´óÏó´«Ã½

This sundial can also be used as a bird feeding table.

Equipment needed:

• Branch of a tree

• Slice of tree trunk

• Saw

• Templates of the sundial base and gnomon (see below)

• Pair of scissors

• Ruler

• Pencil or grease pencil

• Wide chisel

• Wooden mallet

• Spade

• Ready-to-use concrete mix

• Gloves

• Watering can

• Piece of wood for tamping

• Spirit level

• Piece of roofing slate

• Pliers

• Glue

• Screwdriver

• 5cm (2in) screws

• Compass

• You can print out the sundial base and the gnomon template .

What to do:

• Select your branch and cut to size with a saw. The same goes for the slice of tree trunk (Toby used a piece of birch). If you have neither of these materials, a local tree surgeon may be able to help you.

• Place the template for the sundial base on the slice of tree trunk. Using a pair of scissors to score several reference points along each line onto the underlying wood.

• Remove the paper and with the aid of a ruler and pencil, join the reference points together to mark out each line.

• Using a wide chisel and wooden mallet, create a shallow groove along each line. The slice of tree trunk should be well secured so that it does not slip when you do this.

• Decide where you want to have your sundial and dig a hole in the ground. For best results, choose a spot that gets the sun for most of the day.

• Check the instructions on the ready-to-use concrete mix and add the appropriate amount of water to the hole. Position your branch in the hole and check that it is level using a spirit level. Pour in the concrete mix wearing gloves and stamp down with a piece of wood. You may want to ask someone to help you with this, as the concrete will set in a matter of minutes!

• Cut out the gnomon template with a pair of scissors (ignoring the long narrow bit at the base). Lie it flat on a piece of roofing slate and mark each of the three corners with a pencil. Join them up with a ruler and then, with a pair of pliers, clip along all three edges to create a triangle.

• Using a saw, cut a slit in the slice of tree trunk where it says ‘cut here’ on the sundial base template. This is where your slate gnomon will sit, with the shortest side sitting horizontally. You may need to glue it in position.

• Secure the sundial to the branch in the ground with some screws, positioning it so that the top of the sundial and middle line point north. It is essential that you get this right, so it’s worth checking this with a compass if you can.

• And there you have it. Toby’s rustic sundial that can double up as a bird feeder!