Holding back the years.........

[David Humphries]

now but a remnant of what once stood proud, just about clinging on and perpetuating its annual battle to exist.

 

 

 

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[treeseer]

clinging on and perpetuating its annual battle to exist.

 

.

 

As well it should; it has every right.

 

That is one of the most beautiful and dignified trees I have ever seen.

[Langur]

[Pat Ferrett]

I thought the thread was going to be a tribute to Mick Hucknell

[David Humphries]

who said its not can't you see the resemblance

 

 

 

 

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[David Humphries]

Here's one of a similar age, that's less down the road to ruin and holding a healthy crown of buds with long extending apical growth

 

 

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[David Humphries]

It was last reduced about ten years ago, but now having had a substantial amount of weight removed from its canopy this week, to lessen the sail and weight on the decayed bolling.

 

Also removed the epiphytic holly growth from out of the stumps & cavities to stop the remaining limbs from beieng levered off.

 

2nd last two shots are before & after

Last is perhaps one of its proginy getting away within its maternal shadow

 

Aerial balet/destruction by Nick

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[Mick Stockbridge]

If I were in charge of the council coffers I'd chuck a tenner at that Beech sapling in the form of a guard and stop pumping dosh into that old relic.

[David Humphries]

If I were in charge of the council coffers I'd chuck a tenner at that Beech sapling in the form of a guard and stop pumping dosh into that old relic.

 

A fair point Mick.

 

It is however a beech woodland with huge numbers of seedlings & doesn't appear to have a huge problem with rabbits and deer due to the large number of dogs & their walkers.

 

In terms of the old relics, these are host to some very rare invertebrate, lichen & moss species that crucially rely on them.

 

On one of the trees that we reduced last week, that had an incredibly rare moss on its exposed roots that when first discovered held 70% of the worlds known population of that one specific species on that one tree. Suffice to say the reduction was a delicate job.

 

These relics are fragile ecosystems, that once gone, are gone for good.

 

& with respect to other LA's, you need to be able to see the City of London not in the same light as your general Local Authority, as it's funded in a very diifferent way than its neighbours and due to that has a greater charge placed upon it as custodian of a wide territory of oppen space & woodland jewels.

 

 

First two shots, before & after.

 

Working climber is Michal

 

 

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[Mick Stockbridge]

Good job I aint in charge of the coffers then..... I see the bigger picture now David......