Pollards, the forgotten art-discussion

[skyhuck]

I tink whether we are interested in hamas theories or not, we should allow serious topics on the forum to be discussed properly, rather than detract from the topic with other stuff. Plenty of room elsewhere for messing about.

 

:congrats:

 

This was one of the best threads in ages

[Catweazle]

I would agree David, I don't think there are any hard and fast rules as to coppicing intervals.

 

I think the just cut them once they had reached the size they require.

 

The biggest problem with overstood coppice is that because each generation tends to grow outwards from the stool the weight of a large stem can split the stool in half. If you have a long overstood stool that has a decent stem close to the centre you can single it and allow it to grow on as a standard.

 

Missing even a couple of rotations won't necessarily harm the tree, a rotation is only 15-25 years and the stool can be 350+, some ancient stools are so old and large that the centre rots away and you end up with a ring of new trees that have self-layered from the collapsing stool.

 

It's been documented that coppiced trees can live longer than maidens, and as someone mentioned earlier if you layer the tree onto a fresh piece of earth then there is no reason why the same tree ( genetically ) couldn't live forever, although I don't know why you'd want that to happen.

[Stephen Blair]

:congrats:

 

This was one of the best threads in ages

 

it still IS the best thread in ages dave, tony has taken the usual top or lop discussion to a higher level thats for sure:thumbup1:

[woodmad]

my biggest issue with proper large pollards is they just start to look like tree and they need chopping back again

although young maintained ones look ok although i can not think where there is what i would deem a proper pollard within an hours drive of my house

 

This is in some ways part of the problem with 'pollarding'- Aesthetics..

 

Arboriculture in my mind is trees in relation to people; The tree affects soemone therefore we work on it, be it for light, H&S or whatever, and linked to this is the outcome of how the tree reacts to what we do and how it looks afterwards.

Pollarding was done for a purpose that had no bearing on aestheitics, but we have grown acccustomed to what a pollard 'should' look like..

 

You look at some of the big pollards in france or germany, especially in centres of towns where they all link up in the summer to create shade in a town square. They look amazing, but they are just topped trees.(Or a pollard ?!)

 

So our perception of what a tree should look like is based what? The situation it is in? Or what we have been taught it should look like?

 

So are 'pollards' an arboricultural practice or a woodland/rural management practice. Are aesthetics consdered in woodland/ rural management? It seems they are as we want things to look as they once did when the practice was done for a practical reason..

 

Am starting to waffle now..

[Stephen Blair]

i agree stan, it is all about looks. and yes arb is about the human factor i believe. I have left some pretty scary looking trunks and stuff about the country for customers for various reasons, i took a horrible old polarded sycamore down years ago beside a couple of houses, i was the evil tree surgeon, it was knackered and hadnt been touched for years, i left it about 8 feet high for the guy and everyone shook their heads, then he got someone to carve it into an eagle and it made the local papers and it was the greatest thing about, no one was bothered about the tree anymore. So yes, its all about looks i reckon. waffle waffle waffle:biggrin:

[Lee Winger]

pollarding , shmollarding, just show me the money!!!

[Dean Lofthouse]

Summary:

 

A pollard is properly maintained...

 

 

A topping cut isn't

[Lee Winger]

Summary:

 

A pollard is properly maintained...

 

 

A topping cut isn't

 

 

Amen to that..................

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

I had to show you all those fine reductions BEFORE starting this, for obvious reasons.

 

That image of a topped tree is appaling, and wasnt done with any regard to form, ethics, nor function. Even a pollard needs to be made with considerartion to form, function etc etc.

 

No one is talking of how a tree and a fungus intereact and cause often less damaging loss of limbs in old age, allowing a tree to effectivley self pollard.

 

nor the image of the advantigous root forming in the crotch of a included fork, common on beeches, ash and many broadleaves, even hornbeam.

 

not one mention of the continuation of fungi and beetle habitation, one person mentiond bats, good shout. if we had more bats wouldnt we have less troublesome moths?

 

but i digress, and i have lost the essence of this threads purpose. i am watching, but trying to figure out how i might convince you that trees and fungi (not all fungi) have learned to co exist in a mutualy benificial way, even to the point of assited retrenchment and longevity.

 

Oh and that pollarding is good!

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

I tink whether we are interested in hamas theories or not, we should allow serious topics on the forum to be discussed properly, rather than detract from the topic with other stuff. Plenty of room elsewhere for messing about.

 

thanks andy, an shreks wee bro!