwood I’ve grown from a road side cutting. I’ve been attempting to coppice these, maybe a little too enthusiastically, but my question is whether the practice will still work if I only remove say half the shoots each time or is it best to remove all? The reason I ask is obviously if I remove all that will mean at least one year with no flowers from the hawthorn and dogwood

[@Tuppyandizzy]

The salix caprea . Is one cracking specie for benefiting the early pollinators... i last spring counted around 15 painted ladies .. 4 tortoise shells few cabbage whites amd a couple of dozen of diff bees on a single tree.. most I've ever seen on a single species .

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hello you! That's so amazing to hear. Sorry for the delay - please keep in touch via the usual route, I never did get to ask how you did in your exams and how you are in general, send a message to me Ameed, we need a proper catch up - best wishes as always, Joel

[@EasyHikes4810]

Thanks Joel for this really interesting video. It is not something I know much about and it sounds like a really useful practice. I might do a bit more research on coppicing to see if it can be applied in some parts of my 5 acre property in British Columbia that is mostly forested with firs and spruces but have some clearing areas where birch and poplars clumps have sprouted. As I have to go there in late spring, I will do a proper walk around the woodland clearings to see if it will benefit the local wildlife by creating a belt. Besides, I have to landscape and create a couple of wildflower meadows first around the new build before embarking on a coppicing project. (btw there are some magnificent Canadian hemlock and giant cedar forests not far about 1 hr drive from my place... and giant redwood forests around Vancouver and Victoria Island too. Great holiday destination I hear😉). Have a great week!

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi! Good to hear from you. I hope your next visit gives you a few ideas and that the coppicing video has helped 😊 We were only talking yesterday about how good it would be to visit Canada - let me know if you need any help with the meadow projects….😁😉 Hope you’re both well 👍

[@EasyHikes4810]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Thanks, Joel. Will do tha's for sure. I will be making a series of videos of the property when we are there and what we intend to do. Any pointers will be welcome!

[@ramthian]

Good 👍

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thank you Ramthian, I appreciate you letting me know you enjoyed it :) Best wishes, Joel

[@annaheya2109]

Looks cleaner too 👌

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Thank you Anna - so much - I really appreciate your support :) Best wishes, Joel

[@hannahjohnson5516]

Can you show us how and when to coppice please?

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi Hannah. Try this video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iIHOdIWoZp5_sJY Hope this helps. Thank you. Joel 😊

[@ukulelalienation]

Great video, thx for that. I may be looking at planting 0.5 hectares of coppice that would have a rotation of five years for firewood. Would it be better to plant a 1/5th of it in the first year and add a 1/5 every year until totality or just plant the whole lot up in one go? I'm yet to talk to the Woodland trust but I think I fit into their 'morewoods' grant scheme. I'd be keen to add some non-natives like eucalyptus too.

[@joethompson11]

Hey Joel, love this! I'm about to get a garden 90*40ft, I'd like to do this in a few spots. Is it better to have the trees together or can I put them around where I see fit and still get the same benefits? Thinking of Rowan, hazel, hawthorn. Can I do it with silver birch too? There's a very old Holly there I might cut down to the base to try with too. Thanks!

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi Joe :) So glad this was helpful to you. In a garden setting, there are no hard and fast rules as to the spacing. In some respects, it is better that the trees/shrubs that are going to be coppiced are spaced a little further apart, so they can reach their maximum potential for flowers and in turn berries as opposed to being bunched together in a dense hedge line. Re the Holly, as these take so long to grow (hence their expensiveness!) I would be inclined to leave this as a stand-alone tree, it will make a handsome specimen and if it is a female, will no doubt already be existing as a larval food plant for the Holly Blue butterfly depending upon your location. Re the silver birch you can coppice them when they are young and have good vigour. If you were to try to coppice an older tree it could in fact kill the tree. Hope this helps - best wishes, Joel

[@joethompson11]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton thank you so much for your reply Joel, I really appreciate you taking the time to get back to me! Great news all round, thanks for the advice on the Holly. It is rather established so sounds like it'll stay as is! I'll definitely be implementing your advice, and I'll be making some bird and bat boxes as soon as I get a chance too! I'll keep watching for more tips! Again, thanks :)

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

@@joethompson11 You're very welcome Joe, and you'll be rewarded for leaving the Holly as it should be :) Great re the bat and bird boxes, not sure if you've seen the bee hotel in the most recent video but it's simple and very effective - not like you haven't got enough to do by the sound of it! :) Best wishes to you and yours, and thanks for the support and encouragement - Joel

[@joethompson11]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton thanks Joel! Yes I did watch your bee hotel one too :) I will definitely be making at least one of those too! I did make one previously with bamboo and a log i drilled holes in, but that isn't in the sun so I think that's why it hasn't attracted anyone, as you mentioned that. It did have some wool the bluetits used for a nest though so that was a win!

