Monster 135+ Poplar reduction

[Steve Bullman]

Or brutal topping if you prefer

 

I was hesitant about posting these pics as I know the sort of response I will get, but at the end of the day, having personally climbed the tree there is nothing I would have recommended differently despite the brutal and somewhat ugly end result.

 

Brief history: The Black Poplar is allegedly the 2nd oldest in britain. It took quite a battering in the 87 gales which was when it was initially reduced. Recently it has shed several substantial limbs (3ft diameter) and the decision to reduce back to previous points was made.

 

I have been driving past this tree on a regular basis now for years. It was first pointed out to me 18 years ago when I first started tree work. I always wondered if I would ever get the chance to climb it, well now I have.....10 years previously would have been a little nicer though when I was younger and fitter

 

As I said before, I was hesitant to post these pics, but the tree was just too amazing not to share. The pictures do not show the sheer size of it. Even up close it doesn't look as tall as what it actually is, I believe this is down to the mass of the trunk throwing it out of proportion. As an example, the one pic of me taken inside the trunk is actually at about 45ft, where the tree is still a good 6ft in diameter. I took a line up and measured the height it was re-topped at 110ft, and guestimate the original height was between 135ft and 140ft...most definately the biggest tree in terms of mass that I have worked on in my career, and likely will ever work on in this country.

 

About the job itself. Day one went pretty poorly i'm embarrassed to admit. Turned up on site at 8:30 and went about setting throwlines for access. The very first shot with my launcher got stuck, it wasn't coming out in a million years, so Mike then set about trying to set a line with the big shot, whilst I tried setting a line manually from the other side. This was also a bit of a disaster, with every promising shot ruled out by the weight simply refusing to come back down through the thick bark that black poplars are reknowned for. Larger throw bags were the order of the day, of which we had none.

Eventually I managed to get a line half way up the tree over a substantial branch. I pulled my climbing line up and round the limb with the throwline, and was surprised when I only just had enough line to bring it down....that was a 150ft rope which meant this limb 'half way up' was a good 75ft. Dragged myself up and that was when the true size of the tree became apparent, the girth just didn't reduce. Got up to where I had anchored and quickly realized there was no was I was going further without using the throwine again, which I did. Established another anchor point another 15ft above, by which point time was cracking on so I decided to get on with knocking out some of the lower growth so the ground staff has something to be getting on with, that alone ended up taking up much of the day. At this point I was quite humbled, and for the first time in a long time feeling a little out of my depth and questioning my abilities.

 

On day 2 a 37m tracked mewp was brought onto site, the idea being the boss could knock but some of the sides whilst I worked the centre of the tree. It was lush to get a lift into the crown, although even with a 37m platform it was still a good way from the top due to the platform only having a 1m outreach at full extension. The platform in itself was an experience. There were very mild winds on the day and the platform still swayed a good 2m from side to side, and had quite a disconcerting creaking noise to go with it....I was quite comfortable up the tree and was glad Andy was working from the mewp!!

 

Not much else to be said really..enjoy the pics, they are not great and don't do the tree justice but its all I have. I do have some helmet cam footage which mostly came out pretty poor but I will try and cobble a short video together when I get time

[Gray git]

The picture of you peeping out like a giant squirrel is brilliant steve. True monster of a tree and thanks for sharing the experience with us.

[scotspine1]

tricky looking climb, well done Steve.

[Tom D]

Well done Steve, can't be many if any trees like that in the UK.

[mendiplogs]

Or brutal topping if you prefer

 

I was hesitant about posting these pics as I know the sort of response I will get, but at the end of the day, having personally climbed the tree there is nothing I would have recommended differently despite the brutal and somewhat ugly end result.

 

Brief history: The Black Poplar is allegedly the 2nd oldest in britain. It took quite a battering in the 87 gales which was when it was initially reduced. Recently it has shed several substantial limbs (3ft diameter) and the decision to reduce back to previous points was made.

 

I have been driving past this tree on a regular basis now for years. It was first pointed out to me 18 years ago when I first started tree work. I always wondered if I would ever get the chance to climb it, well now I have.....10 years previously would have been a little nicer though when I was younger and fitter

 

As I said before, I was hesitant to post these pics, but the tree was just too amazing not to share. The pictures do not show the sheer size of it. Even up close it doesn't look as tall as what it actually is, I believe this is down to the mass of the trunk throwing it out of proportion. As an example, the one pic of me taken inside the trunk is actually at about 45ft, where the tree is still a good 6ft in diameter. I took a line up and measured the height it was re-topped at 110ft, and guestimate the original height was between 135ft and 140ft...most definately the biggest tree in terms of mass that I have worked on in my career, and likely will ever work on in this country.

 

About the job itself. Day one went pretty poorly i'm embarrassed to admit. Turned up on site at 8:30 and went about setting throwlines for access. The very first shot with my launcher got stuck, it wasn't coming out in a million years, so Mike then set about trying to set a line with the big shot, whilst I tried setting a line manually from the other side. This was also a bit of a disaster, with every promising shot ruled out by the weight simply refusing to come back down through the thick bark that black poplars are reknowned for. Larger throw bags were the order of the day, of which we had none.

