[andyjm1]

take up the ply for sure. Even protectacote struggles to stay stuck to damp ply.

The wood needs to be dry before the paint is applied. Purefreedom's advice to me was it's my choice wether to leave the wood there or not, so I chose to leave it in, just like the one in the pic on their site

http://www.purefreedom.co.uk/pure-freedom-fully-fitted-water-fed-pole-systems-p-296.html