If someone asked you to create a sculpture, what would be your tool of choice?

For Mick Burns it's a chainsaw. Michelle thought she'd go and see what on earth he's up to and try her hand at chainsaw carving.

Formerly a forester by trade, Mick Burns took up chainsaw sculpture about 9 years ago.

He now makes his living entirely from the sculpture and his commissions can be anything from giant dragonflies to village signs to children's play equipment.

He is one of an elite crowd - there are only about 60 people doing this for a living in the whole of the UK. So, time for me to see whether I've got what it takes to join their number...

Safety first

Apparently, the most common accident for people using chainsaws is cutting into their leg, so I was pleased to hear that the first thing I would be doing was putting on some protective trousers. I was less pleased to hear that they protect you be being full of fluff!

I don't want to be protected by fluff!!! I want full armour or chainmail! It turns out however that this fluff is full of long fibres that clog up the chainsaw and stop it before it has time to cut right through your leg. How clever is that?!

So, trousers, gloves, helmet, ear defenders, boots and boot covers on and I'm ready - not to mention pleased that it is a fairly cool day.

Excuses, excuses!

Probably the hardest part of using a chainsaw for me was starting the bloomin' thing!

Time for my first excuse of the day - I'm left handed. This is a great excuse and can be used all the time for all sorts of things. In this case it excuses me for being a bit feeble.

You can't get left handed chainsaws apparently, so I had to work right handed. You try pulling the starter cord with your strongest hand, let alone your weakest - it's not easy. Well that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it...

The carnage begins.

Once I'd finally got it started, Mick showed me the basics and we were away.

You know what - this is really good fun! Perhaps I've got a destructive streak in me, but there's something very therapeutic about cutting though logs for no good reason.

After a few practice cuts, it was time to get down to the 'sculpture'

Can you tell what it is yet?

Mick set me 'simple' task of making a mushroom.

Time for another excuse I think - This is the first time I have ever used a chainsaw, so it was all rather unnatural. Rather like driving a car, at first all you are thinking about is how to control the machine.

With time and practice it becomes second nature and you can concentrate on the artistic side of things rather than just on trying to figure out what the chainsaw is going to do next. I have a long way to go before I reach that place.

However, I'm not one to let a lack of skill stop me so I attacked my little piece of log with great enthusiasm.

Ta da!

Now I know it's not the best mushroom in the world, but it's my mushroom and I love it. And from a distance, if you squint a bit it looks sort of ok...

I had a great morning with Mick, and while I might not quite be ready to make a living from this, I'd certainly like another go...

So if the trees around Lincoln start disappearing only to be replaced by poorly carved mushrooms you'll know that I've stolen a chainsaw and am having the time of my life!