Paul Barton

No, but it's a good idea!

I worked on the tree survey that Amey procured in 2012 at the beginning of the PFI contract. What a great city with a lot of mature trees. As I was involved in the data collection, rather than analysis, I can't say a lot about whether the felling is appropriate. There certainly seemed to be alot of fully mature trees across the city, but that's the case in many historic cities in the UK. A long-term strategy to selectively fell and replant trees isn't necessarily a bad one if well planned. But from what I have read, much of the felling seems to be about preventing damage to paths and roads, rather than because the tree is in poor condition or unsuitable - simply implying that trees are not considered to be a priority highway asset. I wonder, if Sheffield had had an urban forest evaluation using iTree to demonstrate the financial value of the ecosystem services that the trees provide, would this be happening? Or at least, would it give the communities that oppose the felling more of an evidence base to argue from?

Ha! Thanks for the un-enlightening discussion chaps!

They were just hypotheticals to illustrate my question Jules. How do you calculate and show woodland RPAs?

No worries! Following on from your question, how do you (and others) calculate and show the RPA of groups and woodlands? Offset from the stems by the average diameter/largest diameter? Estimated offset from crown edge? Measure stem diameter of every edge tree and plot umpteen circular RPAs?

No need to survey every tree. Here's an extract from the BS: 4.4.2.3 Trees growing as groups or woodland should be identified and assessed as such where the arboriculturist determines that this is appropriate. However, an assessment of individuals within any group should still be undertaken if there is a need to differentiate between them, e.g. in order to highlight significant variation in attributes (including physiological or structural condition). NOTE The term “group” is intended to identify trees that form cohesive arboricultural features either aerodynamically (e.g. trees that provide companion shelter), visually (e.g. avenues or screens) or culturally, including for biodiversity (e.g. parkland or wood pasture), in respect of each of the three subcategories (see 4.5). 4.4.2.4 The categorization of a group or woodland can reflect a future potential that is contingent on appropriate management being undertaken to promote the development of the better specimens, based upon established arboricultural and silvicultural principles. Such management requirements should be noted under “general observations” within the schedule and included within the post-development management plan (see 8.8.3). NOTE Typically, the works will need to be phased over a number of years so as to maintain the necessary degree of companion shelter.

A fiver says Steve was joking about starting a petition. Why doesn't Mendiplogs start one as it was his idea?

Nice shots Sean. You manage to make some otherwise pretty mundane scenes look cool!

What a post in a monumental thread about your journey. You're clearly made of some special stuff Sean, and I have no doubt that 2016 will be a momentous year for you. Blessings and best wishes to you and your family.

Once again, that wasn't what was posted! If you don't understand the concept, don't knock it!

He didn't say they were. Often there's a choice involved though...e.g long hours, stress vs family time, leisure time.

Have you tried the Arb Association website? I'm pretty sure you can download some word document templates.

Photos are a bit blurry on my phone, but looks like good ol' Leyland Cypress to me.

Apparently these are good as you don't need to replace the ink cartridges. https://www.epson.co.uk/gb/en/viewcon/corporatesite/products/mainunits/consumables/16265

Was that 27k council owned trees? There were probably at least the same again on private land.

This thread is going nowhere so I'm closing it. Sort out your differences somewhere else!

Isn't this thread 9 days early?! Happy mid-December everyone!

I did a job at a school recently where an old student rang up one day to offer £2 million for a new sports centre! Good on you mendiplogs - hope you can find a few like minded and deep pocketed parents.

Absolutely right. Sounds like it would be a valuable learning experience for both parties!

Just checked, they're turned on. Which makes sense cos every night Google automatically tells me that the traffic for my journey home is 'unusually heavy'.

Yes but it didn't work?! Maybe my location services are turned off.

Ouch! But I get you! Let's not get carried away on the negatives of Christian history though (and there are lots sadly). Whether you have a faith or not, you have to concede that people of faith have been pivotal in history for good as well....Christians were the first to care for lepers which formed the basis of the worlds earliest hospitals, Christian philanthropists first offered the concept of 'social housing', championed women's rights, the abolition of the slave trade, more recently help run foodbanks..... Spirituality and faith are not scientific and in the context of our postmodern western minds are irrational! I certainly couldn't write a post here on arbtalk to convince you of the existence of God. But I do believe in my core....I'm sure that has a lot to do with my upbringing, but also due to my experience in prayer and meditation. Have a go - you've got nothing to lose!

In relation to the OP, the Archbishop wrote a short blog to clarify what he meant in the media articles. Blog: Why arguing with God is not the same as not believing in… Personally I think it's healthy that he doubts sometimes and argues with God. Many people recently have pointed out that 'blind faith' is dangerous, as it causes people to act without thinking or questioning.

Hi John, Sounds like a tricky situation, but this is something that can only be judged on site. It's not realistic for us as people that haven't seen the site, the risk assessment etc to tell you whether you're right or wrong. Have an open and frank discussion with your boss - if there's been a communication problem then they need the feedback.

If you already have the tree data with coordinates etc, then EyeTree may be of help: Eye-TREE | AIT Spatial