Paul Barton

Any ideas on this tree? I wondered about Acer hyrcanum but the base of the leaf is flatter than that and its more deeply lobed The tree was multi-stemmed and about 4m tall.

Bosky Trees in Somerset offer air-spading. Air Spade UK, Air Spade Hire UK | Bosky Trees, Arboriculturalists UK

Chris Cooper-Abbs is not too far away: Arb Matters – Forestry & Arboricultural Experts Also AEMG in Redditch have their own LOLER certified guy (Pete Logan) but I am not sure if they offer it as a service to others. You could give them a call: Tree Surgery, Arboricultural Consultancy and Landscape Management | Acorn Environmental Management Group Redditch

Your original email is enough, assuming it was clear enough about the trees location and intended works. Sent from my iPhone using Arbtalk

I've got one moob that's more saggy than the other so am never quite sure. Sent from my iPhone using Arbtalk

Not sure if that question is to me, but nope, that's not what I'm saying.

Are you saying that some people advocate installing a dynamic brace in trees with no visible faults? I've not come across that. I recommend dynamic braces in trees that exhibit weak unions - the intention being that the brace would prevent damage or injury by arresting a major failure but otherwise allowing the fork some natural flexure which may promote reaction wood enough to strengthen the weak area. Sent from my iPhone using Arbtalk

In what way? In one way I'd say that's a good thing - Duncan approaches things with scientific rigour so he asks questions then researches in order to find answers. If he knew it all now his research would be flawed. Sent from my iPhone using Arbtalk

We had a six year old rescue collie that was similar - bit me, my boss, my in-laws and eventually my wife. When we found out we had a baby on the way we decided to take him back to the rescue centre. Sorry to hear your news Eggs - horrible situation. Sent from my iPhone using Arbtalk

Possibly a Zelkova - Zelkova carpinifolia?

To be clear, that wasn't my comment I was citing the definition of the RPA from the BS. I agree with you Oslac - trees regularly defy the arbitrary rules that we try and place on them. I guess no one has come up with a better idea yet though! Sent from my iPhone using Arbtalk

First off, the RPA is not necessarily meant to indicate the exact location of roots - it is termed in the BS as a "layout design tool indicating the minimum area around a tree deemed to contain sufficient roots and rooting volume to maintain the tree’s viability" So, as Chris points out above, this area within the tree's potential root system is treated as a priority to protect as this is where there will be the largest roots but probably also a great number of fine roots. Having done a bit of air-spade work now and again, I was always interested to see the vast difference in the amount of fine roots close to the stem between species. Oak had hardly any fibrous roots close to the root collar, but Beech had lots. Perhaps this should indicate that the outer edges of the notional RPA are more important for Oak than for Beech?! It is shocking that there is no evidence based reason that we use a formula of 12 x the stem diameter - this really needs addressing. However, as a design tool it does its job relatively well by at least offering a starting point to retain roots and protect soil around a decent proportion of the tree.

I wear boots. [emoji6] Sent from my iPhone using Arbtalk

I don't quite understand the question, sorry! Duncan has studied the strength of wood across normal junctions and then in junctions that have bark inclusions. He is putting some scientific evidence behind what we already know - that junctions with included bark are more prone to failure, and then adding to it by investigating the cause and effect of bark inclusions. Today was interesting - I would highly recommend anyone to attend one of his workshops on this topic.

I worked with a woman groundy a few years back and she was great. She did always point out that she couldn't get any chainsaw trousers that fitted properly though. Sent from my iPhone using Arbtalk

Oh go on then!

I think there were no meaningful replies because you didn't actually start any kind of discussion.

I will be there!

Care to expand?

I've managed to book for all the days this year. Looking forward to it. Sent from my iPhone using Arbtalk

Try a library...cheaper and above board! Sent from my iPhone using Arbtalk

Apparently not as it's taken me 5 days to notice your insolence! Sent from my iPhone using Arbtalk

Cool - just got the new iPhone app. Much better! Sent from my iPhone using Arbtalk

Why thank you - I've been working out.

Give me a break! Just use your common sense and avoid using foul language