Hollow Beech

[David Humphries]

This is possibly the most well known Tree where I work,

at Hampstead Heath in North London.

 

Generations of locals know this tree, and they bring back their kids and so on.

 

The tree was hit massively in the Big storm of 1987, and it lost a third of its canopy including the central leader from about 40'.

 

We haven't really worked on the tree since, except for climbing her to get a bowsers hose in to the top of the chimney when it's been set fire to, in the past.

 

The subsequent regrowth on the original scaffolds are now getting very big & heavy, this coupled with the fact that it grows above the surrounding woodland canopy has led us to instigate a retrenchment program this year.

 

So following, are some shots of before, during & after phase one.

 

Incidently, I believe the record for how many people can get inside the trunk, is around..............'15'

 

 

Before...........

 

 

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[David Humphries]

During..........

 

 

 

Climbers........Phillip. Michael & Casper

 

& you may if you're really quite, note the rare lesser spotted Monkey-d aloft in pics 7/8

 

 

 

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[David Humphries]

After......

 

 

immeadiately (late Jan) & last week

 

 

Phase 2 - Winter 2013

 

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[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

What a tree and what a wicked little project!

 

How great would it be to be able to de compact and mulch this old girl!

[David Humphries]

There is a fair bit of compaction, due to it being smack in the middle of a well used desire path.

 

It's part of a line of Vets (mainly Oak), including a monster twin stemmed torminalis. see pic 15 on post 2.

We've dead hedged these trees to keep "the people" off the root plates.

Though decided against including the Beech, as the charm is about access to the hollow.

 

Decompaction has been discussed, but the tree appears in rude health currently, so no obvious need for aeration at this time.

 

A mulch may occur.

 

Andrew knows these trees.

we had him look at the torminalis with the thermo.

 

 

having dead hedged the others, (you can see Hollow Beech in third shot here) it's impressive to see how many "S t" seedlings are now surviving in the leaf mulch of the parent, that wouldn't be there had we not moved the path

 

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[Tommy_B]

Cool tree. Great thread David. Cheers!!

[MattJordan]

Superb pics MonkeyD, Looks like you guys did a cracking job! Thanks for posting:)

[Bart]

Cool thread, what an awesome tree

Cracking pic's Dave

[David Humphries]

Thanks for the comments fellas.

 

 

really have a soft spot for this old lump of wood, was no way I was going to pass up a bit of climbing time up around her

 

Though, reminded me after an hour or so, just how important it is to keep climbing fit,

I was shot and cramped up in both arms when I came down

 

We did consider getting in a mewp as it was pretty tippy stuff, but didn't really want to add to the compaction.

 

 

Think the guys did a fine job.

 

Look forward to watching the crown over the next couple of growing years & will remmember to stretch out before hand next time i go up

 

 

 

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[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

Thinking about previous discussions about the heath the soils sandy, probably helps combat a little compaction.