monkeypuzzle22

I agree, this looks like some sort of really hungry squirrel...cure??try an air rifle or if you have a licence, a RIM fire works very well!hahaha...

I may be able to sort your dilema, I worked for B and B Tree Specialists last year and we had our kit checked by some bloke from the Lincs area...I shall PM you when i have more details. Callum

Great thread...i think we have underestimated for a long time the damage this pathogen could cause!

I agree with janey in the fact that i would imagine most people on here do not really use an increment borer or many other DD tools. I work in consultancy and base most my findings around the Mattheck method of VTA. On certain trees, notably in high target areas or to which a tree has a signifcant major structural defect, we may carry ouyt further tests to support our evidence when suggesting suitable management prescriptions. Therefore i can't comment to much on the pro's/con's of the IB. I think the sealant idea is a good one, we often talk about a chainsaw that as it cuts sprays a sealant over the wound, providing almost immeadiate protection (trying to watch the inuendos) against fungal spores/colonisation etc. However, most fungi are leitant and exist within the tree from day one (Endophytic) and come out of dormancy predominently when the tree is a weakened state and when the conditions are correct i.e. temperature and moisture etc. So would it work??

9 weeks today...going to be a lovely little Tree Inspector...

I agree MonkeyD...Trichoderma spp have a magnitude of uses and are commercially used in fertilisers for arable crops, see interesting article below: In addition to colonizing roots, Trichoderma spp. attack, parasitize and otherwise gain nutrition from other fungi. Since Trichoderma spp. grow and proliferate best when there are abundant healthy roots, they have evolved numerous mechanisms for both attack of other fungi and for enhancing plant and root growth. Several new general methods for both biocontrol and for causing enhancement of plant growth have recently been demonstrated and it is now clear that there must be hundreds of separate genes and gene products involved in these processes. A recent list of mechanisms follows. Mycoparasitism Antibiosis Competition for nutrients or space Tolerance to stress through enhanced root and plant development Solubilization and sequestration of inorganic nutrients Induced resistance Inactivation of the pathogen’s enzymes I think we could be on to something here, a fungicide poly-filler

Hahaha...i agree with above!Alternatively move the footpath, off-set it away from the tree or plant some barrier like shrub planting i.e. pyracantha, hawthorn and blackthorn, this would put people off venturing up to the tree.

Hi, If managed appropriately the willow should not fail as the rejuvenation of the crown through epicormic growth will be cut prior to it gaining considerable size and weight and therefore the potential for its failure shall be reduced. Prior to assessing the reason it was left in place, assess the obvious targets in relation to the percieved hazard, if there are no targets there is no hazard. I think it is likely the council retained the tree due to its location. The tree is situated next to a lake and within, what appears to be, a local wildlife haven. Willow as a species provides benefits for wilife and with the cavity/longitudinal split, this tree also serves as a valuable habitat for an abundance of small insects, mammals, fungi etc. Furthermore, the Willows roots may be helping to fix the bank in place. Many reasons why they may have retained it??????? Callum

So its Saturday the 18th...what time? I would like to come for a foray, get some more pics for the tree porn bank and generally rub my knees with delight near to fungi! Callum

Hi, There are still ten week courses available at several colleges across the UK, I know for sure that Merrist Wood have the course available and that it is highly regarded. Those that have been on the course say it is alot like the ND but condensed to 10 weeks. Alternatively there is the Tech Cert, this is a one day a week course, so you can still work, yet does involve some after work/evening research, coursework and general study. This is better, in my opinion, then the 10 week course. If not, aim for the ND Arboriculture, practical studies combined with lectures. Hope this helps, Callum.

Great link posted above, definately worth the read, really interesting results!

Its a goat willow (Salix caprea) with what looks like some sort of bud proliferation or catkin gall.

