RC0

Ok, addmitedly you couldn't have driven a car through this euc but you could walk through one side and out the other, without stooping. This was me age 20....no hard-hat I'm afraid, just an 036 and a Freddie Mercury style tshirt! Brisbane 93. Of course, the tree was coming down

Only kidding, dont nobody jump down my throat!

That was a 36in and not even long enough to make the ripping cuts to the side of each ring. My own fault, I was offered a longer one but declined.

I was never mad at ya, I just wish this thread would go hide somewhere

hahaha, stop kidding around Roger

Settle down old mate, no need to riled. I was just trying to give a sense of scale in regards to time, evolution and survival. I know my place in it all which in the grand scale of things it doesn't really amount to much. Keyboard - what did you call me? Lil old ladies, did I say that! Re: your comments about me doing only storm damage and clean up etc, well on the contrary I’ve pruned literally thousands of trees....a broad range of species, ages and sizes both here and abroad….many of which I’ve been back to on a number of occasions over the years to prune again. The most optimistic and positive thing I can say about them is that, for the best part, they were able to tolerate the wounding that I inflicted, because ultimately that is what it is, wounding! Personally, I'd rather see a tree grow old and die in its natural form rather than see it butchered and then hanging on to life in a somewhat prolonged, retarded and decrepit state. From the redwoods to the kauris, eucs, figs etc, many of the oldest and largest trees in the world exist because they have been protected from people, not the other way around....you're forbidden to even walk over the root-systems of many of these beauties, let alone touch them....they are regarded as truly sacred, that kind of philosophy is the most commendable and sincere IMO. Too idealistic you say? well, the particular tree's I’ve highlighted are just a few examples of can be achieved....2500 years is hard to argue against, well if you consider our individual time served Arborists as any kind of argument at all! I can't really apologize if my views don’t sit comfortably with some folks, you surely can’t expect me to follow someone else’s lead if I don’t agree with it. I do agree that some form of pro-active tree management is necessary where trees and people must co-exist, I certainly don’t like to hear about people getting hurt or killed in the wrong place at the wrong time etc, not by a long shot. I just thought that particular example of what Rowan was instructed to do was a poor decision, all things considered. To do something truly wonderful and pro-active in every sense would surely be to strategically plant more trees, and try not to interfere too much with things that existed and survived long before we were around....and will most probably continue to do so when we're gone. Other than some unfortunate bad feeling, a most refreshing topic, happy to have a say in it FWiW:thumbup1:

Well, it has thousands of visitors every year, Ive been lucky enough to be one of them, and the sherman is probably riddled with structural defects....in fact there are some right at the base on this picture, probably started developing say 1000years ago. Should we write to them and suggest that all the branches now need cutting off to save it? Afterall, the tree has only been around for for aprox 2500 years so what can it possibly know about about survival that we dont. It needs to be managed and the time to act is now

So you have duel residency you lucky Baastrd?

Well, my rule of thumb is generally up-to 1/3 or more specifically, 30% thin/reduce….and that doesn’t mean make the whole tree 30% smaller either, I’m specifically talking about the foliage-mass area. If we can work within these boundaries and pull the tree into a smaller shape at the same time then great, but unless a tree has undergone a recent structure-theatening trauma, dramatic changes to its surrounding environment or is either dying or critically diseased etc, then its minimum intervention really. After all, many of the trees around here have lived for hundreds of years, evolving and adapting to and within their environment. Who am I to make a judgement that a healthy tree can’t sustain itself? after all, most of us tree workers around here have only been alive (let alone working) for a fraction of the trees age....so what could such a judgement be based on? I’d call that oak a 70% reduction, as most of the foliage appears to have been removed. The most optimistic thing I can say about it is that it’ll live. Are you Australian Rowan?

The fact that it was an old one suggests that the tree was managing just fine. Who suddenly came up with the notion that the tree was a danger after 200+ years? Correct me if I’m wrong but all I see what was a beautiful and vigorous tree in a field. Now it’s been mutilated, literally. If you’re trying to induce decay (root or limb), produce masses of re-growth for whatever reason then fine, but to do that and suggest its for the benefit of the tree does seem a little mis-guided. You were a lot closer to the mark when working to the rule of thirds Rowan, it’s a shame your boss sees things otherwise. Pardon me if there's more to the methodology on this occasion, perhaps you could explain.

Rowan, my good man....was it a new split or and old one? yours patiently Reg

No it just reads invalid attachment. Was it new split or an old one?

Was it a new a split or old one? Any pictures?

Rowan, were you following a spec for this work, if so how was it described i.e.pollard, crown reduction - % etc ?

I know that Andy, it was a good point. Matty the bolt part didn't take long, but knocking the bark off with that little hammer seemed to.The sawing was probably the most awkward because I couldn't get through it with that bar and it was difficult to manoeuvre round to the other side.

