Big oak making funny noises.

[Stereo]

I've got a big old oak in my garden and it's started making odd cracking noises. Like a creak but louder and deeper. Quite disconcerting as my kids play under it. There is some dead wood I plan to take off ASAP. But it has some big branches sticking out and one of them falling would be serious. Anyone heard this kind of noise before? I wonder if a limb is about to fail. Need a good windy night!

[RobRainford]

it can be branches rubbing together that cause a creaking, best to get up there when its making the noise and look for it!

[Trees-]

I recommend you get a professional tree consultant in to do a decay detection survey.

Have you seen any signs of fungal attack?

[sloth]

Agreed, probably rubbing branches by the sound of it. Have a good look and listen, if you can't spot the rubbing branch get someone in to find the cause of the noise. Best safe if kids play under it.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

I recommend you get a professional tree consultant in to do a decay detection survey.

Have you seen any signs of fungal attack?

 

sounds an expensive way to view a squeeking tree!

[Stereo]

There are some beeches growing up through it. I wonder if they are catching on it.

[Stereo]

Trees- no fungus as far as I can other than the usual lichen we get on Oaks down here. Some of the branches are reaching far out over the lawn, especially the big one on the lower left and that one coming down would destroy anything under it. The lowest one on the right pointing back to the field and the smaller one opposite drooping right down to the ground are rotten and will come of shortly.

[Stereo]

PS: Should those beeches come out? My dad says they should but I think the combination of leaves is very attractive and they don't seem to be adversely affecting the oak.

[RobRainford]

i think there's more of an underlying problem here, looking at the branch tips, id suggest someone in the know has quick look at this oak just to check for any decay or anything causing the restricted function to the canopy.

[Stereo]

Thanks Rob. I think I will get someone to look at it. A few hundred vs my kid's safety is a no brainer.

[RobRainford]

Also, can you get some good quality shots of the first few metres of the stem and around the buttresses? from the picture above it looks like theres something not right.