Tony Croft aka hamadryad

ive heard many over the years argue over these concepts, both hold true IMo I dont think anyones scientificaly chalenged the axiom, and would be daft to, to be frank. I am not as concerned by the arguments as I used to be, i settled the arguments for myself in nature, and am happy with the methods of tree evaluation, both old, in The body language of trees, and in newer releases by Prof claus mattheck.

go for it, it will go beserk

reluctant to fell but its felled, this is a crime.

if you had to own three books of arboriculture this would be in them, so yeah, very special

the axiom of uniform stress and the T/r theory both are valid

Now thats and a tad patronizing to say the least but its cool, not really concerned about anyones opinions particularly when it comes to trees that i pass judgment on being safe, nor what is salvageable in some form or another. Ive retained far worse, and seen far worse stood everytime i drive by for years dumb founding even me. In fact have a look at this old tree. I was working close by and as I often do, I went to check a tree that I know today, to all intents and purposes should have been on the deck. Its been at least two years since I saw her, and in those two years we have had two heavy snowfall winters. She has a separation shear going right through out of the root ball center, shear ball split in two, a severe lean and a top heavy crown exposed to side loads and snow/rain loading. A remarkable thing, as a side note This time I confirmed a suspicion and saw the white mycelial sheets and brown decay I associate with P. shweinitzii, and finally found a bit of the fruit body just to be 100%. Another record for the T/R theory collection! Before I post the images I will finish by saying that technically speaking youve just suggested that I am potentialy an incompetent tree assessor and that sooner or later i will have a suite on my hands because somebody getting hurt is inevitable. I think that the chances of this occurring are in the region of zero or may as well be, I mean if we do NOTHING there is a 1-10,000,000 chance somebody will die from a tree at sometime in the u.k, now if i was to asses and manage the risks in this tree how much will the odds decrease? I dont let emotion run me, I am a realist, I have absolutely no fear of condemning a tree that will fail and cause damage, or suggesting remedial action where it is needed. I will have no one hurt under my trees, and a man is only as good as his last judgment failure, I fear that too, my love and emotional attachment to nature is well balanced. I spent a lot of time seeking out every scenario possible, I have earned a reputation because of this and its documentation, I wouldnt jeopordise that for the sake of one tree, no matter how emotive the tree. I think youll find I am a very capable arborist, and a very capable tree assessor, if you doubt that then you are in a minority of that you can be assured. If you would fell this tree against the retention desires of its owners or local community that may well value this tree beyond costs then that is your failure, because you havent the vision or capacity to see past a bit of decay and suggest a means to achieve anything other than total eradication of risk which is UNREACHABLE, reduce the risks to an acceptable level, not to ZERO... If an ancient or veteran tree is out of place in a town, it is even so, less out of place than your town is in its landscape! think about it, be inclusional. Is it the tree or YOU thats not fitting the space in this place? heres that tree, and the last image a Horse I certainly would be quick to fell!

no wonder the loaner nicked it!

Yes Armillarias white print, pholiotas have annulus

well if you cant be bothered/ or is it that there really is no good reason to deny a veteran tree space in our environments?

lovely

Why not? again why not?

if your hoping to train it in any way shape or form like this your better of felling this tree and starting over from scratch.

interesting isnt she, just goes to show that even amidst great levels of decay and dysfunction that just about any tree can be sustained. you just have to think on a different level, as a system of parts, of living channels.

i wouldnt thin anything out, it will need all the foliage its got when you take the outer growths back. Once its developed anew set of leads then worry about shape and form

man alive Ive seen some quality diving in my time but you gotta check out these dudes! On Dave 128

do you find any of these trees to lack dignity?

most likely ganoderma australe on the red oak and strip cankers from old bleeding canker on the chestnut, armillaria likely to be only secondary in both cases

A very predictable and often repeated stance. what if the client as is sometimes the case doesnt want the tree murdered but made safe? as for expensive, arbs charge no more than consultants and probably have a better idea of what can be achieved!

Do you know about the European Landscape convention? just starting to get to grips with it myself as I seek protection measures for OUR landscapes. With the chemical agriculture,importation of pests and pathogens (see Chalara) I am looking at the means of forcing protection under the Law. Natural England - European Landscape Convention

maybe you should develop "issues" that force your participation!

there was talk sometime ago about it needing to have a cage between the chainsaw operator and the mewp controller. personaly I prefer being alone in the basket makes it simpler and the machine does more goes MUCH further

liking that a lot, maybe next time just keep the same style caps and I will buy one!

Ifi was to pass this on I would be as popular as a rattlesnake in a lucky dip

Skip to 17 minutes The Private Life of Plants: Episode 5 - Living Together

I will dig out the full details of Meripilus today and add or maybe even start a new thread on capacities and modes of decay. I would have been at Kew today but ive had either the heaviest cold or flu all week and its still making me cough and sneaze so I cant really sit in the Jodrell lecture theatre infecting everyone else, gutted. Be the first BMS open ive missed in over five:thumbdown: