gmanntpo

Amen to Skyhuck and Tom D!!!

Great pics!!

Lets not jump the gun on what species of phytophthora it is.... Nevertheless the identification of the pathogen genus could well be correct...

Hi mate That is a very interesting post.. The exudation does look like the symptoms of the various phytophthora sp infecting trees. I consider a call to the Alice Holt disease research centre is needed! (01420 22255) Goddam mate, this couild make you famous!! A new host found...!! On a more serious note, I did a quick google search and found that P. cinnamomi causes such symptoms in Australia on nothofagus. I see no reason why phytophthora could not infect nothofagus sp in the UK. This has the potential to be a very important find I think... Please keep us posted!! Cheers Gmann

Thank you Giles This is turning into a bit of a 'bun fight' so I will not be posting any further comments. Like I said I fully respect other memebers views on the matters.

Where did I state that I'm not a professional arboriculturist??? All I said was I'm not a consultant.. but I can assure you I'm a qualified and experienced arborist and T.O...

Ok mates I do not want to argue with other members valid points about cost etc.. All I can say is that the arb profession is an expert industry that demands professional fees... I'm not a consultant, but do undertake private 5837 surveys and tree surveys for clients when my architect contact gives me a call on planning app sites... We may not be doctors, but we are equal to architects and building engineers. It would seem from some of the opinions expressed that we are not equal in our skills and knowledge to such professions... I must disagree with that. It is quite likely that there are differences in charges around the country... All I know is that highly skilled consultants I know and my local authority use are charging around £500 a day. Arborist Sites considers that £400 a day is acceptable.. fair enough, but in other areas £500 is acceptable... As for me £500 a day is a normal day rate I charge for a 5837 survey. Have the members who think this is 'greedy' actualy ever undertaken one on a devlelopment site? If 'arborist sites' has ever done a full 5837 survey, I would like to know how long it took him and how much he charged...? It is a complex task... Nevertheless, I mean no disrespect to other members views and I fully respect their opinions. Cheers Gmann

Hi Skyhuck Do you really think £500 a day is expensive for an expert service??? Try buying a picus (14K) and a risistogrpah (6k) A pencil??? What the hell does that mean??? You seem to have a very low opinion of arboriculture. Why is that? Do you not think that it is a highly skilled industry??? Surely if a consultant could earn such a sum (which most don't), then surely that is a good thing!!? I really don't understand where you are coming from... Perhaps you should join the real world!!

Very valid points Scudmaster! The £500 was a general estimate for a days work for a consultant. Am sure that a bit of negotiation would get the price down...

Hi mate Glad that was of use. If the T.O is an ok guy, then hopefully he will come round. Nevertheless, I consider the following points are relevent: 1. Why did the T.O not inspect the tree before the the TPO was made??? It is absolutely unacceptable to make a TPO without first undertaking a VTA!! 2. If the T.O did undertake an inspection then, presumeably he/she considered the defects not be a barrier to making the TPO?? 3. As you are no doubt aware, the new 1app forms require expert evidence to be submitted as part of an app to fell. Otherwise it maybe sent back to you requesting further info... 4. If this is the case, you maybe forced to go down the consultant route, or, if the app is accepted but refused then let the appointed arb planning inspector make the call... 5. Finally, I know that consultants can be expensive, but we are in an evolving industry, that is becoming more of a specialised profession all the time. Whether you are working as a front line arborist, or an consultant, I consider the fees should reflect our highly unique skills.... Cheers

Thank you Welwel!! Cheers mate!

.. I will leave you to find the further information regarding colonisation stategy, type of rot and implications for tree health...!

Hi mate Piptoporus betulinus - Birch polypore also known as Razor strop fungus.. A common deadwood saprophyte on Birch.. Hope that is useful!

Safe Useful Life Expectancy (SULE) It is the key to a report to back an application such as this. If you are unsure yourself, any good arb consultant will be able to sort you out. Such a report from a consultant will cost around £500. I am assuming that the this tree's SULE is low (<10 years), based on your pics. If that is the correct assumption then its retention is pointless, when you can plant a replacement tree with a century or 2 ahead of it. Of course, the tree could be heavily reduced, but again, its amenity value (Why the TPO was made???) would be significantly reduced and the on going cost to your client increased.. Remember, SULE is not when the tree is a pile of sticks on the ground, but when the tree is going to start shedding limbs, major crown dieback etc... Cheers mate!

Hi mate No offence dude, but the pics are a little blurry.. Nevertheless I consider that you can rule out Sooty Bark disease (Cryptostorma corticle). From your pic of the tree from a distance, it does not appear to be showing the symptoms of the disease and the fruit bodies don't match, you get that black mass spore layer under the dead bark, hence the name. It could however be Smokey Polypore (Bjerkandera adusta) or Silver leaf (Chondrostereum purpureum. Both can occur on Sycamore, although Bjerkandera is perhaps more likely... Nevertheless, its a little accademic! Why the hell would the TO put a TPO on a tree like this (I say this as a TO myself..) I really do despair sometimes!!!!! The tree is clearly in a structural poor condition. It could even, as you said, be in the DDD catagory. If this is the case then the TPO should never have been made.. The work specified by the TO, is also, in my opinion plain stupid! What the hell is a 15% crown reduction supposed to achieve??? I should imagine that the order is 'proposed' and not confirmed and the six month section 201 directive is running. My advice is to have an assessment of the SULE of the tree either by you or a consultant. If, as likely, this is low, then apply to fell it, with a good quality replacement tree planting specified as part of the app. If the LA are stupid enough to refuse it, then appeal and the planning inspectorate will back you up and they'll be made to look rather silly as their actions are just so backward with no concept of urban silviculture and forward thinking!! Hello this is the 21st century!!! Hope this is useful!!!! Cheers

Weird! I posted this reply on another thread and its jumped up here.... My answer referred to David old willow logs...!

Hi David Looks like some ageing Oyster fungus fruit bodies (Pleurotus ostreatus) Shame they weren't a bit fresher - would have a juicy treat! Cheers Geoff

You were right to walk away dude.. £250 a day is too cheap anyway mate!! Up those rates!! With the big boys, you have to remember that they are fitting in several jobs a day with a few different crews, so they can cut the margins.....

Hi mate Gibbons survey sheet is fine and should be included in the appendix as part of the report. Nevertheless you need to produce a formal report for an indivdual VTA such as this. If you give me your e mail address I will send you all the relevant headings. Its too much too write down here. Don't forget, you are now a consultant providing this sort of expertise and need to charge accordingly... About £500 a day is the going rate.. Cheers gmann

hi mate It is appropriate pruning for the woodland setting, emulating natural branch failure.. Whats not to like dude?!! Superb job and advanced thinking I reckon!!! gmann

Very nice pics!

Great pics my friend! Will get my sorry ass up there 2mowz. Could do with adding to my pics collection..

Hi mate Maximum respect to you for building your knowledge up. Get a copy of Alan Mitchells 'Trees of Britain & Northern Europe' it is still one of the most comprehensive tree ident books... We used to call it 'the bible' when I was at college!!! The other advice given on the post is also a superb way of learning the tree species. Try and and i.d in a few fungi fruit bodies when you get chance. Cheers mate.

Very, very good pics! Nice one dude...

As for the Monkey Puzzle - yeah, looks like she's already on the way to recovery. I give it a SULE of at least another 100 years!!!