Privet - any use at all?

[mace242]

I have just removed about 60ft of 5-6ft high privet hedge from my garden. It varies from 4 inch diameter to twigs. Is there anything I can do with it.

I'd guess it'd carve easily and looks nice with the bark stripped off. Is it safe for food use?

Some of the longer straight bits I'm going to turn into walking sticks after they've dried out but I'm waiting to see what a year in the loft does to them first.

A lot of it is going to a friend who wants it for his wood burner.

So - any other suggestions?

 

[mountainm]

Stick insects love privet....

 

[SimonM]

Stick insects love privet....

What he said...

I used to keep them in my lab at school...until some escaped and found their way to the Deputy Head's office next door to my lab.

That put an end to that project ...with a very loud scream!:yikes:

Simon

 

[mace242]

But what can you use stick insects for? Kindling? Or am I just too used to burning stuff?

 

[mountainm]

But what can you use stick insects for? Kindling? Or am I just too used to burning stuff?

more stick insects...

 

[nowhereman]

Hello - well seasoned privet makes a quite nice bush bow

regards

dan

 

[mace242]

Hello - well seasoned privet makes a quite nice bush bow

regards

dan

I had wondered. I will be adding a whole load more to my seasoning pile in the loft then. More looks of "oh dear more sticks in the loft" from SWMBO.

 

[Toddy]

The earliest known fish trap in Europe (bronze age) is made from privet.
It can be woven like willow.

cheers,
Toddy

 

[ged]

I'd burn it. All of it, including the leaves. It's deadly poisonous to horses.

http://www.horse-owners-world.co.uk/poisonous/privet.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privet

 

[santaman2000]

The thin (about 1/4 the diamater of paracord), springy (whippy) ends are the kind of thing my parents and grandparents used to use for discipline purposes when I was a child.