Dominic R

Trees: Their Natural History, by Thomas Covers a wide area of information and is nicely written

Sparassis crispa found on a scots pine stump last Thursday

I personally don't see what the problem is there? It is better to leave something than completely take it down. If the trees have armilaria in a busy public place such as that, it is nice to see that they have had the balls to leave monoliths, i know alot of people who wouldn't. I appreciate the contractors could have done a bit more to the monoliths but if the council are strapped for cash then they have to do the best they can with their budget.

I know the road may say 7.5 ton limit but unless you are going over a weight limited bridge chances are its only to stop lorries using it as a short cut. You may be allowed access for removal of timber. Worth a ring to the council

Take a look at this link, its from the defra website, hopefully they'll open them up to the general licence and then, like you said, we could invite the french and italians over for a bit of a party Defra, UK - : Wildlife Management - Non-native species - Examples of non-native species in the UK

I think that your poll is very vague, the current ruling, as i understand it, is that you are allowed to use your saw one handed when at the extremities of a limb for example and you need the other hand to hold your positions; so therefore if you do light pruining work on the tips of trees everyday, it may be nesecary to do it everyday and surely this is going to give bias results to your idea that every one is on spikes lopping of limbs left, right and center. Correct me if i wrong (but i know i'm not)

Begins with g?.... Garden fork?!! Sorry i'm new