Giles Hill

A single leafed ash? (for Monkeyd's 2nd pic)

erm...

I am planning to go up the day before, but I haven't sorted anything out yet - I noticed Iain was going to post some details...

It won't be the first time John. I'm glad you posted the picture, even if I have got it wrong, because before you did, I didn't have any idea how to tell apart the 3 larches that are listed on the Tech Cert ID list. I feel like I might stand half a chance now. The only worry is the written exams come first and the topics for those seem to be mostly stuff that varies between tedious and pointless.

Hi Steve, I was wondering about that too - and then after I posted my guess, I noticed on the Myerscough site, below the common name it says 'Synonyms: Larix x eurolepis'.

Here's a pic of L. Kaempferi cones from the Myerscough ident utility:

John, I'm reading this all out of a book, but that's all I've got to go on and I know I sound pedantic, but really I'm just trying to educate myself, and these idents make a good test... Collins states that The distinctions between L eurolepis & L kaempferi can grade to nil because much of the seed was taken from plantations where these are mixed. More seed comes from plantations themselves hybrids, and this second generation shows all the variations between the original parents. True hybrids differ from L. Kaempferi in paler shoot, longer leaf less whitish beneath and long-conic cones with scale tips pointing upwards, not curled down. Whereas L. Kaempferi cones are described as: 'more dumpy than L. decidua, ripen to brown, flattened-bun-shaped cones with edges of scales strongly turned out and down I was wondering if the cones on your tree would curl out as they ripened, but the pic below is reputedly of L. Kaempferi and the tips are curling on the green cone - there's a better green cone pic on the Myerscough site, but I can't seem to access it at the moment. That pic came from here: Larix kaempferi Fact Sheet

I'll try for Larix x eurolepis

Here's a BS style template, and a list of definitions for the headings on the template. BS Template.pdf Definitions.pdf

You need the objectives before you choose / make a template, otherwise you'll be collecting information that's not relevant or missing stuff that is

What's the purpose of the survey? They tend to be in different formats, depending on what the information is going to be used for: Eg BS 5837 type that's used for grading trees for retention and identifying constraints to development. Hazard assessment type - there's a few on this link: http://arbtalk.co.uk/forum/business-management/5341-survey-template-anyone.html Management type

I reckon your getting close enough with that one David, not that I claim to have any knowledge beyond pages 281 and 284 of Collins... But it certainly seems to tick the boxes - the second pic seems to fit the 'hard dark shiny green above' description of the leaf, which is also indicated in the DK book. It also mentions one of the largest recorded specimens, being in Battersea Park - 17m tall, 1.8m girth - how do they compare to that? DK book image:

The main reason for using it, is that is meant to prevent compaction caused by traffic, because it acts as a load-bearing structure and spreads the weight of the vehicle over a wide area, rather than allowing it to be concentrated beneath the wheels. You can get it in different thicknesses, depending on what traffic it's intended for. So provided the ground is not compacted to begin with or during construction, everything should be fine. In theory...

Thanks for the tree climbing lesson Steve, I really enjoyed the experience, even though all the strength from my arms was gone before I got 10ft up. I reckon it must be satisfying when it all comes naturally. It was good to meet Jonsie, Jonsie Jnr and Andy C, briefly before the heavens opened...

You seem to be able to access the images from the first book online: dkimages - discover - plants - Sorbus latifolia (Service Tree of Fontainebleau)

Statutory undertakers are people like the electricity and water companies. They're allowed to cut trees or excavate trenches nearby, provided it is done as part of their statutoty duties, such as keeping powerlines clear of branches or repairing sewage pipes.

Oh go on then. Oxydendrum arboreum - can be identified by ridged bark, dangly bits and left-clicking on a picture of it. Sorry. The willow oak, was an honest educated guess though.

Me neither. The image below wasn't my idea of S intermedia, but I thought it looked like your photo and was quite confident when I made the suggestion. Now I'm just

I was just wondering why the tree seems to have gone down hill so quickly since last year and wondered if the mulch might somehow be to blame - I know it seems unlikely... Perhaps it's just because it's been dryer this year? Well it has around here anyway.

I don't think it is Sorbus latifolia. Your book and my one describe the leaves as being as broad as they are long, I've just google imaged this, which I think shows what is more typical for the leaf shape: European Mountain-ash - Sorbus latifolia I read somewhere that sorbus is one for having lots and lots of local forms so it might be something odder.

Total guess - willow oak?

I thought the stem was a bit sorbusy, but the leaves looked too small in the first pics, but now it's got a book for scale I'll go for Swedish whitebeam?

Good effort, I'm surprised at how much it's declined since last year. I wonder if the mulching has had a detrimental effect - perhaps it's stripped the available Nitrogen our of the soil? I am of course speculating here...

Thanks Steve, I'll look forward to it.

Steve, I was intending to come to the main show on Sunday with the wife and kids and I was thinking of dropping in to say hello, but I'd be up for a go climbing, if the offer is open? I'd need some coaching, but hopefully you wouldn't need to call the fire service out to extract me from 20ft up. I don't mind signing a disclaimer if the insurance is an issue.