detritus21

400 sounds right. In a rectangle 80x40 you will have 20 along one side and 40 along other so that would give you 800 trees. Divide that in 2 as its a triangle and you get 400.

Its not the highest ever. Got quoted 97k for an H reg landrover on one of them there price comparison sites. I almost took it out. Bear in mind I'm 28, married with one kid, home owner and only one minor fault accident on a scooter. I must be very high risk.

Speak to the tree officer. You would also want to see the proof of what has been approved by the council.

I'm grinding a week friday with a Rayco RG1625A I'll take some pics of how deep it will go

You can do 12 inch depth with a small pedestrian machine. When I stump grind I give a specification of 12 inch depth which includes the main buttress roots. I also specify that all the grindings are left on site as its pointless taking them away as they rot down quickly and you'll end up with a massive crater.

Thanks for clarifying that one

hamadryad is your post saying there is little hope of retention of a tree with Merip? The way I'm reading it is confusing me.

Its interesting reading peoples opinions and advice. I've sort advice from other Tree Surgeons/Arborists and a Tree officer at another LA to where this is and have had varying opinions on what should be done. The major issue you have with this tree and others on the site is the targets if potential failure does occur. I feel that as I am aware of the issues I am obliged to do my duty and inform the owner of the trees especially as I am the one who was asked to look. Whether people take my advice or recommendations is another thing and I am fairly confident whatever is decided will be deliberated over and if unhappy will seek further advice. Incidentely I haven't said fell or keep either way as yet. I know there are management strategies including reduction but there are also financial implications from the point of view of the client as well as their own liability issues. Three trees on the site I am definitely recommend to be felled those being the HC, Turkey oak and one of the beech that is host to at least three different fungi and has serious structural issues. The Beech with Merip I'm still deliberating over and will use others opinions not just mine in the process. I haven't ruled out reduction but having been back to day and took a more in depth look there are other structural issues with the beech that could be classed as potential failure points.

I was thinking we'd be done by 10 for jam and scones

Rob I'll certainly give you a shout. I really appreciate what you've put in. If I get any other jobs a need an extra pair of hands on I'll give you a shout also.

The state of the tree aside I'm guessing the same outcome for the beech with either the Rigidoporus ulmarius or Perenniporia fraxinus type fungi would be the same as ganoderma and ultimately would be to fell also is felling likely to be the only option for the other trees with gano? Its a difficult situation from my point of view as I've been asked to look at two specific trees and just a quick look at the rest and the quick look, more by Rob too be honest, has identified a number of other potentially serious issues going on.

Well spotted on the other two ganos. Looks like I'll have to Id all the Ganos and work out what is the best plan. I'd imagine long term the trees won't have a great prognosis. Its a difficult situation as you are talking major trees being lost over a period of time. The priority is the HC I don't fancy its chances of staying upright for too long a period.

The Quercus cerris was spotted with the bark necrosis along with the dead wood in the crown. The Chestnut is coming down. I'd spotted the rhizomorphs under the bark it is one very unwell tree. I spotted one of the Beech with the ganoderma but missed the others. We'd only had a brief look round the main concerns were the dead wood in the Turkey Oak and the Chestnut. I'm going back for a proper more in depth look to devise a full action plan for them. There are a lot of trees with a lot of liability linked to them. Cheers for the input as well it could be a job where extra hands are needed.

There was also a second fruiting body on the same tree of the same fungus further round the tree

I'll be honest its kind of along the lines I was thinking. I should have took a better picture of the whole trunk. The fruiting body lies at the base of a massive inclusion with a significant amount of weight acting on it in a rotational force. Its one of those trees where your head is telling you the right thing but your heart is trying to overrule. Rob if you go have a look at the chestnut its one of the worst I've seen in terms of decay relating to canker and try and spot the Ganoderma bracket on the beech with the previous massive limb removal/failure.

Strangely not in a conservation area or TPO'd. What got me about the whole thoughts about the job in question is the graveyard committee had been and had recommended that the trees be looked at for overhanging branches on the road side. Not the glaringly obvious fruiting bodies and the Canker ridden chestnut on site. I think its one I'll be mulling over for a few days yet

That's the tree. I've read on and off in the thread could be worth a revisit

That would be telling. Seriously though St Marks in Scarisbrick tis a big bugger of a tree.

I'm sure I've just looked at one of those today. Only difference is the one you have looks a darn site more healthy than the one I've been looking at.

Been looking at a potential job today in a church yard. Among the very poorly Horse Chestnut and a Beech with Ganoderma there was a rather large Beech. This Beech is approx 7 feet DBH approx 60 feet tall with typical included unions of a Beech that size. It spreads over a busy road and over the church yard. On the whole it looked in good health still a full canopy no signs of die back. But with two fruiting bodies at the base of the trunk. Think they were a type of Merip. See Pic. Given the location for both potential damage and the amenity of the tree what are your thoughts. Should it be left and monitored should it be felled. Its difficult to know how far the rot process will have gone. There are definite liability issues to be had.

I watched it last night and was waiting for the barber chair. The word lucky springs to mind

There is also KHhire at leyland which ain't too far from Southport. They have both tracked and wheeled machines 150 and 190's. similar price to hodgeson hire. Personally I've had no problems with either

You could always try hodgeson hire at Burscough they have 2 TW150s at 100 - 110 a day

I did a job taking down two limes about 3 tonne of timber. Left it stacked on the drive for the client. He went away for the weekend and when he came back it was gone. Not only had it gone they had swept up where the logs were.

Not right. With a vehicle with a GVW of 3500kg the max you can tow on a post 97 license regardless of whether loaded or not is 750kg. The ruling is that it is the gross weight of the vehicle that counts. You can tow upto the gross weight of the towing vehicle provided the weight of the trailer doesn't exceed the weight of the towing vehicle and the combined weight is less than 3500kg.