sean

They're amazing. They would be great to do some carving with. Any plans for them?

The Brimmon Oak for me would not only be a worthy winner of The European Tree The Year but would also be just reward for its owner and Rob Mcbride for their tireless campaigning to the Welsh Government which resulted in the course of a bypass being moved to ensure the retention of this tree and preserve it for many generations to come to enjoy. At this torrid time for our nation's trees from developers, councils, governments, high speed rail links etc etc The Brimmon Oak could stand as a beacon of hope for people throughout the UK as they slog on with their campaigns to preserve solitary trees, street trees and woodlands from destruction. Last year the UK's interest in this competition was pitiful with our entries struggling to get 4 figure votes whereas trees across Europe were registering up to 50'000 votes. Please vote this year. You can vote for two trees and there is an English entry but personally I would love the Brimmon to win for all the reasons above. Please get all your friends and family to vote also and get the nation backing this remarkable tree. Below is the Brimmon Oak' s owner giving some background history to 'The first talks I was involved in about the bypass the brimmon oak was being chopped down, managed to change the planners minds about this and they altered the route ,was still concerned and asked them to peg the route in the tree area and the markers were just 3.5m from the trees trunk and I knew this would destroy the trees root system ,we then had our own tree survey and arboriculture impact assessment and I went to the public inquiry with this evidence ,talked in defence of the tree for 2 hours and then it was a waiting game for the inspectors report and we were unsuccessful ,new evidence came to my attention that Rob Mcbride had registered Brimmon oak with the woodland trust back in 2009 ,I then got in touch with Rob Mcbride and he has been my mentor since, and told me to start this facebook campaign and I am not alone anymore in this fight ,we then were advised by our local AM William Powell to appeal to the WAG petitions committee with a online petition and 4731 people signed A letter from transport minister Edwina Hart to Mid and and West Wales AM William Powel, confirmed there would be a 15 metre exclusion zone around the tree after evidence put forward by Mr Jones and campaigner Rob McBride. The zone will help to preserve the tree, to the delight of Mr Jones. He said: “To begin with I was a lone warrior on this, but we have had great support and have managed to save the tree. “It is preserving a piece of history for the town, and my family history.” Mr Jones believed the roots would be damaged if the road was not diverted 15 metres away, The tree now has a 15m TPA and is protected by a circular fence.' Register your vote here European Tree of the Year - Home page Sent from my iPad using Arbtalk

Cheers David. I took a few but I left my Dslr at home by mistake so only had my G10 with scratched lens and my iPhone. I'm kind of working on something to do with the visit so will post in due course. To be honest it was lots of running around to a tight schedule launching The Great Trees of Sheffield competition and my hands were generally full pushing myself up all those bloody hills. Seminar was really good with fantastic presentations from Jeremy Barrell, Ian Rotherham and Russel Horsey focusing on the Sheffield situation.

Urban Oak

Superb Ian

Made me laff proper that did. I hope you're invoicing for the boulder in the carpet.

Nice post. Quite a change but good to see the trees still there:thumbup1:

A big no no:thumbdown:

Hanham Lock and Wei, nr Bristol

It works and is very interesting. Thanks

A favorite Beech of mine

That's true Ian.

I've said this before but I shall reiterate for the purpose of this thread as Arb Association accreditation is being discussed. In my opinion having witnessed at first hand Arb Association assessments with big contractors and smaller ones the reassessment HAVE to be unannounced. I have seen all too often companies in the week leading up to an assessment get their house in order. Running around buying first aid kits, chapter 8 and God knows what else. Using under qualified personnel all year round but making sure a decent subby is about for the time leading up to and including the assessment. Once reassessed and passed its all downhill again. If a reassessment is done unannounced it would mean a lot of companies have to up their game a little and if they pass the checks then they are a credible company. Until then it's abit of a mockery. This isn't heresay or speculation its a fact.

Agreed ^^^^^^^^^^^^

Nice job and great vid:thumbup1:

Personally I wouldn't be surprised if this incident occurred because of the ridiculously low prices that big contractors commit to in order to win contracts especially local authority. The often inexperienced and young workforce (due to low wages) are then under a lot of pressure to make x amount a day which is often unrealistic. A tree such as this one could be on a schedule of rates at as low as £150 for a team of 3. Considering target money for the day could be approx £600 they are under pressure to get the tree down and processed as quick as possible. I've worked for many a contractor doing local authority work and have seen at first hand the pathetic pricing. Obviously I do not know the scenario here but I wouldn't be surprised at all.

Dead Oak, Stanton Drew stone circle. Dead Oak, Stanton Drew stone circle. A dead tree is more than just a dead tree, it is many things. It is a book that can be read, past events are recorded as battle scars on its exterior but also within.These scars provide habitat in the form of cavities, cracks and crevices. It can play host to owls, woodpeckers, bats, invertebrates, spiders, small mammals. This rotting corpse provides nutrients for other plant life and trees whose seeds may have landed within it. Lichens, fungi and mosses can be found here. It is a natural sculpture, an artwork with its tapestry of many colours. It is a familiar landmark. A dead tree is alive.

Absolutely stunning

Yes he's lovely

Alfie.... Bloody hard workin a wheelchair but the benefits are huge!

Just got a Lab/Springer cross.

Got yourself a hot date then.

Brilliant. Beer afterwards? I was hoping to come and see you in the next few weeks anyway.

Booked on to the course in Bristol with Dr Duncan Slater. Looks very interesting utilising new research carried out at Myerscough. Anybody attended one of the courses yet or are planning on being in Ashton Court, Bristol? Arboricultural Association - Assessment of Tree Fork Workshops announced

What Paul said:confused1: