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

[Eddy_t]

Thanks yes i figured the reasons were historical, which is all good, but limits usefulness of the research for the future.

 

The humble woodsman of 2013 can more easily access and use a polesaw or handsaw than a chainsaw. Using the chainsaw as the preferred tool in the studies seems to go out of the way to give advantage to--or glamorize?--the bladed tools. by thunder it smacks of classism and discriminates against those of limited means (or in some cases a bias against those noisy stinking greasy hi-mtc boat anchors).

 

i used to have a helper who cranked up the stihl to whack every 1 cm twig; drove me nuts. it's obvious i have yet to recover.

 

Yes by all means, the twiggy stuff can be done without a chainsaw, and is silly to use a chainsaw on individual twigs, unless you're ripping into a cluster, the bladed tools are 'glamourised' because they don't give a smooth cut, which stimulates more growth, which is what you want on a pollard, I know this is a bit like telling your gran to suck eggs. The chainsaw also leaves a slightly rougher edge than a hand saw, and while the historical reasons of fodder and timber production are generally obsolete nowadays, pollards provide an important factor in ecology, with cavities and aerial deadwood habitat, I also think they have more aesthetical value than a 'standard' tree. There are no right or wrong ways to manage a pollard, as each situation is different, but bladed tools produce the best result, whilst chainsaws are easier, and will, as I said, stimulate more growth than the beautifully smooth cut of a pruning saw, or pole mounted pruner, if you were referring to powered pole saws, it's still a chainsaw!

 

 

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[Thomas Flower-Ellis]

Many thanks for your reply David! I will certainly keep an eye out for the up-coming book, look forward to it.

 

I compared prices for a subscription to the Arboricultural Journal with a full AA Membership. I reckon the difference in price for membership is undoubtedly worth the extra money and will allow me to stay abreast of developments in the UK Industry.

 

I will make sure to get hold of "Pollard and Veteran Tree Management" by Read as well

 

All the best,

Thomas

[Pat Ferrett]

One from yesterday

[David Humphries]

One from yesterday

 

Is this fine old tree likely to get any reduction works Pat?

 

Who manages it?

 

.

[Pat Ferrett]

No mate none I know about, they are all left to do their own thing.

probably why the estate has so many vets

[Pat Ferrett]

Same tree, and yes thats a hole to the right so its possible to see straight through

[David Humphries]

No mate none I know about, they are all left to do their own thing.

probably why the estate has so many vets

 

Wouldn't they have more if they worked on them?

 

 

 

 

.

[David Humphries]

Part of the weeks programme over at Burnham (whilst working on the pollards) was working with the ATF and a production crew to record some footage that will eventually be used in training sessions for veteran tree management here and across europe

 

Do you know whether the training film will be made publicly available - i'm guessing not as someone somewhere will have to cover the cost of making it?

 

A short synopsis of the upcoming vet tree manangement programme.............

 

 

VETree

Spreading best practice in veteran tree management

 

VETree is a two year project with funding from the European Commission’s Lifelong Learning Programme. The Ancient Tree forum is the British partner and Helen Read is working for the ATF in a part time capacity to deliver the project. The aim of the project is to put together training materials, and to prepare and deliver courses. These will include a one day ‘basic’ level course and a three day more advanced course that will enable participants to teach the basic level course. These are aimed principally as vocational courses for people already working with trees or countryside issues but we hope that they may also be suitable for students. There will also be online training materials and associated information available on the website. All the training material produced will be freely available. The pilot courses run within the VETree project will be heavily subsidised and any costs will only be for essentials not covered by the grant. Future courses are may be charged for to cover the costs of the trainer, facilities etc.

 

Within the time frame of the project a limited number of courses will be delivered, and these will be spread across the partner countries (UK, Spain, Sweden, Belgium and Romania). It will be possible for people from Britain to attend a course, either in the UK or in another country but the total number of places will necessarily be limited. However it is hoped that the training material will also be used throughout the UK.

 

The project started on the 1st November 2012 so it is currently in the early stages but if you would like to be informed about the project as it progresses please contact Helen via [email protected].

 

 

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[Pat Ferrett]

Wouldn't they have more if they worked on them?

 

 

 

 

.

 

Nope they would have the same ammount imo just with the will of man forced upon them

 

These old buggers are true forms no nip tuc trees

[treeseer]

"the bladed tools are 'glamourised' because they don't give a smooth cut, which stimulates more growth,"

 

This hypothesis has been floating about for some time, but according to all available studies it has never been shown to be true. Your entire post seems predicated on a premise that lacks validity.

 

"which is what you want on a pollard"

 

well that depends on what the objective is and where the growth is.

 

" I know this is a bit like telling your gran to suck eggs."

 

not sure what this means but it does not sound nice--or accurate.

 

"chainsaws are easier"???? this is seldom the case ime.

 

If reducing to nodes with hand/polesaws has not been tried, perhaps it could be included in the next round of study.