Andy, the lags weren’t load rated but they were welded and tested to my satisfaction on the actual tree in question. I understand enough about mild steel to know that those 4 lags could have probably picked up that entire trunk if it were possible to secure them adequately in the wood, which is the real issue. Different timbers, holding qualities, condition, alignment etc, etc…. I made a judgment-call based on the risks involved. I’m certainly not going to use an approved method that presents more risks or is perhaps just not feasible at all, just because it is approved or recommended by the company/s that advise the HSE….Id be more than willing to go to court in the worst case scenario. As far as I can see, nothing is actually recommended for when a situation like this presents itself (lowering rings). Or perhaps it is simply to flatten everything underneath and fix it all up afterwards. Whatever, it just doesn’t ever seem to get a mention. I actually sent the video link to company xxxx who I gather advise the HSE, to show them how the situation was dealt with. I’ve yet to receive a reply but it sometimes takes time as the guy often works away or is tied up with other stuff. I said in the initial post that it’s not a technique that I’m promoting or encouraging, only that I judged it the safest option on this occasion. Clearly there’s plenty of scope for fine tuning and establishing boundaries etc. Although under the right circumstances it clearly works, perhaps there’s too many variables for someone to risk putting their name to. I’ll let you know if I hear anything. Thanks

Good idea Bob. I was there for 3 days, although Steve and co didn’t arrive until after 10 so they were short days. They also had about 10ft of the stump to finish and the hedges to cut so it turned into the best part of the week for them. I just heard from Steve and it turns out that in spite of all the efforts not to damage anything…. right at the end he stood on the roof to finish the stump and broke it. Unreal!

I just picked up on another in the 2nd vid also, sincere appologies, no offence meant. When I edited the video I did it in the front room in front of the TV. I had the sound turned right down so not to annoy everyone else in the room....slipped under the radar I'm afraid:closedeyes:

I know how it looks, however, the positioning of the lag-hooks, the crotch, lowering device....the mecanical driving tool and reasonably accurate cutting ensured that the chunks maintained their course, it was never in doubt, slow but sure....all though perhaps not as clear on the video. I had fully intented to insert a rope guide as you suggest i.e. perhaps another hook and krab in the top or side of the step to my right but realised upon being up there that it was cool. Probably still would have been the right thing to do though. Quatering was the an option but we only had a 3 ft dirt patch to perhaps thow onto in which had light fittings embeded, plus the trunk was leaning away from that area so I might have even had to cut them smaller before having the confidence to attempt it. I had to come in from both sides with the 88 and it was real awkward to maneouvre due to the lean an brittle bark on short gaffs. So what with the roof, walls, fences and all....rigging in this manner made the most sense. Thanks

This was a relatively short but chunky tree in a situation where we absolutely had to lower every thing. The top was time consuming but the real challenge came in the trunk which was leaning in the opposite direction to where we needed to place the sections. For this reason we used alternative methods. Whilst I’m not promoting or encouraging the methods, what I will say that I had tested the equipment involved and all things considered, was satisfied that it was indeed the safest method for dealing with the circumstances on this particular occasion. It’ll take about a half hour to watch all three videos. Thanks Part1 [ame]http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ei65VYKNAM[/ame] Part 2 [ame]http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=3Cvx89eRF9w[/ame] Part 3 [ame]http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Cf5ixX-4N0s[/ame]

Well, I just managed to catch a glimpse of this thread on the way out this morning and as you can see in the picture Roger, I had my rake ready to cut in half and give it a go…. but all things considered, I eventually decided against it i.e. this Ash trunk was 5 ft across at the top, leaning in the opposite direction to where I needed to push the rounds (I would have to work from the underside), Oh and of course they needed to be rigged down as it was real tight below….If that’s not obvious in the pictures then you’ll just have to take my word for it. As a freelance climber I’m little more respectful when representing another mans company and reputation than chancing some broken rake and bar methodology when the stakes are high. Steve (company owner) probably would have fed my bits of rake through his chipper and asked me to leave the site. I don’t recall saying or suggesting that to anyone ever Roger….why would you write something like that? Obviously that wouldn’t have worked here either Butch….and even if there is plenty of room for free falling – we often have to wheel these chunks up to 50 yards from a back garden out to the front….up steps, through narrow gateways and all sorts delicate and often challenging terrain. So we have to be a little more forward thinking than just putting stuff on the floor in all shapes and sizes. And as well as - cutting on a slope, towards your safety lines, across the grain with an 088….rather you than me Brother! On a more positive note, for anyone who’s interested, I managed to capture this the entire job, good and bad, on the helmet-cam with the new wide angled lens….what a difference to the old one. You can just see so much more….when I watched some earlier from the raw file I almost had to stop my self from ducking under the branches etc:001_cool:. Obviously the youtube format will diminish the viewing experience quite significantly but it’ll be still worth a watch when I get round to editing at weekend. Oh, and as for the rattle-wedge….I didn’t feel compelled to buy one either but I did get the opportunity to look one over. It’s a solid little thing but not so much that you’d notice it hanging on your saddle. If it does indeed work then of course it has merit when things need a little more than a push or lift etc….perhaps when not as convenient or less work to start asking for help from your colleagues….who know! Whatever, someone, whoever they are probably had to work hard and put their money on the line to bring it to market. Good on them I say, sorry for not sharing in the hilarity of it all. No more baiting please guys, there's plenty more interesting threads than this one to bump. Thanks and all the best:001_smile:

Well that sounds interesting and relevant Tony, care to elaborate? Has it made you re-think your own aerial rescue strategy?

Well....how was it, was Mr Bridge on form, is his leg all fixed up now? Obviously I couldn't make the show, so did anyone learn anything? any pictures, surprises, bargains, encounters etc ? how about the other demo's and workshops etc....Treevolution do anything interesting?

Well, you've done it now Carl so lets hope not:scared1: Very good video, Angus is quite a slick editor What a dirty old job that was. Clearly though, there are no chancers on that firm, very thorough indeed. How old is Mr McMahon, 50’s ? Looks as fit as a butchers dog, what great role model.

It does come with editing software and I do believe the company provides its own video hosting sevice, although I haven't actually tried either. I just save the files and then drag them into WMovieMaker. I just looked at that link and see the wide angled lens is now available.