[@wildlifegardener-tracey6206]

I’ve planted many of these shrubs/ trees but never coppiced them. I really need to look into doing this, wondering if I’ve left it too late as some of them are quiet established now, should I still have a go or leave them as they are? My Rowan is a fully grown specimen so too much for me to tackle, also planted as a tree rather than part of a coppice. You have me thinking now. I need to do some assessing I think. Great video as always. I’ve clicked the bell as I’ve missed a few videos! What’s going on here 🤦🏼‍♀️😄

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Haha! At least with the bell on, you should get notifications 😁👍 As for the bigger specimens, I would leave them as stand alone trees, and consider adding some hazel etc for coppicing purposes if you have room?

[@tinaknutsen]

First time to your channel and all I see is a bunch of bare trees and have no idea what they look like when they are out of dormancy. I have only heard of 2 of the varieties you mentioned. Nonetheless it’s interesting.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi Tina - the reason they're shown in dormancy here is because it's specifically about coppicing, which has to be done in late autumn/winter time. There are many more videos on the channel which I'm sure will be helpful - best wishes, and welcome to the great little community we have here - Joel

[@bethanysherwood5930]

We sort of do this here in North West Brittany, as Goat Willow is prolific and hazel is also very well represented. This year I'm about to coppice a number of goat willows and hazels. We've lots of big mature oaks which we trim for wood for heating, and have two orchards with about 32 fruit trees. Never knew you could coppice crab apple, one is fine and huge, John Downey, always masses of fruit so plenty for us and the birds, but the other one sadly got its main leader broken when small (deer damage,). Can I cut that down to say 12" , and will it come back? Regards from rural Finistere in the wilds of the Monts D'Arrée.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi there Bethany - your place sounds fantastic! Re the crab apple and the damaged leader, it depends on the diameter of the trunk/age of the tree, but should be fine with anything up to approximately 10/12" - hope this helps - I have a little place not too far from where you are (French country roads make driving any distance so much more pleasant!) - I have not been able to visit for nearly two years now but you can see it in this short video I made when last there - it features early on, the little house with the burgundy shutters and the garden next to the river :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/qHmnpKNvfKxohaM Best wishes - Joel

[@tuscan440r]

👍 we coppiced our modest 5m of native hedgerow for the first time last year following your book. It's worked well but a couple have put out lots of little shoots but have still concentrated most of the energy into a single tall central leggy stem. Do we coppice these dominant stems again this year to ensure more energy growth in the plant or just wait a couple more years?

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi there! Another comment I nearly missed :/ my apologies. Hope I'm not too late with my answer, but by removing the central leader, it will no doubt encourage more growth in the rest of the shrub/tree. Either way, you could still leave this for a couple of years until it was coppiced again- it's purely aesthetics on your part :) Hope that helps - Best wishes, Joel

[@tuscan440r]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton no problem, I appreciate the advice Joel. I'll leave it for this year and see how it grows.

[@micksmusicchannel]

Great video Joel. Shame this method isn't more widely employed. Hope you're well mate. 🙂👍

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Yeah it’s a shame, it’s SUCH a good habitat for wildlife! All well mate, busy start to the year! 😁👍

[@micksmusicchannel]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Best way to be Joel. Take care mate 👍

[@NailahRoberts]

I live on the Wirral in an area that is either bone dry or boggy wet. I have been slowly re-wilding my gardens but I need some advice on what native species do well in these conditions in both North facing (my front garden) and South facing (my back garden).

[@patdelaney191]

I would also like same advice. I have exactly the same conditions and same facing gardens. I live in Cumbria. Thanks

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi Nailah - so sorry for the delayed reply, I don't seem to get all notifications when people have commented lately - however only last week I filmed a video of tree planting - it should be posted in the next few days so stay tuned! In the meantime, if it's wet then Goat Willow and Alder do well, if it's shady I'd recommend Holly and Dogwood. Many thanks for all your support and mostly for providing so much habitat for wildlife in your own space :) Best wishes - Joel

[@MundoNaturalAZ]

👍🏽👍🏽

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hey :) Thank you - best wishes, Joel

[@christinelarkin8054]

Do you ship to the U.S.?

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hi Christine. We ship the liner and fleece for making wildlife ponds but currently don’t ship plants. If you are looking for some liner for a pond, please drop us a line to [e-mail]. Many thanks. Joel

[@christinelarkin8054]

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton I was wondering about your book

[@BarriosGroupie]

Embarrassingly, I've just discovered that a shrub/tree which I mislabelled as the common Lime is in fact a Hazel after displaying its first catkin last week after being allowed to grow for the past three years. With hindsight I wish your channel had been around before I'd mistakenly removed my beech tree in the belief that it was boring, and useless for wild-life, not realizing that it's a source of insects for various birds.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hello there :) Don't regret it too much, everything you're doing right now will reward you ten-fold and the wildlife will be so very grateful :) Best wishes, Joel

[@marekkamocki2457]

First!

[@marekkamocki2457]

No seriously. Great to here from you finally:) Best wishes for the upcoming year, hope it goes well for all of you.

[@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton]

Hello!! SO sorry - not sure if I'm missing some notifications but I don't seem to be alerted to all the comments, my apologies. Great to hear from you and Happy New Year to you too - promised myself a 2 week break in January but was back at work from the 4th so no time to do much else. Keep safe and keep in touch - Joel