Arbgirl

I agree there has to be more fungi on it somewhere - I did scratch around underneath especially below the burr but no sign of anything at present. It looks as if it will be vigorous when in leaf and does look to be retrenching, I agree I love trees when they get like this - such a brilliant wildlife habitat If it wasn't so far off the road through a very dark forest I would go back at dusk with my bat detector and have a listen as there are numerous decay pockets and crevices I came upon a question while wandering today - how many people have ever seen a tree fall over while they have actually been there? I came upon a major beech limb failure (limb was about 30% of the tree (weak union - possibly not helped by the snow earlier this year, and also due to new wind forces being exerted on it due to removal of conifers surrounding it) today on the footpath - it must have happened in the last couple of days and it made me wonder - with all the surveying and recommendations to fell/prune/reduce etc we do to make trees safe - how many people have ever actually seen a tree fall through natural failure?

Hi Monkey Thanks for that I didnt scratch it, but it was hard and dry and sounded hollow when tapped It has a massive burr on it about 5 times the size of my backpack! No sign of other fungi but will revisit at a better time of year:thumbup:

Here is the whole tree (with backpack to show scale) Its full of decay pockets, covered in ferns and moss and full of deadwood habitats Will visit in the autumn to check for more fungal wonders

Any ideas what this fungi is? Found on a newly discovered (by me that is) veteran Oak I have an idea (guess) but dont want to look a plonker in front of the masters of mycology so will let you make suggestions first

Presumably the employee would be claiming from you for negligence? There are no such things as "accidents" anymore according to the insurance companies - so where there is a claim there is blame If you are found to be negligent then I would expect your premiums to rise significantly.............

I'd do it again Anarchy rules

They haven't got leaves on them here at this time of year and do look exactly like the photo - so I tend to agree

Your avatar reminds me when I got caught eating mulberries in a National Trust property next to a large sign that said do not pick this fruit I tried denying it until my friends pointed out I had juice stained lips and hands from picking them Anyone else been barred from an NT property for eating fruit

Bilberries grow in profusion here (near Dartmoor) but are known as Whortleberries by Devon people - you can walk and pick and eat them as you go - they taste like sweeter blueberries and are rather yummy! I cant say I have ever seen wild cranberries (well not knowingly)

I also think it is Vaccinium (and it looks like Bilberry to me) However, a swift google offers the suggestion that it may be Vaccinium oxycoccus (cranberry) as it is shown as being recorded in that particular forest by many sources

Are there any plans to allow Level 3 Tech Cert holders to do further study to upgrade to the Level 4 Diploma?

I have exactly what you have pictured here Put the cones indoors near a fire or other heat source and you will hear them pop and crackle like the sound of logs spitting but louder as they open. Mine were near my woodburner and I couldnt work out where the sound was coming from for weeks until I moved them and the noise moved! In the Med you can hear it happening in the trees on a hot day - it sounds like a forest fire

BBC News - Christian foster couple lose 'homosexuality views' case Did you mean this article? As the one you posted a link to was from 2008? They lost the case and are no longer allowed to foster.

The guys are winding you up jcb A tree crane is a type of bird used by tree surgeons for testing if branches are safe before climbing out on them

It was effectively 4/5 semi mature trees in a large stone planter wasnt it!

I couldn't possibly comment.... Do you concur with my findings?

Having problems finding out who the brewery is... I just checked - I first reported them in May 2010 and nothing had been done by Oct of 2010

No, but can I come and watch when you do? I've seen stumps dynamited out, so why not! (what does lead/tungsten do to chains anyway?)

Can I pick people's brains? I noticed a semi mature beech (30m at least) with Kretschmaria and Ganoderma on it in a pub/hotel car park about 15 months ago Directly underneath it are picnic benches, other targets include a car sales garage/workshop, busy main road, the pub, hotel and the car park (depending which way it falls when it goes) Signs of saprophitic fungi on various limbs at about 3-4 metres (other trees also had ganos and other fungi I cant remember now) I asked about and found the owner of the trees (the pub) and took the manager outside to show him and told him that there was a decay fungi on it that will cause the tree to fall over some point and that there are numerous targets Asked him if the trees were surveyed annually and the implications for his insurance if he isnt able to show that he had taken reasonable care to ensure they are safe? Told him to get an ISA/AA registered bod to come and survey the trees and give him their opinion (ie not a cowboy without any fungi knowledge), and he said he would look into it. I fully believed he would do so Went back 9 months later, the trees are still there although a lot of the Kretschmaria appeared to have been picked off (?) - no work has been undertaken at all Firstly, did I overstep the mark by telling the pub manager about it? Secondly, what do you think I should do now? Nothing? or tell the brewery? Many thanks (trees are near Preston in Lancs)

So it will now be called the QCF Level 4 Certificate/Diploma in Arboriculture and not the Tech Cert in future?

I was going to say yoghurt too Its less messy than manure

Nice one! Well done! I passed too!! Gizza job!

I gonna invest in a shewee:thumbup: Then I'll show ya! Well....when I say I will show you...errrr...umm:confused1: *blushes and slinks off*

Im not getting into this VAT argument but I am so jealous of your photo Dean I cant write my name in yellow snow:lol:

I joined to aid my studies, keep up to date with current issues in arb, meet new people, ask questions, and to find out what is going on in my area. I think its a fun, informative forum with a great cross section of chaps and chapesses who all bring a little something to the forum. We need more women in arb!