Large beech, will it coppice? Do I fell?

[BenR]

Unlikely that maiden Beeches of this size & age would Pollard Ben.

 

Bringing them down in stages is a possibilty though.

 

 

 

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Good to know David. Thanks, I imagined pollarding them and leaving some lower sap risers to keep them going, would they still die if you left a few branches on do you think? Just lack of carbs if done that quickly?

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

do a decent reduction, get a shed ton of wood from the works, and still enjoy them and see no more limb losses.

[David Humphries]

Good to know David. Thanks, I imagined pollarding them and leaving some lower sap risers to keep them going, would they still die if you left a few branches on do you think? Just lack of carbs if done that quickly?

 

we've done that before Ben, and each time the Beech have become totaly dysfunctional within a couple of years.

 

 

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[Stereo]

Hmm, confirmed my feelings really. These beasts have been here longer than I have. They are 'mine' and they are not in view of anyone so no TPO issues etc. However, they will probably still be standing proud when I'm acting as fertilizer for their nephews.

 

The issue I have is that they 'blank out' a large area of forest floor and nothing is going on there. They do drop huge limbs (thankfully not on anyone yet) and we do harvest these for firewood and let a bit of it lie.

 

Underneath is a large patch of ancient hazel coppice which is going nowhere due to the cover. I'd like to ressurect this but these big old fellas mean it would be difficult.

 

I guess I will leave them be until they look dangerous. On the one hand I see them as a crop to be harvested with the benefit that the coppice below could be re-generated. On the other, I'm not sure if I have the right to knock them over. They are bigger and older than me and probably much better looking.

[RobArb]

Hmm, confirmed my feelings really. These beasts have been here longer than I have. They are 'mine' and they are not in view of anyone so no TPO issues etc. However, they will probably still be standing proud when I'm acting as fertilizer for their nephews.

 

The issue I have is that they 'blank out' a large area of forest floor and nothing is going on there. They do drop huge limbs (thankfully not on anyone yet) and we do harvest these for firewood and let a bit of it lie.

 

Underneath is a large patch of ancient hazel coppice which is going nowhere due to the cover. I'd like to ressurect this but these big old fellas mean it would be difficult.

 

I guess I will leave them be until they look dangerous. On the one hand I see them as a crop to be harvested with the benefit that the coppice below could be re-generated. On the other, I'm not sure if I have the right to knock them over. They are bigger and older than me and probably much better looking.

 

 

you'll be surprrised at how much IS actually going on under there:biggrin:

[Stereo]

Yes, I guess I would. My instinct is always to leave it to Mummumy Nature in these situations.