Old old Ash coppice - need advice please

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

Just back from looking at the veteran ash pictured. The huge root complex extends throughout the cornish hedge (slates in wall). There are sizeable cavities in all the limbs as you can see. The central trunk has a very large cavity (view of which a little blocked by wooden platform customer has constructed for standing on to remove ivy). I could get my arm well up into the trunk - in fact all my arm went up and I could feel the soggy mess up there. Tree has been pollarded (4-5 yrs ago) as you can see. Customer wants to re-pollard and remove if dangerous. What do you reckon?

[David Humphries]

What an interesting Tree.

 

Appears to be in rude health and putting on adaptive girth.

A fine looking veteran.

 

With that in mind, from my angle, I would assess the pollard points and possibly re-pollard, perhaps as a giraffe with one or two sap risers for a couple of years, then take these out when/if the new canopy sprouts.

 

........or, take a sharp intake of breath, mutter something along the lines of - hazard, targets, doggy, and get it down for firewood asap.

 

Any Fungal fb's present?

 

 

 

Nice shots.

 

 

 

 

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Edited February 1, 2010 by Monkey-D

[Ian C]

Get rid of the Ivy and re pollard, see how you go and if you start and its worse that what you thought remove it.

[Stuart A-C]

I would try to retain as much of the lower section of the tree as possible, bet is a haven for habitat. Could you not try to coppice it just above the lower forks and cavities? Granted it would not look great, but it would be safe(er)

[Stuart A-C]

something like this prahaps:blushing:

[johnty]

stu did you travel all that way just to spray sone red lines on that tree. Whan a good egg you are. Lol:001_tt2:

[Stuart A-C]

Got to keep myself entertained at the moment mate! I have decided that I am NOT and office person!! Not for long though!!!

[johnty]

I know, how do you manage to type with your stumpy fingers, you must press 3-4 letters with just one finger.:001_tongue:

[Stuart A-C]

Did you get the entry steps and booster seat fitted on your range rover

[arb culture]

I know its difficult to tell from photos, but I'd be very surprised if this tree was hazardous in its current form.

 

Also, once its been pollarded you will have removed the sail area, so the chances of the stems falling over (I would guess) are almost zero.

 

Hope this helps