Richmond Park ( a diary of sorts)

[David Humphries]

Fantastic diary, what a brilliant place to work!!

 

Please enlighten me. How many OPM nests where removed in Richmond Park this year? Was it more than last year? Do you use a kill everything insecticide like Kew (not against it, just makes me realise how serious this is) ?

 

It's possible sean has more up to date facts, but my understanding is that as Richmond is a sssi site, blanket use of deltamethrin or similar, would wipe out huge swathes of ecology, which is what gives the site it's designation.

 

Unlike Kew which in essence is an over grown nursery, and not particularly a major contributor to local biodiversity.

 

But someone may have to make an 'executive decision'

 

 

Sean?

 

 

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[sean]

Fantastic diary, what a brilliant place to work!!

 

Please enlighten me. How many OPM nests where removed in Richmond Park this year? Was it more than last year? Do you use a kill everything insecticide like Kew (not against it, just makes me realise how serious this is) ?

 

We had well over a hundred nests as well as finding old nests that were missed from last year. All were removed manually. As David says the park is far too rich a place to start blanket spraying. It was mentioned as a possibility but thats as far as it went. We shall see what happens next year which i think will be pivitol.

 

Glad you are enjoying this thread.

[sean]

the park in autumnal glory.

[Ruskins Trees]

Sean

 

My understanding is that at Kew OPM is a public health issue not an arb issue, hence the approach. Apparently in Spain & Portugal they shut the forests when the caterpillars are about.

 

Excellent diary, jealous of your working environment!!

[Bundle 2]

That photography degree coming out again....Nice pics mate! -)

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

That photography degree coming out again....Nice pics mate! -)

 

i was just thinking that the last image of the leaf with its flame red lower and black upper was stunning, like a torch:001_cool:

 

Are you still up for a wonder soon Sean?

[sean]

i was just thinking that the last image of the leaf with its flame red lower and black upper was stunning, like a torch:001_cool:

 

Are you still up for a wonder soon Sean?

 

I'm up for a wander and a wonder yes tony.....will get back to you this week with a few potential dates ok.

[sean]

Not much doing today.......largish crown reduction on an HC plus had to remove this limb over the road on another HC. Had a crack running the length of it. Nice angled back cut produced a lovely rip. Bit of coronetting but work position wasnt great. Not keen on fresh coros but once this has aged a bit it will look just fine.

[sean]

Have been doing works on some big beech trees the last week.

 

This one with a big lean towards the public gardens. Extensive decay and hollow stem. Honey fungus, squamosis in evidence. Didnt want to do a conventional monoloith so decided to bring it right down whilst maintaining as much lower crown as poss. Will take the top out the morrow with the mewp. How it will fare we shall see.

 

Did another two beech....one with extensive merip and the other with ustilina. Will post some pics of those two shortly.

[David Humphries]

looks like you missed some coros on that flushed Oak Mono below sean

 

 

Nice set.

 

How do the great washed of Richmond react to this type of work?

 

 

 

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