18 stoner

Think it could be a bit more than that from what i remember David, but i am going to the farmyard party this summer (largest biking festival in Europe) and its held there so i will see if i can find out more about the history of the trees.

Found this lovely old oak a couple of years ago at Helmsley, North Yorks. Poor quality pic, but how old would you guess this to be?

Perhaps, if it you stole it from a workmate:sneaky2:

Not sure if anyone remembers "Pip", she is the pup we got last year and featured in the "how to teach a dog to swim" thread! This pic is just to show how she has developed, and shows her devotion to my daughter;

Had very similar issues also Russell. Will target pruning not unbalance said trees? Tried a bird of prey via a mate, biggest problem was after it caught the first pigeon, you never saw another for half an hour or so. Dummy birds work initially, but when the newness wears off the pigeons actually roost very close to the scarers:sleep1: Even had flags, bits of tape and old CD's hung in trees but they still get used to them. We found easiest and most efficient way to cure the problem was 4 or 5 men with 12 bores:scared1: Sorted in about 2 hours! For some reason the birds will return to the trees, even if they are being shot at, not like when a bird of prey scares them! Urban area or not, it should be allowed if there is so much poop its causing a hazard to health!

Recon it could be more like £340 plus the dreaded!

Chuffed for you Bob, and congratulations to your daughter.

Nice one tom, good job. Takes me back to yesterday, trouble is, mine was dead and i did the chipping...... i'm still coughing up dust:thumbdown:

Believe me Darren, even McSarnie could not afford to pay for my lunch:001_tt2:

Sounds very good, i will be interseted also. Anything that improves standards within the industry must be a good thing.

How much are we looking at Pete, or is it to each persons descretion?

Pete, is there a wee donation per head to make towards the BBQ etc?

Should try and get away from sheep hunting and come down for a laugh and chat! Suppose i should have a go at climbing this time, show all how its done:wink: Or give everyone else a laugh:tongue_smilie:

I am sorry, but i still cannot see the reason or justification for dropping that sized top onto the speed line. In my opinion, it either should not have been attached to the speed line when the top was cut, or the speedline should have been much slacker. Also, why stop the top instead of letting run a little more, then re-attaching/re-tesioning the speedline. Surely, if it were carried out how i see it, the climbers wouldnt get such a massive ride. I do understand we should all move forward and try out new techniques, kit etc, but from that video, that proceedure seems to be a step backwards in my opinion. Surely we should be looking for the "safest" way first and foremost. Any questions and criticizms you have recieved, have been based upon this video alone and the way you defend the practices within it. Perhaps a constructive reply would be more appropriate from you Rob, explaining why you are carrying out this way of working, and why it is safer, instead of calling people loose cannons or cowboys outside of your own training ideals.

Looks as nose heavy as a Husky too!

If i may pick out a point, it looked like when the top was taken out it dropped on the speed line. If this was a training vid, i would say not good practice as i always understood the top should have been dropped on a strop or rope, then lowered to the speed line. Thus, less risk of snapping out the top of the tree at the rigging anchor point, and not giving the climber such a "ride". Please shoot me down if i'm wrong, but perhaps advanced rigging techniques vary slightly from one side of the pond to the other.

Im gonna check speck on my butterfly now you said that:001_tt2:

He He! I remember trying to buy his last pole at the APF Mark, and he had grown very fond of it! You remember that one Justin? By the way the rope bags are great, thanks.

Mark, i have 4 x 6foot poles, you are more likely to use these instead of the park type as they are as easy as it sounds clipping them together. BUT, they are ideal with 2, not too bad with 3 together, but you will struggle to use a saw or pruning head with 4 together. Ok as a cable raiser though. I often use a pair with saw head and the other pair with the pruner. Seems to work well that way. If you are thinking of buying some, just get enough poles so as you can do your shorter reach stuff with them, and still use the park set for real high reach.

Dare i say COSHH, or will that open a can of worms?

Can you give us a clue on price before it hits flea bay Bob?

I guess this comes back to what's been said about species specific, but could this be more apparent because of the length of time oak keeps its dead wood, and therefore having more callous around such stubs?

Suppose this is what i'm getting at david, seems a bit of a strange one on acer. As far as honey fungus goes, there is no mushroom smell, no evidence of "threads" of white film below the bark, there is no fruiting body present at the base of the tree, and none noted by the customer in the past, so i guess thats ruled out. The mystery continues......

Ok Russell, it seems you are the only one willing to say it is definately a canker. The tree is otherwise relatively healthy, but not really the issue. The main purpose of the thread is about the canker. I am somewhat suprised that there has been very little in the way of feed back on this thread. I realise as many others of us do, the included bark is potentially a serious problem for the future, and the tree should probably be removed, but i was hoping for a bit more input for those, such as my self who dont have the vast tree biology knowledge. So, is there anyone else who would like to elaborate a little more, such as aggression of canker in sycamore, and even similarities to other more vulnerable species, even just for the sake of educating us?

Ok, i'll put a spanner in the works here. I believe this position statement to be quite straight forward, the trouble is you guys are reading too much into it! " Use in landscape applications. Examples include weed suppressant, decorative woodchip, pathways and arena chip. The material must be stored and applied to land as specified either in an environmental permit or an exemption under Paragraph 7 of Schedule 3. The wood remains waste until it is applied to land. • Use in animal bedding. Examples include cattle, horse and pet bedding. Untreated waste wood must be stored and used either as specified in an environmental permit or an exemption under Paragraph 15 of Schedule 3. The wood remains waste until incorporated into animal bedding" The above is referring to "Non Virgin timber". You do need a license for moving it. "whole trees and the woody parts of trees including branches and bark derived from forestry works, woodland management, tree surgery and other similar operations (it does not include clippings or trimmings that consist primarily of foliage2); Above is "Virgin timber" therefore no license needed. Hedge trimmings, leaf collections and even reductions mainly made up of foliage come under waste; whole trees and the woody parts of trees including branches and bark derived from forestry works, woodland management, tree surgery and other similar operations (it does not include clippings or trimmings that consist primarily of foliage2); 2 The leaves of a tree, or leaves on the stems or branches on which they are growing"