'Servicing' a veteran torminalis

[David Humphries]

This Wild service is within a boundary line of oaks & beech which are somewhere in the region of 250 - 300 years old.

 

Originally thought of as one twin stemmed tree, but now regarded as two separate trees that have fused at the base over many decades.

 

 

.

[David Humphries]

Its a fantastic 'tree' that we regularly showcase when we have arb visitors from around the globe. I've spent many an hour chirping on about the biodiversity that it supports.

 

It flowers & seeds profusely and provides remarkable autumn colours.

 

its gently arching branches show throughout winter with an architectural grace.

 

A true all-rounder

 

.

[David Humphries]

There is a wide array of issues with it including the white heart rot of Ganoderma applanatum and tension stress between the union which has resulted in the presence of Kretzschmaria duesta. It has also been subject of arson, when a dead hedge that we erected to provide some protection to the germinating seed bed within its leaf litter was set fire to.

 

Its subject to regular visual inspections and occasional sounding with a nylon hammer and we once (on the back of a demo day) had Arborecology run a thermal imaging camera over the vascular channels to assess its general heath.

 

 

.

[David Humphries]

A couple of months ago we noted a small fissure had opened at the base of one of the inner buttresses.

I believe this to be as a result of the Kretzschmaria.

 

.

[David Humphries]

Due to the 'dynamic' separation, we decided upon reduce the top canopy height by 3 meters to bring it down within the surrounding canopies and to also lightly thin & reduce the south growing aspect of the canopy side by a meter or so. The principal being to reduce the sail and try to lessen the stress on the trunk union.

 

The top work was carried out by rope access whilst a small 17m mewp was used for the more delicate side reduction.

 

 

 

.

[treeseer]

One reason may be Kd, but the primary stressor imo is...gravity.

 

Cool to see how the tree added that big burl that the fissure must go around. That burl may be all that's holding up that stem/tree.

 

So the choices seem to be: 1 let it fail, 2 remove weight (and benefits), and 3 cable.

 

Or is there a 4th solution? Gorgeous tree btw!

 

Synchronous posting here; so removing benefits/restructuring was chosen over the cable option.

Wondering why?

Edited September 21, 2013 by treeseer

[David Humphries]

The immediate site is regularly visited by the general public but also now by a weekly outdoor pre school group and random local school classes.

 

 

 

.

[David Humphries]

So the choices seem to be: 1 let it fail, 2 remove weight (and benefits), and 3 cable.

 

due to the high footfall in the area we have now decided to install bracing as well as the canopy reduction.

 

 

 

.

[David Humphries]

Although there is historic metal work in the trees at work there hasn't been anything installed since the early eighties so this was a first for us using bracing here on the Heath. After a few weeks of reading up, watching and talking to a couple of people we chose 4t & 7t Gefa

 

 

.

[APC]

interesting! how often are you surveying this tree? or is it more like constant survey whenever you walk past it? how long ago was it cleared around as looks like used to be more densely wooded.