tree felling, clay subsidence

[sean]

Went to quote a couple of fells today on behalf of a surveyor and insurance company and i'm a little concerned. Both trees are approx 10mtrs from the affected properties whose owners have been told that due to the amont of water being taken up by them. They are both Oaks. No 1 is a real beauty... trunk diameter 730mm. Previously pollarded, the last time being around 40 years ago i'd say. Oak no 2 400mm.

 

Surely removing both of these trees in one go, both at the same time would surely have the opposite effect and completely waterlog the clay soil therefore contributing to the problem? If they needed to go at all wouldnt it be better to bring them down in stages until back to the original pollard points? At which stage there would be a manageable balance on the water table?

 

It would be a terrible shame to lose these trees and i would love some advice on the matter.

 

Thanks.

[sean]

sorry....it's london clay and the diagnosis is that the water uptake of the trees is drying it out and subsequently causing subsidence.

[Ben90]

Bah. If only you could fell the humans on the property instead.

[Ian Flatters]

Can they not get them valued and see what the insurance cost would be to underpinning the house Vs the trees values?

[David Humphries]

If you haven't already, have a read here sean.

 

 

Down load this Pdf, it may give you some pointers.

 

Downloads | Risk Limitation Strategy for Tree Root Claims

 

 

.

[sean]

If you haven't already, have a read here sean.

 

 

Down load this Pdf, it may give you some pointers.

 

Downloads | Risk Limitation Strategy for Tree Root Claims

 

 

.

 

Havent read it no.......will do now. Thanks David.

[common lime]

The use of pruning to control clay shrinkage subsidence was studied in Hortlink 212 project;

 

http://www.myerscough.ac.uk/downloads/pdfs/Subjects/Arboriculture%20-%20NYTOG/NWTOG07/HortLink%20Project%20Final%20Report%20(2004).pdf

 

I found this looking for Hortlink 212;

 

http://www.myerscough.ac.uk/downloads/pdfs/Subjects/Arboriculture%20-%20NYTOG/NWTOG07/FINAL_ARB_CASE_STUDY_Technical_Paper_Sept07.pdf

 

In brief pruning does not work that a regular crown reduction of 70% on a London plane only had a small affect in the amount of water removed from a clay soil.

[Rupe]

Surely its the surveyors job to worry about that. If you are beign asked for a price then maybe that all part of them working out a strategy?

[sean]

Surely its the surveyors job to worry about that. If you are beign asked for a price then maybe that all part of them working out a strategy?

 

Yea you right Rupe......and a quote has gone in (i'd be out of a job tomorrow if i refused). My raising the question is more as an educational tool for myself.....its an area I do not know much about so am genuinely interested in learning more. However.......sssssshhh I'd love to save the big oak!