Unwell beech?

[Ruari]

I am managing this mature beech.

 

Could anyone tell me what might be causing branch dieback (see bottom branches) and contorted branches/reactive growth in the crown?

 

Cheers,

Ruari

Edited March 26, 2014 by Ruari
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[Dean O]

under what capacity/ circumstances are you managing it?

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

Its habit is related to its life stage, its reached full maturity and becoming over mature.

 

this isnt a bad thing, if it sounds negative? it just means that the canopy is at full capacity for the location/conditions and will occasionally die back in places as seasonal maybe even decade long periodic fluctuations effect a maximally optimised and aged structure, a dynamic system, that is now reducing or increasing as and when possible or required.

 

a very nice stage when trees start to get "interesting"

[MATTMOSS]

Its habit is related to its life stage, its reached full maturity and becoming over mature.

 

this isnt a bad thing, if it sounds negative? it just means that the canopy is at full capacity for the location/conditions and will occasionally die back in places as seasonal maybe even decade long periodic fluctuations effect a maximally optimised and aged structure, a dynamic system, that is now reducing or increasing as and when possible or required.

 

a very nice stage when trees start to get "interesting"

 

Good explanation Tony,

Sometimes its easy to forget that it may just be a natural stage in a trees existence.

And some people have to try and relate it to a negative problem.

 

..........me too sometimes

[Ruari]

The tree is situated in a caravan park but there are currently no targets within falling distance. People can pass beneath it on an unofficial footpath. I am carrying out the health and safety survey.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

The tree is situated in a caravan park but there are currently no targets within falling distance. People can pass beneath it on an unofficial footpath. I am carrying out the health and safety survey.

 

If your ill equipped to be judging these things I might suggest getting someone who understands trees a LOT better, after all, if your making Hand S conclusions and possibly stipulating works to alleviate YOUR perceived scenario this would be overly biassed against the tree due to that unfamiliarity with the problems, OR lack off!

 

go easy on the old beech, she looks a mighty fine old girl to me.

[treeseer]

Sorry but from the pic it's hard to say much about the branches. The contortive/reactive growth as said may be quite normal, and the lower ones may lack sun.

 

It may get a bit too interesting when the old girl sheds a limb unannounced.

 

Perhaps some improvement of soil compacted by humans might help ease this tree's condition, along with a closer look at that fork, which looks pretty narrow to me. If splitting is likely, a cable would be the least damaging and longer-lasting treatment.

[fagus]

The twin stemming hasn't helped leading to branch congestion, some contorting early on the get some light and now some being given up through shading.

[Adam M]

If your ill equipped to be judging these things I might suggest getting someone who understands trees a LOT better, after all, if your making Hand S conclusions and possibly stipulating works to alleviate YOUR perceived scenario this would be overly biassed against the tree due to that unfamiliarity with the problems, OR lack off!

 

.

 

Yeah bang on. I recently did QTRA and one thing Mike Ellison said really stuck out; management of secondary risk i.e. "over-managing" for the purpose of absolving the surveyor of responsibility, so getting on a knee-jerk tip leading to disproportional expenditure and unnecessary loss/reduction of amenity.

 

 

Bung some longs underneath it over the desire lines, make people wander off and get tangled in a hedge instead. Much safer.