John Hancock

Yep, know where your coming from. Sometimes a tree just doesn’t feel right, no particular reason, just get the bad vibes.

I had to look twice at that - better get down the opticians!

Was having lunch in the yard today and this little fella popped up to say hello...

Fairly confident, I have a sample of Bjerkandera back at the office which I checked it against. It’s just a shame I couldn’t do the ‘tear’ test on this one as it was dry as a bone.

Mate I found this the other night, and thought of you...

I was out and about with the camera today and found these rather interesting…..

Looks like it to be bro, either that or you've just found the mother of all rhizomorphs.

Spot-on with the tree (its very, very dead) You could be right about the fungi Tom

Principles of Tree Hazard Assessment and Management states – ‘This fungus, although common, is of relatively little significance for safety, since it is mainly confined to small trunks and branches which have in most cases died from some other cause’ The Ash on which these were found was dead. They are a good indicator of dead material as they stand out so well in the winter months. They are currently classed as a white-rot.

Daldinia concentrica on Ash, also as "King Alfred's cakes," 'as the legend goes, King Alfred was fleeing a battle with the Danes in Somerset when he took refuge in an old woman's house. The old woman, not knowing he was the king, left Alfred in charge of watching some cakes in the oven. Of course, he knew nothing about ovens and didn't really know what he was supposed to do. He fell asleep, and the cakes burned. The old woman scolded him soundly for being lazy, but later she was probably sorry about "raking him over the coals" when she found out he was the king!' The other fungi is Bjerkandera adusta/Polyporus adustus (In a desiccated state) Nice little link.... http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/dec2004.html

Double points if you can guess the host tree!

The other option is.... say nothing and hope you get away with it.

I’ve encountered similar problems with TPO’d Oaks and swings here in Worcester. I’m responsible for council owned tree stock and I have had cases where residents have put up swings, ropes etc on TPO’d stock. In each case I have made the residents take them down because the tree is protected (people make a habit of leaving ropes and swings in trees and ultimately they will girdle the branch, causing serious damage) Sounds like you have fixed a post on the Oak, and the Oak tree isn’t yours, correct? If you have, technically its criminal damage (unless you had written permission from the owners) You also have the added complication that the tree is TPO’d. You mention that you knew this and still you went ahead and fixed the post to the tree, correct? If it is correct then this could be classed as damage and at the very least be made to take it down, and at the worst be made to pay a considerable fine. You also mention the development behind the tree. This means the Tree Officer will be aware of the tree and will be checking on it periodically as the development takes place, i.e. your going to get found-out! Its not looking good my friend……

Its an 026 actually. You could argue that he’s doing it correctly, i.e. he’s the only one carrying out the operation (there was no-way I was going under there while he was cutting) He did do it methodically and carefully. My main argument was that I would have climbed the tree and knocked all those branches out so the main trunk would lay flat when felled. A much safer operation IMO.

Here you go.........

Hang-on brothers....!

If your are talking about crown break-down on a felled or wind-blown tree then I really do believe it’s the most dangerous thing we Arbs do! I have some pics somewhere - of how not to do it..lol

4 pints down the local with my Blackberry.

Penny knows of this forum, I was giving her the old spiel about Arbtalk the other day. Give her a call and she may give you a little discount.

That’s the fella, its a T22 with shoulder straps.

Nice choice of boots too!

I've done the full 5 day course and all the team have done the appointed persons course. I would of thought it was standard good practice to have at least one qualified first aider on site these days….

Mate, your only saying that because no one will get in the basket with you – can’t think why….

I've got a T24 he can buy - very retro!

If you know your workmate, and you trust each other you can get such a rhythm going it great. It’ll be such a pain to be up there on your own - cut, put saw down, break section, throw, pick saw up again, cut……..what a pain!