Amelanchier

This is true and often forgotton or ignored (even by LPAs). It applies only to exempted CA trees as well as unathourised works by virtue of s213 of the TCPA 1990 but places the duty on the landowner (and any future landowners)not the contractor - so definately something to mention to your client. Furthermore, the replacement is required to be of an appropriate size and species and is to be planted as soon as is reasonably possible. Another reason to let the client deal with discharging the duty... (I have painful memories of explaining for an hour why a dig your own christmas tree was not a suitable replacement even if it did survive.)

24th & 25th April 2010 It’s time again for the East of England Game Fair which means it’s also time for the Cutters and Climbers Competition. Running since 2005, the main aim of the event is to show off to Joe Public with the aim of raising the local profile of arboriculture. As last year, the competition runs in three parts, testing climbing, spiking and chainsaw skills. The idea being that if we show people what real climbing or real chainsaw work looks like, they may think twice when the ubiquitous cowboys rock up with no PPE, no insurance and no idea. The education aspect works both ways. For the competitors and the judges the benefit is a friendly, open and cooperative environment where ideas and techniques can be shared. To help that noble aim along there’s a beer tent as well… Created and organised by Tree Worker Training proprietor Chalky White, and ably assisted by past and present employees and students, the competition is open to qualified climbers and chainsaw operators regardless of age and gender. The competition consists of three individual events with separate and combined prizes and rankings for each. The vast majority of competitors compete in all three, with the chance to win the much coveted Most Employable Person title. Based on scores from all three events, this honour was first won by Alex Talbot of Tree Surgery Services in 2005 who is now one of our senior officials in the chainsaw arena. Climbing The work climb is adjudicated by me, hopefully with commentary by Nick Pott of Arbjobs.com - Tree Jobs! - Home (). Traditionally a head to head event, our concern over the impact of sending 40+ climbers stamping out all over our regular Oak has lead us to redesign the event for 2010. A new tree has been selected for a solo event with a variety of targets and aerial challenges – I’m determined to fit a zip-line in there somewhere! A simulated limbwalk will be set up as a separate challenge to test how far competitors can get out on an artificial branch without setting off an alarm. Cutting Our cutting competition is organised by Andy Campbell (a top ranked competitor in the UK loggers). This competition takes the most to organise, so there is a large group of volunteers behind the scenes to help set-up and run this event smoothly. Competitors are expected to fell a standing stem, cross cut and snedding. Points will be awarded for the precision of cuts and the time taken to achieve them. Pole Climb Proving very successful on its first outing in 2009, the third event is our unique take on a traditional pole climb. We pit two competitors head to head up the largest poles we can transport down the road. Although these fall short of the 80ft monsters that you might find at the UK championship, they more than make up for it in speed and splinters. This event is run by Martin Platton of MDH Arb Hire Ltd. Download an application form below and email it to [email protected] As if this wasn’t enough, the Forestry Area has more to offer than just competitions. We have a Trade Area headed by Tree Worker Training’s sister company T.H.F. Countryside who offer forestry contracting and mobile saw milling services. Other stands include those that have been around since the first event and who deserve an honourable mention including; Alderhill Ltd; Mr Chris Hall and his company demonstrating their equipment for fence erecting and tree planting, etc. Rouse Power Equipment; a long term supporter, compete with a large selection of chain saws and other powered equipment on display along with anything the budding tree climber could ever want. MDH Arb Hire Ltd; Martin Platton, as well as doing a sterling job of running the pole climb, has a good selection of wood chippers and stump grinders for purchase or hire. There are other various traders and companies all based around the tree services sector. Whether you are looking for firewood, tools or services you are bound to find friendly and helpful advice in the Forestry Area of the East of England. Oh and did I mention the Beer tent??? 2010 Blank Enrolment form for cutters and climbers competition.doc

Thanks for those guys - very helpful and great shots. Gonna be using Mr T's, one of Hamas, one of Daves and that lazy poplar by BBB. Cheers.

Hey John. The guidance on exemptions advises 5 days not 6, so you could be in a day earlier...

I've been looking at it with a view to using it to value tree populations - I don't know its utility in terms of general management. I've been using PocketGIS for a few years now and have no (major) complaints.

Thats it dude. When the tree puts more wood on to strengthen a part thats overloaded. I've got lots of phone cam images but they won't stand being resized.

I'm putting a document together to briefly explain tree biomechanics and would like some lovely photographs to illustrate a few points - so as I'm paying the price now for never buying a good camera, I though I better cast my net in the webs best waters. I need photo examples of: The axiom of unifom stress - perhaps a nice bit of adaption around an object, preferential callus on a pruning cut etc. The law of the minimal lever arm - I'd love a classic topped out pine! Self optimisation - I have a few of these but some nice reaction wood shots would be helpful. Thanks in advance gang.

Let the borderline jokes begin...

To describe a single false rock? I guess so! I see where you're going with that!

