Paul Barton

Hi all, A colleague of mine is running a job near Bulwell, Nottingham from this Weds (22nd Feb) and is looking for a tip site for woodchip and logs. Can anyone offer a yard or site to tip at in the area? cheers, Paul

Not jealous much!!! Have a good time Ross.

Depends why you were pruning them. What was the reason for the job?

I am looking for a log basket as well. You mean these guys Jon? Willow Log Baskets - The Somerset Willow Company ® - Bespoke Willow Baskets & Willow Furniture Nice baskets but silly money!

Thanks for the offer but I am sorted now.

Thanks - I would like something more specific than that. I have obtained some good examples from members of UKTC so think I am sorted now.

Just to clarify - surely you are not being asked to write a subsidence report as there is no evidence of damage to the structure? This seems to be an arboricultural report for mortgage purposes which I understand to be quite different. You still need a decent amount of knowledge about subs though as the lender will be looking for you to make a 'statement of risk' arising from the trees.

Have they ever been pollarded before?

Hi all, Does anyone have a diagram of tree protection fencing other than the full whack BS5837 scaffold construction? I have a domestic client with a TPO'd Oak in the rear garden quite near to an proposed extension (although not in the RPA). I consider the full BS spec fencing to be overkill on such a small job so want to spec a suitable alternative. cheers, Paul

You'd better chase them up on that! I think you should take along a member of staff from an AAAC to sing the praises of such a scheme.....pick me, pick me!

Are you doing AAAC assessments in New Zealand now Paul?!

With regards to site supervision, I try to explain to clients that this service is not to 'police' the site on behalf of the LA but it is to ensure compliance with planning conditions. By being on site and documenting/photographing the process, you are providing evidence of compliance. Then submit this evidence to the client and they can show to the LA if requested. That said, I make it very clear that I will record whatever I see on site - good or bad! If something goes wrong it is recorded, but so is the advice I give to fix it. If the advice is then followed this is also documented to show the developer complied... I have only walked away from one site so far and I have no regrets. Having written the AIA and detailed AMS, the client decided to disregard it all. I was then called in for site supervision - the first visit identified some minor problems so I gave advice and asked to be called back when groundworks near a TPO'd tree were to commence. The next call I got from the developer was to come and inspect trenches dug well within the RPA of said tree - I was horrified to discover the scene when I arrived. They wanted me to write a report saying what they had done was ok and that no major roots had been damaged. At that point I sent them an invoice for the work done so far and walked away as I felt that our client relationship was worthless!

Hi Treeseer, By point (g), do you mean reduce the crown to reduce the structural demands on roots, or to curb root development?

Ok, next Veteran event is on Feb 23rd (next Thursday) at Arley Arboretum in Worcestershire. Contact Louise Sutherland for more details: [email protected]

To a degree yes. I am more interested in urban forest management now...it's the realm of tree officers really unless you have a contract for entire tree management for an LA (which appears to be becoming more common).

They are planning to re-run the event in March I think - I'll post a link or the details when I get them. This event was organised by 'Grow with Wyre'.

Crumbs, I have opened the mycologists confessional!

I'll stick in my tuppence worth then: Question 1: I think you have covered the options well with your 4 suggestions. All depends on the amenity value and long term contribution that the tree can make to the development. I try to think forward as much as possible, bearing in mind what I have estimated as the remaining contributions for each tree. To my mind it is better to be pragmatic and remove trees with a low life expectancy and recommend some really good re-stocking of the site that will make a long term contribution. However, all too often I find myself recommending some engineered solution so that the client can squeeze the proposal as close as possible to the tree(s). No matter how much I personally feel it is inappropriate, the client's wishes are what drives the survey and the planning application so they must be 'respected'. Question 2: working in the RPA. I try to avoid any removal of top soil at all now, instead suggesting levelling the ground by infilling divots with sharp sand and then overlaying the geotextile and cellular confinement system. This does upset architects though because it messes with their levels! A pile and voided raft is always preferable to a ground beam - I am astounded how many arbs and architects think groundbeams are adequate near tree roots. They are usually installed to a depth of 500mm! Question 3: absolutely the species and habit (not to mention soil conditions) should affect the anticipated RPA. Remember the BS is only guidance - if in your opinion the RPA can be sensibly argued to be smaller or larger then so be it. If the LPA don't like it you will just have to be prepared to prove the point to a planning inspector at appeal! Personally I am bored of these reports now...an arb in the private sector doing BS5837 reports is really just part of the development machine that is shoe-horning buildings too near to trees and I am fed up with it. I fundamentally disagree with the constant infilling and intensification of urban areas - we are running out of green space in our cities! Anyway, I could rant on...

Thanks chaps. I'm less confident with shrooms than brackets!

I came across these chaps at the base of a Japanese cherry today - my first suspicion was Pholiota squarrosa but I have not come across it on Cherry before. Any other opinions?

Your link works Tony, it's just the Treeworks page seems to have some links that don't work. I don't see that you can much about that!

Thanks for the update Tony. Have you decided what to go for?

Thanks for the heads up - I'll ring in the morning.

I just get 'page not found' HTTP Error 404 - File or directory not found. Internet Information Services (IIS)

Conjunctivitis.com. That's a site for sore eyes.