This is a diary of my use of Gavin's Makita Brushcutter. Thanks by the way :)

• (36V (18V X2) LXT) :: (DUR)
• Makita DUR369AZ 36V LXT
• DUR369AGX1 (with batteries and charger)
• Brush Cutter LXT ® DUR369A ✅

Whereas the Makita is only about a tenth as powerful as the Sthil and the batteries only last a third of the time 0.7lt of petrol is is much lighter, it is not deafening so I don't wear the helmet with ear muffs. The shorter period of use, the light weight also mean it is easier to use, almost pleasant in that I don't have to hype myself up and I don't have to sweat. Definitely something I would have to consider buying. It's just the impact of having Li-ion batteries made ���

Bio-degradable Strimmer Line

• Mar 5th: 1 charge: Around the veggie area with blade
• Mar 18th: 2 charge: 1 around the veggie area and 1 around the bottom parking area of △, both with blade
• Apr 23rd: 1 charge: Around the veggie area with strimmer: Tried a second run but one battery was not charged �. Charged second battery and all OK
• Apr 27th: 1 charge: Down to the boat
• Apr 28th: 1 charge: Edges of inhabited area
• May 8th: 1 charge: 80m along the bund north from 27th April
• May 10th: 1 charge: Further along the bund north from 8th May
• May 12th: 1 charge: After noticing many bluebells I decided to do three small areaS First was continuation north, past the Elder tree a little, where a few bluebells were cut. Secondly I went to the JK patch and cleared the bund there and south a bit to the willow with purple toothwart. I can then rake up the debris and bring it back to monitor it. Thirdly the area that dips below the cut willow on the bund.
• May 15th: 1 charge: Apart from scooting around a few Bluebells and Red campion the bund is cleared north to same 5m beyond the 'felled willow.
• May 30th: 2 charge: The track from Top to △ Centre and side hedges.
• June 7th: 1 charge: Bottom track in △and the track from △ to Trekensa Gardens: side hedges.

• July 1st 2 charges: Around the veggie area. 1 with blade and one with strimmer
• July 2nd 1 charge: More around the veggie area, and in the △ the lower parking space and track.
• July 3rd 1 charge: △ More work on the lower parking and turning space.
• July 3rd 1 charge: Work on Trekensa Gardens eastern edge boundary
• July 3rd 1 charge: Work on Trekensa Gardens eastern edge boundary
• August 3rd 2 charges: Along the bund from south with blade to the elder tree and 50m along the bottom of the △
• Get better acquainted and the batteries seem to last as long as half a tank of fuel. Not the same power but coping well along the bund so far.
• August 6th 2 charges: Along the bund from south with blade from the elder tree past the JK area
• August 7th 1 charge: Around veggie area
• September 24th 1 charge: To clear Parking Area 1 and turning area in△
• September 25th 1 charge: Around veggie area.
• September 27th 1 charge: To clear Parking Areas 2 & 3 in △
• September 28th 1 charge: To better clear Parking Areas 3 in △ and some work around veggie patch

The trustees and beneficiaries have a duty to maintain the track and as I reside here it's understandable that I have done the work since June 1993. Although I only walk the track there are occasions when I have visitors who use cars and there was the postman who drove, possibly on average, weekly on my behalf no longer delivers.
Every year I spend two or three days making improvements; the jobs include

• Cutting back the trees, hedges, verges as well as the central grass on the lower parts.
• Clearing channels down the lower half of the track; one down the centre of the track from the caravan upwards and one from the wagon down to the lower drain.
• Clearing three cross-track drains to limit down-track flow: One at the top, one halfway down and one just past the triangle field entrance.
• Levelling parts of the track

2026

• Feb 2nd: Felled a dead ash that was opposite nutter's corrugated shed. It had been blow over by the wind and was supported by intertwining branches aloft on two other trees. It was some 19ft tall and about 8" at soil. Very dead with very few top branches so a little surprised it entangled itself aloft. Still those few branches had some strength as it did not fall even after the first fell from some 6ft and another couple of 3 to 4 ft logs sawn. It took a strong pushing and shoving to break the aloft entanglement even though the tree trunk have been taken some 12ft to the ground.
• Feb 3rd: Brought some of the wood down for burning. Intend to bring it all down over the next few days.
• Feb 4th: Brought all but one log down from the above, but as the weather was fine felled another 6 trees. One sycamore that had decayed top and was in the path of a large ash. Altogether five ash but two were only (4.5 to 6)" wide.
  

