Tony Croft aka hamadryad

it wont be generating energy, not till its leafed up, it is USING reserves stored over winter and in the roots and zylem. best to leave it a while but if the client wont wait a light thin should be o.k reduction definitely not.

and I once felled a very large pine with no evidence of Phaeolus in the bottom 10 metres but fruitbodies at a wound at that hieght with some decay. so it is capable of top rot with no evidence low down. I have seen it panic fruit for the first time from the rootplates of trees that blew out by the rootplate (because the wood was over thinned) with no decayed roots evident. this suggests that its prefered entry is via roots but as a biotrophic parasite one may assume it has no real interest in focusing on merely roots and killing the host too quickly. In my experience most failures occure due to the T/R rule of the stem rather than root failures

wish you guys and girls all the best on this event, may it be the raging success I know it will be, im so gutted to not be able to be there.

funny you should show up just when were talking evolutionary regression! wheres stephen now?

some consultants in my experience would fell this tree! what sort of test do you have in mind

insecticides are not my fave thing but these dead patches on well clipped leyland hedges are not a natural system so have some sympathy for their use in these circumstances.

3 weeks from a cord? I climb as much as anyone here, all day everyday and had an armor prus last 1 year!

think the first has dark spores, dont know matt not without getting the books out. maybe pholiota and hypholoma?

I agree on potential retention, I had a feeling it had recovered and very well from HCBC, the Pluerotus are fruiting from the now aerated ripewood, this is now irreversible so long term retention will have to take account of a future hollow trunk and main scaffolds maybe over the next 15 20 years.

one is the sexual fruit body see second image first image confistulina (thanks Gerrit) the asexual fruiting body or anamorph

I dont think Gerrit would have any interest in it from an ecology/evolutionary point of view but maybe from a psychology point of view.

ask him what?

Ha ha ha, them kids are going to make them parents pay!

indeed, we are all familiar with eachother Francis so although it may appear otherwise we are all just playing with eachother! we cant help it, just boys being boys!

I heard you Gerrit! and I dont know where it went, ive lost posts before myself, occasional glitches? sounded interesting. so backpain, any closer to a plan? need a hand?

ignore andy, he is on commission, you dont need apps when youve got the two best myco arbs on the case within a minute!

this tree, has it ever displayed bark cracks? I can just make a few wound occlusions out in the photo and a potential crack in the bark above inline with fruitbodies. I suspect this tree has had a little psuedomona syringea or armillaria attack, ever notice tar like brown/black streaks?

these look like dessicated P ostreatus (oyster fungi) slow decay but symptomatic of dead wood and dysfunction in the old tree welcome

have you tried UKTC for advice on this?

I reckon thats the green elf cup running right through the wood and into those brackets, its the perfect tone

Tony, if you think there is already similar concept out there enlighten me!

I would go for the drill option, these old style methods I have been removing from felled trees and have found them to be well occluded and not a problem with regards decay instigation, in fact the tree just seems to grow over them and make them stronger bonds.

It appears many arbs are still unaware of the fact some fungi and the habitat they live on/in is protected by law! A comment made by an arb at the Capel show highlighted this so it is repeated here for those who still remain oblivious to the protection and therefore implications involved (fines etc) The AA (Arboricultural Association) have a guidance book for protected species and is avaliable @ Guidance Note 10 ? Protected Species and Arboriculture This is not an exhuastive manual but will be a good intro into the subect of protected species. you may find further information @ various specialist sites or universaly ' the Joint nature conservation comity website JNCC - Adviser to Government on Nature Conservation It is very important you understand the ecology of trees and the associated organisms, worst case scenario being some nerd down the road (me) will have something to say about the situation! so up your game guys, not for me, not for avoidance of fines but for nature.