Cheers for finding the link Dave - I replied via my phone and couldn't face searching...

Aesculin There's a thread about here somewhere...

What's with this persistant confusion between wood and stone? Petrification is the conversion of organic material into stone and monoliths are gurt blocks of rock not tree. I thought there was some new cool alien disease causing premature and rapid fossilisation in Macclesfield...

I'd suggest that the arisings belong to the tree owner until they leave the site unless otherwise stipulated in your contract. However, if you have added value to those arisings (perhaps by milling them) then it would be reasonable to expect compensation for that loss should the client choose to keep the timber.

I agree with the Gorilla - Kretzschmaria deusta a.k.a Ustulina deusta

I ran into all this the other day from a very different angle (long boring story with no pictures) and it seems that there is also another term in botany for this phenomena - Anastomosis. Quite what the difference is, or if there even is one, I don't know.

Giorgio, Thank you for taking the time to post. I understand and concede the points you have raised with regard to my use of your 2008 paper. My intention was not to critique your research or the utility of thermography. Indeed I consider that the science is sound and there is a great deal of value to its application. However, it would seem that the historic claims for the method (in the UK) are only recently being substantiated with the relevant research. Or that the research was 'out there' and that the sceptical should 'go and find it'. That was the focus of my criticism. I don't consider it relates to you or your work - more the industry press and marketing mentality. Perhaps you might attach your full length response as a separate document? That way, your original response could be viewed in full.

There is a classic experiment I remember at school that demonstrates the potency within a confined space of the volatile cyanide produced by crushed Cherry Laurel leaves. EiC July 2008 - Feature - Exhibition chemistry: Toxic Hydrogen Cyanide I think we used ladybirds IIRC. Note "The UK workplace exposure limit for HCN (short-term, ie 15 minute exposure) is 10 ppm (11 mg m-3)." Also note that I have no idea as to the concentration within a truck full of chip! Cyanide screws with enzymes and results in cell death - so perhaps sucking in great lungfuls of the aroma ain't such a good plan.

I guess it might be a problem if you can't spell precedent... Try chapter 3 of Mynors - The law of trees, forests & hedgerows. 0.23 seconds by the way. Mr Mynors (you will no doubt have his home telephone number) updated and confirmed this list of relevant case law at both the AA Conference on the 23rd September and at a Barchams Seminar on the 28 October 2009 with the following; Lemmon v Webb [1894] 3 Ch1, CA; [1895] AC 1, HL Mills v Brooker [1919] 1 KB 555 Alan Wibberley v Insley [1999] 1 WLR 894. HL Haycocks v Neville [2007] EWCA Civ 78 So who do I invoice?

Are you agreeing with me? I must have got something wrong...

Rubbish. The facts are available via google (which can even tell you how many seconds it took to find them). Those that aren't - I'll post for the sheer philanthrophy of it, if required. As SWB has alluded to - we're here to share knowledge not to spin the illusion of elusive superiority and elitism. IMO stating that info is only available for a charge is as good as saying you don't know. Its symptomatic of the insecurity of ignorance.

Just to muddy the waters guys - if the tree is on the boundary then it is entirely possible in law for it to be jointly owned by the landowners. Dean, I guess the ultimate test for your liability regarding this matter would be whether a court would deem it 'reasonable' for you to have checked. If circumstances should have made you suspicious then perhaps it would be reasonable to check further - if not, then never mind. The guy in the wig will decide. Back to the OPs question. If your not comfortable with the situation - ask the questions of the neighbour. Its fairly normal to pop round and inform them anyway, so use that as an excuse.

I get the 95th percentile part and recognise the value of a comparison with a normal distribution and what information that can give you. What I was getting at was - Given the variability of continuous VTA symptoms such as bark congestion under a subsiding limb how do you ensure your measurements of structural integrity relate consistently? Do you divide the spectrum of a symptom up into categories? Presumably there is a bias to symptoms that relate to defects for which there is a rule such as t/r?

IMO tree valuation is a vital piece ofthe Arbs arsenal. Its useful to be able to establish monetary values on environmental assets with a systematic system so that proper comparisons can be made with other non-green processes/proposals. E.g., Option 1 - A straight driveway is cheaper at £6000 but you need to loose the £12,000 value Oak = Net cost £18,000. Option 2 - Longer driveway avoiding Oak or No Dig solution costs £8000 but retains above Oak = Net cost £8000. A gross simplification but you see the point. People understand money - they might argue with your valuation but with a structured system you have a defence.

Prime advertising space there!

This is an approach I find very interesting Marcus. How do you ensure consistency between VTA symptoms and determine the actual likelihood of failure? What are the scale of thresholds in your methodology? It does seem to compliment the concept that the most important part of hazard assessment is an understanding of the 'normal' tree. Getting a proper feel for the normal distibution doesn't seem to have been done to date - I suppose the national tree failure database has a part to play in this?