John Hancock

Mate. I'm stuck at work at the moment...clock watching! Grrrrrr

Just made it in to Worcester.....Dam!!! Might see you up there later !

Buzz - What tyres are those mate ??

I've seen it a fair few times here.....

Will-do bro’ – There is something very satisfying watching the birds feeding, I think its something that comes with age! I was thinking about buying one of those ultra-sonic cat zapper thingies…….do they work ??

We have a magnificent Cedrus libani (Ceder of Lebanon) here in Worcester. Every time it snows we’re up there with brooms dusting it down. Luckily today it’s the dry powdery stuff that brushes off easily, it’s the wet, heavy snow that’s the killer for these trees (and it’s a bugger to broom-off!)

We don’t get any birds in our garden….last week I spent £28 on bird feed from the local garden centre in an attempt to attract them in. Not a sausage! Must be something to do with the neighbours cat me thinks, wish I kept the air-rifle now!

I’ve been separated for three years now and have two young children. I’m lucky in that we live close to each other and I see them fairly often. Personally I could never move away (the parental bond is just too great). Everybody is different and every situation is different. You didn’t mention how old your son was. They are only young once, life is short and you’re along time dead. It’s a hard call to make!

Lovely, lovely car! I love the vintage stuff…..Got a big soft-spot for Austin 7’s, I’d love to have a go at that in a Nippy!

I can imagine you mean stumps like Poplar and Willow? Welcome to the forum fella!

Oh-god! Chipper related photos are obviously so boring ‘Tuffnell’ remarks are being made! Stoxs, if you’re a 19yr. Old (female) volley-ball champion, with an interest in chippers I’m made-up I don’t suppose you are though……?

Is the chipper course still a one-day affair?? I was told recently that they're going to be changing it to a two day job! We had 6 people through today and we were finished nice and early. I dont know how they could make it last two days. Its not rocket science

Lets all buy a load, travel down to London and pop them into the trees down there.......It'll bug the hell out of you know who...!

We’ve just bought a second hand Teupen Leo 15GT. I spent months domo'ing other models and always came back to the Teupen. Go got it – They’re only jealous!

That’s Tom the apprentice, he’s doing ok now…getting more mature! We don’t like bending over here in Worcester, especially in the parks!

Bit of a different day today. We’re putting some of the lads who work in the parks through the NPTC chipper course. I had my camera because we needed some pictures to link the training in with a lottery bid for the park. Trainer was Chris Wyatt, nice chap! Anyway someone might be interested……

Mate, I’ve spent a fortune on planting in the past, only to have all the trees vandalised weeks later. If I put all my eggs in one basket its taking a risk. I’d prefer to plant two or even three smaller trees and hope some survive. Don’t you just love the youth of today!

Update on the Oak…… Had a meeting with the tree officer. He’s keen on a fell and re-plant. Now please don’t be too hasty in putting him down, I understand and respect his views, being - this is an urban landscape, which is changing constantly, the tree has been there for many years and has served its purpose. If you felled it, and replaced with two good specimens in years to come they too will be enjoyed and appreciated. I would love to do nothing, except monitor health and vitality of the tree, trouble is it’s on a green open space and ultimate responsibility stops with me. I can not do nothing. Here is what I want to happen. First I’m going to start consultation with the residents of the close. Inform them (in simple terms) that the tree has a recognised fungal infection and this, in turn may have compromised the strength of the trees’ rooting system. I’m also informing them of its possible implications to the tree. Then I’m going to survey the tree (particularly the below ground portion of the tree/main supporting roots) as given the decay characteristics of this pathogen/fungi this is the part I expect to be most defective. I think the most suitable survey tool would be a resistograph. (Picus would only tell me what’s going on above ground) and as far as I’m aware so would thermal imaging (although my knowledge on TI is limited) Once I’ve gathered the survey results and the resident’s opinions/views then it’ll be time to make a decision. My heart is leaning towards planting some quality replacements ASAP and carrying out a ‘significant’ crown reduction. My head is telling me to fell and replant, because I already know the characteristic decay this fungi causes. This still all depends on the results of the survey. If the decay is extensive and the tree has to come down I’ll still sleep at night. Whatever I decide it’ll have to be defensible in a court of law should failure occur. John.

I like that!!

Excellent Vid! Better than porn that! Oh dear......must get out more

Great Pics!

Wise words.

If you dont have Micro-soft Image resizer here is the link...... http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/Downloads/powertoys/Xppowertoys.mspx

bless him :001_smile:I'm getting broody - Time to go!!

Thankyou Uncle Shrek.