Hey, No worries...i wasn't having a go or trying to make you look silly!I just read the title of the thread and was a bit amazed!Anyway, as the post above states...this does look alot like Meripilus. 'Each cap 10–30cm across, 1–2cm thick, covered in very fine brown scales on the upper surface which is radially grooved and concentrically zoned light and darker brown; attached to the common base by a short stem. Flesh white, soft and fibrous'. Rogers Mushrooms - Meripilus giganteus Mushroom

Hi, What makes you think this is Laetipous cincinnatus?I thought that particular variety of laetiporus was distibuted mainly in America (north) and was rare to find in this country? One way of differing sulphurus from 'Cincinnatus' is to look at the colour of the spore surface, if yellow then sulphurous!!I cannot tell from the pics above so...

I would have to say Rowan...

Great pictures above Monkeyd...i have worked on a few projects in Leicestershire in which we completed a Walk over and Veteran Tree Survey on a large agricultural/old shooting estate. The estate had an abundance of veteran trees, namely old Oaks, Sycamores and several large lapsed pollarded ash and a large stored coppice stool. I recommended the reduction of several large ash to create habitat poles/ monoliths, complete with coronet cuts and the retention of some deadwood and natural fractures. I will try to find the pictures and put them up... Do you get a lot of this kind of work? I wish i did...now with new company and different rules/oppurtunities!!

Have you identified any yet?haha...

Hi Monkeyd, Did you think of attaching the decaying stem to another tree in the upright position?preferably a monolith to encourage an expansion of the habitat? Just a thought...btw thought the first few pics were excellent examples of small habitat creation in stumps. I have attempted a few in the past and have never seen re-growth work to that affect i.e. securing the top ring. Very impressive....

Life is a waste of time, Time is a waste of life, Get wasted all the time, and you'll have the best time of your life... x

I agree with the above, there is no chance of subsidence due to the fact that the soil does not comprise clay. My first question, has there been any damage caused to the building?Is this damage (if any) characterisitc of tree root damage to buildings i.e. cracks, displacement or actual hard evidence (surface roots etc)? Is this the result of the feud or is the feud due to a difficult neighbour who wishes to have more light, less leaves and a good moan? If there is direct damage why has the neighbour not contacted a structural engineer?...although he will see the tree and say "its the tree!"....W**kers! I thinks some tiral pits wouldn't hurt, this will show you the extent of encroachment? I feel it is possible you will see alot of large diameter roots and therefore pruning will not be an option.

COD6 is awesome....

Spikes, on a living tree???come on...i agree with everyone who has posted in this thread, to some degree (MEWPS are for chumps) and i would say that the best way to get around accessing a planes crown when there are no branches would be to simply practice, practice, practice...find a nice open Oak tree with large, clean branches (i say this because when your a newb theres nothing worse then getting your throwline snagged). Once perfected, take a shortened throwline in a small bag i.e. chalk bag etc...and use it in the tree. Failing that shimmy up with ur strop round, hurts like hell but builds them leg muscles,ha...

Congrats to Haye. great fight last night....clever boxing to go twelve rounds and not get knocked out!!

Hey Guys, Thanks for all the posts and some good advice...spoke to Nod at Treeworker the other day, a guy a trust for a advice quite alot, he advised me that most people who climb with a TM and then move to the Petzl regret it. I enjoy the comfort and snug fit of the TM as well as, as previously stated, the fact that you can design the harness to suit you. My current TM failed its LOLER, webbing and bridge, i know there replacable but hey the boss has offered a new one so i'll jump. Again, many thanks.

I think the only way to end this ongoing debate is to assess a few pictures of the tree between ourselves...ash as we all know are notorious for brittle fractures and often display poor compartmentilization and seem to place exhausted energy elsewhere i.e. into producing an abundance of epicormic growth. The so called split in the bark of the main stem has not be further described, by this i mean measurements and proportions. Once this data has been provided a comparison can be made to the size of the crown, degree of lean and any other notable defects and defects. I would say that it is a bit drastic to instantly recommend felling the tree, not an approporiate answer. As stated previously, the overall vigour/vitality of the tree should be commented on...is there any repsonse to wounding i.e. recation wood (callus) or is the tree unable to do so due to low vigour through some kind of stress (site conditions, pest or desiease)?? The target area is always a key consideration, espiecially in a heavily trafficed area. Furthermore i would question whether the school has the funds to provide continual management for this particualr specimen?if not, then a long term and viable solution may be to fell and replace, but lets not be hasty.