Managing Trees with Decay & Dysfunction

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

A local parish council had a large oak tree heavily reduced due to large amounts of deadwood (60% dysfunctional wood in crown). The LA TO was there as was the head of Arb at DCC (County council) and apparently both were at loggerheads all day about what to do. The decision was to reduce to sound wood and to create a tall pollard with healthy growth points. This is the result. It had Fistulina heptica and Inototus dryadeus at the base.

 

when an Oak is truly in a decline state the annual ring count reduces in the sapwood band, this looks pretty healthy wood, I think a poor judgment was made personaly

[Matthew Arnold]

when an Oak is truly in a decline state the annual ring count reduces in the sapwood band, this looks pretty healthy wood, I think a poor judgment was made personaly

 

Trouble is it was the number of targets and the priority of targets:

 

1 - Skatepark heavily used by local kids and adults all year

2 - Tennis courts used heavily in spring and summer

3 - Football pitch and general recreation ground

 

Although the top may have had a lot of sap wood i nthe crown the tree was in decline and with the amount of deadwood, lack of natural retrenchment and rot in base.The decision between the two highly qualified TOs that were on site was to reduce by 60%. Even if the tree doesnt survive then it can be left as a pollard but growth points were left.

 

 

Here is a shot of it from the air. You can see the yellow crown and the amount of light in the shadow.

 

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=durweston&hl=en&ll=50.875313,-2.199741&spn=0.001134,0.003098&hnear=Durweston,+Dorset,+United+Kingdom&t=h&z=19

 

Another view from roadside

 

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=durweston&hl=en&ll=50.875005,-2.201525&spn=0.001134,0.003098&hnear=Durweston,+Dorset,+United+Kingdom&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=50.874939,-2.201439&panoid=VOMhpdpPr5hPwu6BxiNGCA&cbp=12,78.73,,0,-1.4

Edited March 9, 2013 by Matthew Arnold
Map links

[David Humphries]

If I remember correctly there's a large Yew in the church yard at Durweston.

 

Do you know how it is Matt?

 

 

 

 

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[Matthew Arnold]

If I remember correctly there's a large Yew in the church yard at Durweston.

 

Do you know how it is Matt?

 

 

 

 

.

 

Still going strong David. It had a bit of a trim away from the church and roadside lines but is in very good health. The picture was taken April 2009.

 

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=durweston&hl=en&ll=50.875881,-2.202534&spn=0.000571,0.001549&hnear=Durweston,+Dorset,+United+Kingdom&t=h&z=20&layer=c&cbll=50.875881,-2.202534&panoid=SjqeqS1GTV_GpjqV0ayn7g&cbp=12,351.23,,0,-15.64

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

Trouble is it was the number of targets and the priority of targets:

 

1 - Skatepark heavily used by local kids and adults all year

2 - Tennis courts used heavily in spring and summer

3 - Football pitch and general recreation ground

 

Although the top may have had a lot of sap wood i nthe crown the tree was in decline and with the amount of deadwood, lack of natural retrenchment and rot in base.The decision between the two highly qualified TOs that were on site was to reduce by 60%. Even if the tree doesnt survive then it can be left as a pollard but growth points were left.

 

 

Here is a shot of it from the air. You can see the yellow crown and the amount of light in the shadow.

 

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=durweston&hl=en&ll=50.875313,-2.199741&spn=0.001134,0.003098&hnear=Durweston,+Dorset,+United+Kingdom&t=h&z=19

 

Another view from roadside

 

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=durweston&hl=en&ll=50.875005,-2.201525&spn=0.001134,0.003098&hnear=Durweston,+Dorset,+United+Kingdom&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=50.874939,-2.201439&panoid=VOMhpdpPr5hPwu6BxiNGCA&cbp=12,78.73,,0,-1.4

 

 

I think trees, especially oaks and yews, can have bad centuries like we have a bad week, what decay in the base? that was surface and pretty superficial, and I will state despite knowing youll poss have a picus/resistagraph to back up the judgment in this? not digging you matt, just the process applied here to the reasoning, which is flawed IMO.

[David Humphries]

Still going strong David. It had a bit of a trim away from the church and roadside lines but is in very good health.

 

 

 

Ah thats good to hear

 

Some great trees in and around the area.

 

A very good friend of mine lives in the village and I recall some cool trees.

 

Got talking to the owner of the big white house on the side of the A357 across the field from the oaks.

He has a fantastic Cedar in his garden & some very fine wine

 

He was a maze designer for clients from all over the world.

Great job.

 

 

 

.

[Matthew Arnold]

I think trees, especially oaks and yews, can have bad centuries like we have a bad week, what decay in the base? that was surface and pretty superficial, and I will state despite knowing youll poss have a picus/resistagraph to back up the judgment in this? not digging you matt, just the process applied here to the reasoning, which is flawed IMO.

 

I don't have picus/resistagraph results to back up the pictures but it had both Inonotus dryadeus and Fistulina in the base as well as pockets of Tripe fungus in the crown in old wounds. When i get chance i shall get pictures of a large wound on one of the main bows that was leaning over the skate park and tennis courts. The limb was about 2-3ft thick with about 18inches of dysfuntional wood where it attached to the trunk.

[Matthew Arnold]

Ah thats good to hear

 

Some great trees in and around the area.

 

A very good friend of mine lives in the village and I recall some cool trees.

 

Got talking to the owner of the big white house on the side of the A357 across the field from the oaks.

He has a fantastic Cedar in his garden & some very fine wine

 

He was a maze designer for clients from all over the world.

Great job.

 

 

 

.

 

It is a beautiful tree and it is too going on strong. The yew tree on Woolland Hill we are planning on haloing to give it room to grow and "breathe". We are contacting Delcombe Estate as they own the wood which the yew grows in.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

I don't have picus/resistagraph results to back up the pictures but it had both Inonotus dryadeus and Fistulina in the base as well as pockets of Tripe fungus in the crown in old wounds. When i get chance i shall get pictures of a large wound on one of the main bows that was leaning over the skate park and tennis courts. The limb was about 2-3ft thick with about 18inches of dysfuntional wood where it attached to the trunk.

 

ignore me Matty, just sticking my unsolicited oar in as usual:thumbdown:

[Matthew Arnold]

ignore me Matty, just sticking my unsolicited oar in as usual:thumbdown:

 

I wasnt haven't a dig tony. Just replying to your questions.