Large Cedar Dilemma

[Joe Newton]

PM me the address, and I'll ring bark the bugger for a small fee. Moral dilemma removed.

 

Milling is a nice option, at least the nice old tree may still in a small way live on as something else.

[TIMON]

Ti, can we see this tree on google streetview?

 

Why does the client want it gone?

 

 

You will when I reveal it's whereabouts

Don't want to encourage any poachers until we come to a decision. (Present company excepted, of course)

I will post some photos... (With the location setting switched off) on my phone tomorrow.

Thanks mate

Timon

[Hodge]

Out through the house will be fun won't it, is the brash coming out through the house too? Nasty;)

[Stubby]

I agree that the client will have their own valid reasons for wanting it removed. I don't know what the customers reason is for wanting this particular tree removed. It might be entirely justified, it could be that they want to put a house in its place or it is causing subsidence.

 

Conversely it could be unwarranted! Very often the risk posed by trees is perceived by the public to be far greater than the actual risk. People can also just be very risk averse. Therefore, I think it is important to discuss with our clients the reasons behind their requests.

 

Our role as arborists is to not only work on trees but also to educate people about trees. It is wrong that trees are removed purely because of misunderstanding (which I am sure happens quite regularly).

 

The approach that Timon is taking i.e. discussing with the client their reasons for wanting it removed and the different options that are available, is certainly the best way of dealing with the situation.

 

Risk , what risk . ...Customer says to painter and decorator I want the outside of my house painted orange with big purple spots on . Painter and decorator says I don't think that is a good idea . There is a risk some one wont like it ..

[shillo]

I would ensure i gave them every other possible option first if they are still not happy then fell. At least you will then know you tried your best to retain the tree.

 

We had to do a large copper beech the other day in dartmouth. Seeing all the trees come down in the storms the clients had it in their heads that it had to come down, if it did blow there was only one way for it to go and that was straight over their house and it would have cut it in half.

 

I usually lift a tree to start and just get them to have a look before we go too far, sometimes that works. Sometimes it doesn't. Sometime we get called back a few years later to fell!

[TIMON]

Out through the house will be fun won't it, is the brash coming out through the house too? Nasty;)

 

 

Logs are staying, brash is coming out. (If we do it)

House has been unoccupied for years and is about to be renovated so making a mess and minor damage isn't an issue,

[simonm]

Offer your advice, allow the client to make an informed decision. We all have bills to pay and like you say if you dont do it someone else will.

[TIMON]

PM me the address, and I'll ring bark the bugger for a small fee. Moral dilemma removed.

 

Milling is a nice option, at least the nice old tree may still in a small way live on as something else.

 

 

Is that like Johnny Quick's "midnight back cut" service?

 

I like the milling idea, if all the other options are off the table.

[kevinjohnsonmbe]

We've just booked in a dismantle/removal of a large mature cedar. Tree is about 150 yrs old and in great shape. There are no preservation orders on it, the new owner of the property simply wants it gone.

Because of our charitable status and the work we do the customer is keen for us to do the work and he is paying a (very) good price for the work.

We are not short of work and business is good. I really don't like the idea of removing a beautiful healthy tree. If we don't take the job then another firm will do the work so the tree is coming down one way or another.

What would you do?

 

Ti, it strikes me from your personal and professional posts that you have a moral compass.....

 

The mantra, "If it don't feel right, it probably ain't right" isn't a bad one.

 

If you need the income it's sometimes necessary to navigate by magnetic North rather than true North. It must be troubling you enough to post it up here?

 

Use your compass mate, it'll see you right!

[Mountain man]

Today I took down a beech, maybe 100 or more years old, client was worried it may fall and crush his stables. It almost certainly wouldn't, but it worried him, now it's down and he's no longer worried.

I could of stood there during the pricing and "educated" him, told him about lifting, thinning and the evils of crown reduction but he wanted it out, so I did it. I guess I have no moral compass.

Edited February 4, 2015 by Mountain man