Thought this was considered bad practice

[Stubby]

ps Stubby, it's a wolverine!

 

Oh yea . So it is . The biggest/ferocious member of the polecat/martin/ferret/badger family ? Or am I wrong ?

[Mountain man]

I don't think you are, also the coolest of the X.Men.

[NickinMids]

I process tpo apps for a LA and it annoys me when I run apps to pollard mature maiden trees. Its not possible. Pollarding does not result in large diameter cuts and does not overly stress the trees. It also has a well developed framework of branches and starts when trees are young.

 

It devalues the industry to call that Pollarding.

 

As per your picture that's what I consider acceptable pollarding/re pollarding

The original pic I took is possibly what pollarding meant some years ago and is maybe something you might do to willows if you have a basket factory. I was surprised to see it done to Limes in Kidderminster, but maybe it is acceptable practice, just out of fashion. Are there tree health reasons why it shouldn't be done..?

[Gary Prentice]

Yes you may be right there but you have to accept it is standard practice on street trees all over the country and carried out by " the industry "

 

Who advises on street tree planting and management?

 

Right tree, right place!

 

We don't do ourselves any favours, do we ?

[Chris at eden]

They probably reached a size that was too big to be right for pollarding before it was generally considered bad practise . So then you're left with a choice of topping then manage as a pollard or fell once they become too big. I'm sure the streets weren't as busy as they are now when they were first planted

 

Good comment and you probably right on the cause but you can't top a tree and then manage as a pollard. You still have large wounds that wont occlude and that isn't pollarding. The original question was is it bad practice and the answer is yes it is. Whatever the reason.

[Chris at eden]

Yes you may be right there but you have to accept it is standard practice on street trees all over the country and carried out by " the industry "

 

Why do you have to accept it? Its out-dated tree work by about 30 years. Why not change it? Its not even difficult we have 3998 which is basically an instruction book on tree work.

[willjones]

Just out off interest, at what age is it appropriate to pollard a tree if needs be and is it different for each species?

[Will C]

Out of date it may be, but if we stop re pollarding old pollards wont we end up with weak unions that will cause more damage to the tree when they snap than re pollarding every few years?

[Johny Walker]

it could be classed as aireil coppising

[Gary Prentice]

Just out off interest, at what age is it appropriate to pollard a tree if needs be and is it different for each species?

 

Not so much age but as soon as the tree is at the desired height of pollard heads.