Oak fell

[playtent]

Guys,

 

I have an old oak in a field I recently purchased in Stourbridge and now having had a good look at it I'm not that sure what I need to do about it.

 

The tree looks relatively healthy although the leaves look a bit the worse for wear. The centre of the tree has rotted out and the hole is probably 4ft x 3ft running up the centre of the tree from near the base.

 

I've no idea if there is a TPO on it but if the were, would I be justified in taking it down. Is it beyond hope?

[playtent]

The problem.

[MattyF]

I would not fell it for sure!! Looks like it has no targets so there is no need to any way, If it was mine I would reduce the crown by roughly a third there is a line you can see around that level that would reduce wind loading enough to make it stable.

[Jackalope]

What reason do you have for needing to remove it?

Doesn't look like it would hit much if it did come down in a storm?

A tree like that could well have Bat potential so you would at the very least need a survey before you touch it with a saw.... that will be expensive.

 

Jackalope

[playtent]

Cheers guys.

 

I don't want to take it down, I was concerned that it might come down and land on the horses or take out the solar panels.

 

If it could be tended in some way like Mat suggested, I'd be happy with that.

 

[Paul Melarange]

It looks to be a great example of a veteran tree. The decayed wood in the large open cavity is what is referred to as 'brown rot' and is an important habitat for, often quite rare, saproxylic invertebrates (beetles etc).

 

It is impossible to tell from a photograph what the stability of the trunk is likely to be. However, it is quite possible that it is strong enough to resist the wind loading of the crown as its current size.

 

If the residual wall of the decayed trunk is so thin that it's strength is significantly reduced, crown reduction would be a good idea. However, in terms of crown reduction of old trees for stability - less is more. So a reduction in tree height of approx. 10% would probably reduce the wind load by enough to lessen the risk of tree failure, whilst still maintaining enough foliage to ensure the tree can function properly I.e. producing enough energy through photosynthesis to grow properly and resist pathogens.

 

I would avoid going as hard as a 30% reduction, but without actually seeing the tree it's impossible to make specific recommendations.

 

I'm actually jealous, I'd love to have a tree of my own like this 😀

[Paul Melarange]

I would not fell it for sure!! Looks like it has no targets so there is no need to any way, If it was mine I would reduce the crown by roughly a third there is a line you can see around that level that would reduce wind loading enough to make it stable.

 

I've just looked at the photos again, and I now see what MattyF means. In this case, if the tree actually does require any crown reduction, MattyF's suggestion of around a third would work quite nicely. It would just remove the two 'blobs' that protrude from the rest of the crown.

 

So apologies, I should have taken more notice of the first pic.

[oakum]

And don't forget to get a replacement established for when the old fella' finally gives up the ghost. Maybe propagating some acorns from it.

[MattyF]

I've just looked at the photos again, and I now see what MattyF means. In this case, if the tree actually does require any crown reduction, MattyF's suggestion of around a third would work quite nicely. It would just remove the two 'blobs' that protrude from the rest of the crown.

 

So apologies, I should have taken more notice of the first pic.

 

 

That's exactly what I mean retrenching the crown removing to the layer under those two blobs.

[Paul Cleaver]

blobs - Im glad others use similar terminology to myself

[Jackalope]

blobs - Im glad others use similar terminology to myself

 

Also referred to as 'the sticky outy bits'