Tony Croft aka hamadryad

Had an awesome day out at bens place today, his worksite is paradise to a veteran tree fungi nerd like me! some Ganoderma pfeifferis on Beech (naturaly) a nice Laetiporus failure on Oak limbs, some kretzschmaria on another nice beech, Inonotus cuticularis on ancient Field maple and some Ganoderma applanatums inside oak basal cavity taken through a slit in base and blind!

nice job, vast improvment

its not a confirmation, unless it was off the ground this group. If mellea (armillaria or honey fungus) then a leaning tree would be a concern and a reduction would be advisable, pretty much the same option for Pholiotta aurivella, except aurivella is more a limb dropper and fork failer than a root decay like the mellea:001_smile:

Its a rare occasion when I get to do work that I know will outlast me and I feel good about doing to the point of spiritual connection with nature. Today I was dragged in to sort two old ash trees, one that I had assesed a while back as imminent, but we didnt get to it in time as the jan winds had her but the other halfs future is assured for another 100years now. The first one was in a right state, and seemed worse once entering the crown. The torsional crack or dysfunctional column is subject to Kretschmaria AND also the wound ribs are infected with ash canker. Inonotus hispidus also evident in the limbs, and an overall "corky" (thanks Jammy dodger for that term, its a spot on description) feel. with a churchyard and visitors carpark within reach it was time to address the issues and as Ben put it (I also love this expression) "cut the worry out of it". Two trees that will now stand in the face of adversity for the rest of my natural, I cant wait to see them in 5 and then again in 20 years time.

That is unfortunate, and I wish you all the best:001_smile:

well thought out pieces, she will be delighted! you know all the best folk are fourty this year! 1972 was a vintage year

or gear stick!

would make a lovely walking stick handle!

Arbtalks Ben Ballard makes the grade again! here checking out Inonotus cuticularis on an ancient veteran Acer campestre:thumbup1: Thanks for another epic day Ben:thumbup:

that is exactly why I would suspect pholiota aurivella:001_smile:

of course, and well selected seed at that:thumbup1:

I wasnt insulting anyone, hence the smily! as for the invalidity of reduction to scots pines, that is UTTER rubbish. I know all about phaeolus shweinitzii, a biotrophic parasite of the heart wood. which in the case of scotts pine is a lot slower and less traumatic than on say larix decidua. especialy when vitality is high (see mycorrhizea) a well considered reduction could see this tree retained for at least a decade probably longer, there is no serious die back or thinning of the foliage yet, another indication that the decay is yet to reach its full capaity and into extensive volumes of the root system. Do not try to tell me:001_rolleyes: but given the situation/context I would reccomend removal and replacement with the SAME species

Hamas guide to professional lunges The "VT" veteran tree lunge :

enjoy sean, its a cracker

at base or on wood and elevated?

again, thats why WE are arborists/arboriculturists and you most certainly have not a clue!

I would say the guys doing his market research:thumbup1:

nonsense, an unsafe tree that is still standing is not the same as an unsafe tree to climb, I could climb that in full confidence I would maybe avoid rigging off the material though, but its a clean site no greenhouse under it, a very VERY straightforward fell, and dont let anyone tell you otherwise, spikes on, branches off as you climb up lightening the load, logs ringed off on way back down:thumbup1:

thats why your a land surveyor and i am an arb!

your poll s a hard one to vote on metrics! how long is a piece of string? your tree would take about 5 hours with the right kit longer without heavy gear but would be cheaper as lower overheads of the firm doing that. swings and roundabouts. more time same money as less time just different approaches to the same job

A reduction could see this tree safe for decades, but long term, its going to be a downward spiral. where are you metrics?

i would love to find one of them!

Karma is a dear friend, I have done much for many folk without reward not even a wish for such, my faith in the power of good will, honesty and charity has proven its own reward. Things are about to become more than I could ever have hoped for. Life is a wonderful thing, and its just getting better by the day.