Eventually I managed to get a line half way up the tree over a substantial branch. I pulled my climbing line up and round the limb with the throwline, and was surprised when I only just had enough line to bring it down....that was a 150ft rope which meant this limb 'half way up' was a good 75ft. Dragged myself up and that was when the true size of the tree became apparent, the girth just didn't reduce. Got up to where I had anchored and quickly realized there was no was I was going further without using the throwine again, which I did. Established another anchor point another 15ft above, by which point time was cracking on so I decided to get on with knocking out some of the lower growth so the ground staff has something to be getting on with, that alone ended up taking up much of the day. At this point I was quite humbled, and for the first time in a long time feeling a little out of my depth and questioning my abilities.

 

On day 2 a 37m tracked mewp was brought onto site, the idea being the boss could knock but some of the sides whilst I worked the centre of the tree. It was lush to get a lift into the crown, although even with a 37m platform it was still a good way from the top due to the platform only having a 1m outreach at full extension. The platform in itself was an experience. There were very mild winds on the day and the platform still swayed a good 2m from side to side, and had quite a disconcerting creaking noise to go with it....I was quite comfortable up the tree and was glad Andy was working from the mewp!!

 

Not much else to be said really..enjoy the pics, they are not great and don't do the tree justice but its all I have. I do have some helmet cam footage which mostly came out pretty poor but I will try and cobble a short video together when I get time

 

Hi Steve nice pics there mate you will not get my going up there thanks Jon

[Johny Walker]

Or brutal topping if you prefer

 

I was hesitant about posting these pics as I know the sort of response I will get, but at the end of the day, having personally climbed the tree there is nothing I would have recommended differently despite the brutal and somewhat ugly end result.

 

Brief history: The Black Poplar is allegedly the 2nd oldest in britain. It took quite a battering in the 87 gales which was when it was initially reduced. Recently it has shed several substantial limbs (3ft diameter) and the decision to reduce back to previous points was made.

 

I have been driving past this tree on a regular basis now for years. It was first pointed out to me 18 years ago when I first started tree work. I always wondered if I would ever get the chance to climb it, well now I have.....10 years previously would have been a little nicer though when I was younger and fitter

 

As I said before, I was hesitant to post these pics, but the tree was just too amazing not to share. The pictures do not show the sheer size of it. Even up close it doesn't look as tall as what it actually is, I believe this is down to the mass of the trunk throwing it out of proportion. As an example, the one pic of me taken inside the trunk is actually at about 45ft, where the tree is still a good 6ft in diameter. I took a line up and measured the height it was re-topped at 110ft, and guestimate the original height was between 135ft and 140ft...most definately the biggest tree in terms of mass that I have worked on in my career, and likely will ever work on in this country.

 

About the job itself. Day one went pretty poorly i'm embarrassed to admit. Turned up on site at 8:30 and went about setting throwlines for access. The very first shot with my launcher got stuck, it wasn't coming out in a million years, so Mike then set about trying to set a line with the big shot, whilst I tried setting a line manually from the other side. This was also a bit of a disaster, with every promising shot ruled out by the weight simply refusing to come back down through the thick bark that black poplars are reknowned for. Larger throw bags were the order of the day, of which we had none.

Eventually I managed to get a line half way up the tree over a substantial branch. I pulled my climbing line up and round the limb with the throwline, and was surprised when I only just had enough line to bring it down....that was a 150ft rope which meant this limb 'half way up' was a good 75ft. Dragged myself up and that was when the true size of the tree became apparent, the girth just didn't reduce. Got up to where I had anchored and quickly realized there was no was I was going further without using the throwine again, which I did. Established another anchor point another 15ft above, by which point time was cracking on so I decided to get on with knocking out some of the lower growth so the ground staff has something to be getting on with, that alone ended up taking up much of the day. At this point I was quite humbled, and for the first time in a long time feeling a little out of my depth and questioning my abilities.

 

On day 2 a 37m tracked mewp was brought onto site, the idea being the boss could knock but some of the sides whilst I worked the centre of the tree. It was lush to get a lift into the crown, although even with a 37m platform it was still a good way from the top due to the platform only having a 1m outreach at full extension. The platform in itself was an experience. There were very mild winds on the day and the platform still swayed a good 2m from side to side, and had quite a disconcerting creaking noise to go with it....I was quite comfortable up the tree and was glad Andy was working from the mewp!!

 

Not much else to be said really..enjoy the pics, they are not great and don't do the tree justice but its all I have. I do have some helmet cam footage which mostly came out pretty poor but I will try and cobble a short video together when I get time

 

& what did you do after lunch

[carlos]

mega beast! thanks for sharing.

[David Humphries]

Good outcome from my perspective.

 

Hats off to both the owner and the consultation having the courage to maintain it and to carry out what must have been an epic climb and cutting session.

 

Fair play Mr B

 

 

 

.

[Ian C]

Nice work Steve, one big muther of a tree, is it privetly owned or in a park etc? Glad I didn't have to foot the bill aswell!

[Steve Bullman]

Nice work Steve, one big muther of a tree, is it privetly owned or in a park etc? Glad I didn't have to foot the bill aswell!

 

Its a funny set up...it looks like its in a piece of parkland but its privately owned. In terms of drop zone it was an absolute gift