Ooops! ...sorry! Meant to rotate the photos where necessary!

I am certainly no expert but always thought Acers shouldn't be too exposed to the sun or wind come to that, yes dappled sun/shade would be my guess. Bye the way it's a lovely Acer, hope a real expert will give you more advise

Its a beautiful little tree Izzy.....Yes a sheltered position would be my guess...dappled shade and good drainage...:>)

not an expert but i was advised dappled shade and not in too windy a site.

With Acer shrubs, the simple rule is: The less green it's got, the more shade it wants.
But, it doesn't always follow.
Shelter is important, as wind burn, both hot and cold, will frazzle the leaves.
A good tip is to put a bowl of water close or under it ( the outstretched branches - not the roots!), as this prevents drying wind from having impact.
Hope this helps.
Jason - Derek's friend

Definitely needs light shade and a position out of any strong winds. I would also suggest you raise the pot up off the ground with pot feet, small rocks or even bricks otherwise the soil will not be able to drain well and there is more chance of bugs climbing in through the drainage hole and chewing on the roots.

It's on a Cotswold stone circle at the moment but I think I will move it and elevate it...thanks again all!

You are welcome Izzy