sean

So this is how a Council contractor in Sheffield has left a site today. The situation up there goes from bad to worse. Unbelievable.

TREEspect were honoured to support and be a part of the ‘Fallen Soldiers, Standing Trees’ project organised by Street Tree Art Sheffield (STARTS) and Artist Dan Llwelyn Hall. On the 11th November, Armistice day, the residents of Sheffield came out in force to paint the memorial trees planted in honour of the former pupils of the local school who sadly lost their lives in World War One. These trees are the Country’s only living war memorial as recognised by the Imperial War Museum. Sheffield City Council and their contractor Amey have, in their catastrophic tree felling program earmarked a significant number of them for removal despite a number of professionals from the Arboricultural and Engineering bodies opposing and indeed offering alternative advice in order to keep these trees. Utter madness. The Art works that were made on Armistice day were collated by a dedicated team of volunteers and put in an exhibition in Sheffield. The project as a whole has been a great success and is testament to all the hard work and dedication of each and every resident who took part including children. It is also exactly the kind of project that TREEspect as an organisation was set up to be part of. Bringing the community together to celebrate their tree heritage, raise awareness and campaign for the protection of a communities valuable tree assets.

Ok. Cheers Steve.

I can access the forum from my phone but on my Mac it’s still saying currently unavailable?

Personally I think that privately the councillors know that they have made a complete and utter balls up of this and have dug themselves such a big hole that they do not know how to get out of it. They are more than likely far too pig headed to admit they are wrong but perhaps concerned that they will face a serious fight to suspend the contract and may indeed be worried that contents of the contract that have not been made public may well surface if they did pull the plug. What is in the contract that hasn't been made public already?

I know the Sheffield situation has been discussed at length on the forum. The whys, the hows, the conflicts etc etc but nothing epitomises the sheer lunacy of this felling campaign than these two trees. I have just spent a couple of days up in Sheffield to once again see personally what is going on up there and top of my list was a visit to these fine street trees. The Millhouses Lane Ash and the Vernon Oak have been condemned for ‘surface damage’. As can be seen from the photographs the damage is minimal to say the least. Both of these roads are devoid of street trees. I’m astounded that this decision has been taken and it is little wonder that the residents of Sheffield are up in arms about the felling campaign in their city.

Hi mate. No I’m afraid not hence the post. Needs some detective work. I only know that filming was in the Framlingham area. They used the boys school apparently, don’t know what their grounds are like. Maybe Fram Hall as well?

Ive been watching Series 1 and 2 of The Detectorists (which is brilliant by the way) and what I have been noticing is how many amazing Ancient and Veteran trees there are in the location where the series is filmed. Having looked into it , it seems the 2 series were primarily filmed in Framlingham and Aldham in Suffolk. The round tower church in Aldham often appears as a back drop but it doesn't seem quite right on Google images. I have put in postcodes for both places on Ancient Tree Hunt but hardly any records on there. So, local tree bods, do you know anywhere near to both of these places with a number of fine trees. Theres a number of Ancient vet Oaks, Ash, some willows and others that appear in background shots that are unidentifiable. If we can find them they can be recorded and admired hopefully. Cheers chaps.

Amazing light and colours today.

True. It’s still crap money giving what the job is. They can retrain as a plumber or the like and earn double that at least.

A bit light hearted but relevant in some cases.

some fair comments but they both have all necessary tickets including towing chipper.

Too many business owners take advantage and pay peanuts Imo especially in certain jobs where one can learn a trade.

The ridiculous money that some companies offer has a lot to do with good guys getting out of the industry. A friend of mine who is a bloody good arb with 7 years experience, all his tickets and is very competent at large sectional fells, including time as a team leader has just moved to Cardiff and has been taken on at £10 per hour. Another friend was offered the same in Bristol. These aren't cowboy outfits either. One is Arb approved and the other is going for it. Thats joke money as far as I'm concerned considering the nature of the job. My daughter who is 18 has just started her first job in a supermarket after finishing A levels is on £8 per hour.

Some Autumn wanderings

Some great videos here looking at 'Woodlanders' around the world. http://www.woodlanders.com/episodes/

Im sure there are plenty on here that could use this trick.

No, stay on it.

I wouldn't say that protesters are 'ill informed' when very well respected consultants such as Jeremy Barrell have personally been to Sheffield, inspected trees that have been earmarked for removal and consequently been publicly scathing about what is going on in Sheffield. I have personally been to Sheffield on a number of occasions to see for myself what is going on up there. Of course there are a number of trees whose removal is warranted. What is apparent however is the lack of continuity in the decisions to remove trees. There are many trees causing extensive damage to walls and pavements yet are being retained although alternative engineering solutions are available yet in the same road trees that are causing no obvious damage at all are being removed. I saw lime trees with extensive decay being retained yet a couple of trees along the road the tree has dislodged a kerb stone and has been put down for a fell. Read Jeremy's view here BTC112-AANews-Complete-151016.pdf

Good work Ali. Great video too.

A not often seen woodland London Plane

They don't have to be big.

Good one. Is that near Manningtree?

NOT to do this Not to do that

Fig Tree sap can cause burns/blisters