Tree's failing?.....So move the target.

[David Humphries]

The Minchenden Oak

Not one of our trees but in Southgate. Which is in the borough of Enfield, north London

 

It is reputed to be around 800 years old with girth (at ground level, not dbh) of over 9 meters.

 

Big tree !

 

 

 

.

[David Humphries]

It was subject of an in-depth report 2 years ago which found via tomography,(not surprisingly) extensive decay.

 

A significant reduction was proscribed, the circular bench removed, mulched, fenced & under canopy soil injected with slow release nutrients and mycorrhiza

 

Particularly like the way they have managed the target here.

 

.

[Arctostaphylos uva-ursi]

Has someone been reading the tree its last rights?

If not why is there a bible and a crucifix in the third picture?

Going back to the management of the first tree, I can see the arguments on both sides.

However I fall firmly in the retention camp. If we cannot hang on to trees such as these where there is the space and funds available to do so, where can we?

I am sure there is plenty of new panting also going on in the park. No?

[David Humphries]

Has someone been reading the tree its last rights?

If not why is there a bible and a crucifix in the third picture?

 

Ha, that's an AA clip board and sounding hammer, kinda the same thing I guess

 

 

 

 

.

[David Humphries]

?.......

Going back to the management of the first tree, I can see the arguments on both sides.

However I fall firmly in the retention camp. If we cannot hang on to trees such as these where there is the space and funds available to do so, where can we?

I am sure there is plenty of new panting also going on in the park. No?

 

 

There is some new planting, but it's a diverse site and mostly left to (managed) natural regeneration.

 

It's the biodiversity of the older trees that's difficult to replace when they're gone.

New threats and p&d coming along all the time.

 

.

[Arctostaphylos uva-ursi]

New threats and p&d coming along all the time.

 

.

 

p&d? Pete & Dud? I thought Peter had passed already.

[felixthelogchopper]

Has someone been reading the tree its last rights?

If not why is there a bible and a crucifix in the third picture?

Going back to the management of the first tree, I can see the arguments on both sides.

However I fall firmly in the retention camp. If we cannot hang on to trees such as these where there is the space and funds available to do so, where can we?

I am sure there is plenty of new panting also going on in the park. No?

 

That sort of park, eh?

[David Humphries]

p&d? Pete & Dud? I thought Peter had passed already.

 

Not entirely sure if the late Mr Cook had either an affinity or a loathing of trees particularly, so couldn't possibly comment !

 

 

 

 

.

[treeseer]

You guys are a trip.

 

2nd pic shows photosynthetic resources pushing back, upper right. But still ~40% of circ seems lost.

 

2nd pic lower I wonder if associate plantings have been considered for rotted-out areas. Maybe a vine or shrub started under the crack might benefit the tree, and itself? Maybe bring in a healthy associate like Vacccinium that was growing near a healthy

 

5th pic: was a machete used on an unappreciated vine in the past?

 

Cracking good job on the reduction: reestablished symmetry, cuts made to concentrations of vitality aka nodes.

Reading the tree's instructions:

 

But I'm not sure that moving the bench was not a bit overdone. Seriously, what is likely to fail, where?

Edited April 6, 2015 by treeseer

[agg221]

But I'm not sure that moving the bench was not a bit overdone. Seriously, what is likely to fail, where?

 

Speculation, but I wonder if that relates more to compaction than to risk?

 

It has left the path a bit odd though - the perfectionist in me wants to run a Breedon gravel pathway around the front and install a nice information board just inside the railings

 

Alec