janey

That reminds me of when I popped my kneecap while up on spikes. The fire brigade turned up and they all stood around and looked a bit embarrassed that they didn't know what to do! I suppose that's why they are called the FIRE service and not the emergency TREE service.

They way that Islington is - or at least was - structured means that the Planning TO's have very little interaction with the Greenspace and Leisure TO's. Phil wouldn't have had anything to to with the Barnsebury Beech as he deals with TPO's, 211's, new developments etc. Clear? It's not surprising you picked the wrong TO there tho' as there are so many of them to choose from!

Sounds like something's affecting the vascular system, but what that "something" is, I haven't a clue! What's the tree spp.?

So you've finally succumbed, eh?

It's reassuring to know that I'm not the only one that skips to the last post (and then often have to do some hasty editing )

Drool... Now, where can I gets me a kindly rich person to buy it for me?

You can't see from the pics, but the pop's been heavily reduced / pollarded and adjacent to the highway. It's good to see that it's being managed for habitat rather than the TO playing risk free and removing it

I bet the two Fung Hunters are familiar with this tree! I'm pretty confident that the larger brackets on the trunk up to the crown break are P. fraxinea. Are the smaller, basal brackets Gano'?

That's definately a Kia Great little carvings. Are they destined to be garden ornaments?

It was before my time there, but I know it was a carefully considered decision and an independant report was comissioned to back up the TO's decision. The extent of the root decay was very extensive when the stump was inspected during it's removal.

Bartletts are a huge organisation with an excellent reputation. BUT, there are other companies and there is other research being undertaken and I would have prefered a less bias seminar. I felt that the actual content of the seminar at Kew took second place to the sales pitch.

Couldn't you have sold a kid or something, rather than the bike??? That would have been my preference C'mon then Ham - what ghastly things have you found in fair Islington?

Haven't had my knee down since I last dropped my bike . What's occuring?

Er, it used to be me... Jake Tibbetts is the manager there, then it's James (Jim) Chambers. All of their details can be found on the LTOA contacts page: Islington It's really gone down hill since i left! The broked "pencil sharpener" was in Harrow. I think it was Arbutus, maybe, Arb... something anyway

I felt a bit merconary not stopping to help, but after being stuck in the godawful traffic jam they'd caused, I wasn't feeling too kindly disposed!

I went past this yesterday - was it you??? What happened? Hope everyone was ok

I would say more like "well done for using your skill, experience and knowledge and not blindly and unthinkingly following orders for the sake of an easy life". I don't think I've EVER put a 30% thin in a work spec'. If I had, I would have wanted my contractor to question my request if it meant that a better standard of tree work was achieved.

If you're not adverse to taking out a loan, rather than just looking for grants, then this might be useful to you. Professional and Career Development Loans : Directgov - Education and learning Good luck

That's soooo shrinking violet-ist! I thought that was one the great things about this forum: all are welcome, as long as they don't disrespect any other member. Shy types or those who have, ahem, strong opinions alike?

That's really wierd. It looks like the inspiration for Alien

I saw your truck John, but in the absense of you waving an "I am an ArbTalker" flag I missed you! I have to agree with you about the whole sales speil. Even by the usual standards, the whole Barlettscentric theme of the day was a little overpowering. Glynn's (Perceval) research into improving soil conditions to reduce stress and aid trees' pathogen resistance was was interesting and also, I think, what most of us would intuitively try to to do. If we had vast amounts of time and money... What may be very worthwhile undertaking for individual, high importance trees can't realalistically be considered in the wider world where the management of hundreds, thousands or tens of thousands trees has to be undertaken. Air spading, mulching, fertilizers, bark planing... Can you imagine how quickly the average LA Tree Officer would be out of a job if they tried to implement that kind of management for even a tiny percentage of their tree stock? Most of us know about basic soil science and botany but unfortunately don't have the luxury of being able to implement it. The OPM update was supposed to be delivered by Dave Lofthouse (LTOA and OPM working party) and Tony was a stand in. There were a couple of points I think he missed. From the 4th instar onwards, the cats' use the nests to shed their skins in and this is where they eventually pupate. So the nests accumalate vast ammounts of the urticating (irritating) hairs that are so problematic to human - and other animals' - health. These nests can persist for several years and the hairs still retain their ability to irritate. He also didn't mention that these hairs can cause severe asthma like symptoms, hence the need for respiratory masks when removing the nests. The cats' and nests ned to be incinerated at high temperatures as it has been found that just trying to burn them on an open fire simply spreads the hairs through the air!

The main gates don't open until 9.30, so access is via the Jodrell Gate (which makes sense!) on Kew Road, opposite Gloucester Court. I think we register as we go in to the building. I have never been asked for ID before, possibly because I look really geeky and as though I belong there... See you tomorrow.

That refers to the seeds, not the catkins that are present now. Might be a Grey poplar, as it has a more upright growth habit than the white.

Fascinating and gory in equal measures! That's going to be a good one to put on your CV.