Planning on doing dio based on 1st Borders 3inch mortar and crew
using Resicast kit have a good site for photos[www.vera.org.uk]but
what i need to know is the photos i look at the soil seems to
be very sandy, and last of all whats the best material to use as ferns
...ALL THE FOURS...

Ola Bobcat

To answer your first question.
Yes the soil is sandy around that area. I live in the north of holland and there you only find the heavy and hard blue clay. When you go more south the Soil becomes more sandy. And More down south it even becomes rockier. The Area around Arnhem and Oosterbeek is full of woods and forests and Forsts usually grow on a sandy underground.
About the ferns I have no idea on how to recreate them but I believe there are some PE companies how make PE Ferns ready to use.

For ferns, it is possible to use real ones. If you go to a garden centre, they have a good selection, and the sneaky removal of some very small fronds usually goes unnoticed! It is possibly to find fronds small enough. Once you have them home, spray both sides with clear lacquer which stops them going brown and curly. Alternatives are PE ones which can be expensive, especially when a lot are needed, or make your own out of paper. If you choose to make your own then use the kind of paper used for hand-rolling cigarettes as this is the perfect thickness.

Vinnie