  

• Feb 24~25th: gathered up a couple of barrows of slop/leaf debris on track from △ to TG
• Mar 4th: Felled three more ash into the field to fell two 45ft sycamore.
  

  

  

• May 29th: Mowed track down to Trekensa
• May 30th: Used Makita brushcutter Cleared from top to △
• June 7th: Used Makita brushcutter with strimmer to cut back hedges to Trekensa gardens

2025

• Dec 19th: More work on washed down ballast and drain clearance.
• Nov ##th: Twice cleared the drain and worked over track surface as rain had blocked channels with leaves and torrents had washed down ballast.
• Oct 8th: Cut down a few small (dead elm) trees at the corner of the △ that were overhanging the lane.
• Aug 6th: Cleared majority of track to TG with GM brushcutter
• June 9th: Cleared edges from gate down to TG with GM brushcutter
• June 2nd: Hand mowed the track.
• Clearing track from top to △ for 3.2m high Luton delivery on 21st May
• June 14th: Cleared the three drainage cuttings on the track.
• May 17th: Cleared overhanging branches up to the railway crossing, and the verges and some bushy overhangs with brushcutter. ✅
• May 16th: Cleared overhanging branches from gate up to the tap and cleared the verges with Gavin's brushcutter.
• May 16th: Cleared overhanging branches from gate to Also sawn large logs form Ash and removed to stash.
• May 15th: Cleared overhanging branches down from gate to △ and up some 50 as on the 11th
• May 11th: Cleared overhanging branches from △ up to 50m beyond ELF Gate

Thought I keep a log of all work ~ 20 to 30 minute jobs.

• May 14th: Dave King used his brushcutter to clear from △ to Trekensa
• March ~ April Have mowed down to Trekensa a couple of times

2024

Log of 20 to 30 minute jobs.

• Nov 24th: Cleared the three drains and the track from fallen ivy and branches from storm Bert :)
• Sept 20th: Mowed track to Trekensa
  

  

• Sept 20th: Spent an hour cutting hedgerow trees, mostly hazel.
  

  

  
  

  

  
  e 23rd: Mowed the track to Trekensa and sickle cut the verges
• June 21st: Cleared lower drain by △
• June 18th: Used sickle to clear area for bins and centre of track UP
• June 17th: Used sickle to clear verges UP and top drain
• June 16th: Cleared the verges to the △ with the strimmer
  

  

• June 15th: Used long hook to clear worst of verge to Trekensa
• May 31st: Mowed track down to Trekensa
• May 22nd: Cleared the lower drain on the track which was surprising arduous. Must have been a large build up of debris an mud since I last checked. I notice it wasn't working during the last thunderstorm where water was pourng down the track to Trekensa.
• May 19th: Mowed track down to Trekensa
• May 10th: Mowed track down to Trekensa
• May 8th: Use brushcutter to clear the dog-leg by Trekensa
• May 3rd: Mowed track down to Trekensa
• April 22nd: Mowed track down to Trekensa
• April 15th: Mowed track down to Trekensa
• April 6th: Mowed track down to Trekensa

2024 | 2025

The regime increases in frequency from April until November to every few days

1. The area around the veggie growing site. This is on the basis that a) short grass stops slugs and snails having easy access to the veggies. It also puts off rodents from running around in the day.

The ground was just 'weeds' but repeated and continuous mowing eliminates most vegetation leaving grass, daisies, dandelions and other small plants which are continuously cut to about an inch.

2. The track to Trekensa GardensLargely a duty as the owners of Trekensa Gardens own the track and can hold me liable for upkeep. Again once it's warm and dry this is done weekly.

3. The △ (triangle field) primary the area at the south to keep a turning area usable. Other areas are mowed, including the track north to the 'new' long term parking area. Some years the path across the bottom of the field is mowed but this year it was too wet to do so much.

• March 17th: Mowed half inhabited area and had done some early this month
• March 21st: Mowed Track down to Trekensa and some of the △
• April 8th: Mowed around the veggies
• April 20-22nd: Mowed around the veggies
• April 23rd: Track down to and Parkup 1 in △
• April 24th: Track down to Trekensa
• May 8th: Track down to Trekensa, tracks in △ and some around homestead
• May 23rd: Track down to Trekensa, tracks in △ and some around homestead

The Mower