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Honestly....? I think if by the time you have actually read and absorbed the reports and research, commissioned by govt, into the need for and provision of development space, it is not atall as simple a matter as you are suggesting. Planning policy guidance and directives are tiered as you should probably be well aware of, being passed down from central govt, to local administration. Sure, there is always room for some degree of interpretation and this is right and proper. Locally, the situation on the ground is not going to be the same for all LPA's. Similarly, the degree to which the LA is staffed for tree care considerations , and it must be said, trained in some instances, also differs. That said, I would reiterate the point that there exists some pressure from govt on local govt to surrender appropriate land for the needs of infrastructure development. It is unlikely that the legislation could benefit from such a prescriptive measure and defeats the point of tree care professionals in one sense. What I should like to see is for LPA's to carry out a comprehensive survey of infrastructure to include trees. Only by knowing what there is can you make a realistic judgement as to the suitability of certain projects and demands. Otherwise all this guff about "sustainability" and the like is no more than rhetoric. But we all know what the current coalition thinks about the consensus... Whilst I dont necessarily agree that spending cuts aimed at the welfare state, and in this i include the services of local govt depts, the point highlighted above re: the onerous nature of increases to spending is pertinent! I agree also though that tree ownership need not be made a burden. In this regard, striking the correct balance is not as simple or straightforward as it may at first seem. Now I dont know whether "Tree Protection legislation" in the UK is the most sophisticated in Europe but Im not sure we need throw out the baby with the bathwater either!

you make some good points Tony....

I ve heard even Bartletts Tree Experts talk about spraying whole trees in built environments with chemical controls...wasnt sold on the idea myself! Too much scope for overspray..whatever they say! Use something benign , well, thats a bit different story!

Mine is out of date then...cos it asks to duplicate/keep originals. When you make a change, the file is overwritten and hey presto, no more original. It isnt free either Steve.

I use iPhoto...cos its free and simple! i you are not sorted already Steve, try looking here..(What you running,OS x,Leopard etc...) Mac OS X Software Updates and Mac OS X Downloads - VersionTracker

No, sorry for the confusion. IME, if something is free, it's because it's no bl***y good!! lol Tim

Hama...the changes due to the qualifications framework are a (very badly timed and unspeakably annoying) step in the right direction. It will aim to score students on a scale whereby all previously gained credits are indeed units of themselves but a part also of further endeavours. Continual assessment in effect. It should then not need pointing out that differing sector industry can look across the platform of quals currently available, and be able to score prospective employees, sub-contractors WHU with ease and without confusion...... Now , about that paying for it for you....just look at the way a whole generation of upcoming students are due to be "wasted" in the name of "deficit cuts"....New politics my arse...The moment they start berating the last govt for their legacy you know that the individuals are no different and new politics is no more than rhetoric.....Its transferance. "They made me do it!" utter drivel......!

What can I say...? I have NCH-Arb, NPTC's coming out my ears, AA-PTI & QTRA licensed....I am well placed to complete climbing surveys/assessments...In many ways, it would be my ideal job! Keep on topic!

Hey, if anyone needs the services of a climber/inspector...Im free!

You work too hard mate...!

Just read this thread..its Viburnum rhytidophyllum....!

Apple friendly by any chance.....?

Its a strange animal...The guys I know in LA are banging on about quals this and quals that...I dont know how they get to do the job they are so busy getting quals And yet they also seem to covert the experience thing...but this just makes them want more quals! Im all for quals.... This country has long had an obsession with quals . Certs for this , that, selling paint and changing grinder discs!! Hey, we all want certifying!!

There's certainly alot of pressure currently on existing tree stock and I cant see that ever changing! I think there may well be the need to improve protection status....

Have you thought about selling the moniker "sawdust"? Its a bit like naming your company "Special Branch"....

You beat me to it...what he said Tony.

OK...sorry if I was just repeating your point..!

It kinda looks damaged to me ...going from your post image of the base? Poking at the wood/trunk certainly wont solve much and just might make it worse!Perhaps a more "genteel" excavation of the affected area..? The tree is stressed and so less able to mobilise systemic defenses. It is a bit the blind leading the blind innit? Too bad the owner is not more amenable to your efforts and concern Travis. In fact, pea shingle and the geocloth you describe should both work in favour of the tree from a dehydration point of view.... I doubt it will fall over . Watering it is good! Tim

What he said!

Maybe Paul...but you will find trees will not stick to the script as far as RPA goes. BS5837 is a guidance and quite good for it being none to prescriptive (IMO) There is always some leeway ( should be anyway) as roots will tend to exploit the areas of LEAST resistance. Roots rarely damage services or drains without slightly more complicated factors coming into play. That said, my point is the rpa is rarely a nice circle. If a wall or some other underground obstruction should be present, it is plausable the RPA will reflect this...( ie roots grow elsewhere...) cheers.

Classic!

In Melbourne they have a similar scheme where by permission must be sought for all works.....( Have you seen what they have done to some of their trees tho'? )I think it would be a backward step eh! I posted recently that we apparently have the most sophisticated tree preservation laws of any country in europe...Me & my big "bouche!"

OMG...Terrific image Travis...Haven't a clue ol' mate..useless n'est pas!? Yes, drought is very likely a symptom pushing the tree's physiological system from stress to strain.Damage during the installation of said tarmac seem quite likely also. Looks like a bacterial infection right enough. At 15-20 years I might try something to improve the soil conditions....? Tim

Hi Travis, There are experts and then there are experts! It would certainly appear to be worthy of further investigation. I say this because the base seems to show little or no flare making me think that soil levels have been altered recently (ish) This is bad for soil ecology and poor conditions will prevail. This is conducive to bacterial success and the more benign and beneficial soil fauna perish. This has some obvious effects on tree health longterm. It would suggest that a basal investigation might furnish more info. A degree of knowledge is indeed preferable I guess. Do a buttress and root investigation.....enquire further about recent development perhaps. The more info we have as to the trees size, aspect, age class, condition and so on, the more easily we might determine the scale and nature of the problem.

Im gonna go with bacterial wetwood but without pictures its a bit of a guess tbh()....check this lot out or put up some pics or both!? bacterial wetwood - Google Search Bacterial Wetwood - Prevention and Control of Slime Flux Slime flux wet wood trees oak shade tree