armybloke

Some nice ones on the coastline near Christchurch (New Forest)

An enjoyable read and thanks for the downloads - reading for the long journeys!

10 Douglas Fir - cones are excellent at getting the woodburner going!

Cuckoo at Itchen Valley Country Park, Eastleigh on Tuesday

Never doubted that it would respond well and look nice - good job mate

Mate if you PM me I can help out a bit. I am an ex-tree officer, worked in planning and run my own consultancy business. My website is at the foot of this note. Good luck trooper!

I like this thread and am looking forward to the outcome!

Hi mate, have a look on here http://arbtalk.co.uk/forum/general-chat/28006-you-ex-military-no-not-one-steves-polls.html?highlight=military; there are plenty of us about! Good luck! I am from Guzz and in the consultancy business if you need a steer.

I'm AA and IEEM but I get lots more from the IEEM guys.

I used to work as a TO in planning and development. Not ticking the box will make the application invalid and your client would have to resubmit. It would not look good if went to committee. I would not touch tree in my opinion. You have already admitted (by your post) that you feel what they are doing is not right. Just an opinion. Good luck,

Look in a book called 'Trees; their natural history' by Peter Thomas

If you like this sort of thing have a look at a Paper mulberry Broussonetia papyrifera it too has dimorphic leaves - clever!

Many moons ago Horizon on BBC2 in the 1970's wired up an old oak with electrodes, and what was then advanced technology in terms of sensors for light reaction, water starvation, intentional harm to the oak and to its neighbours. I have tried to surf the archives for it as I felt it was immensely interesting even at the tender age of 11 or 12 years old. Unfortunately I can not remember what the programme was called to seeking it is difficult. To summarise trees were living organisms with feelings and they reacted to certain stimulii. How they know about wounding is a chemical reaction to an imbalance in 'something' which evades me right now and so the tree knows how and where to respond. Similarly trees communicate through expelled hormones in to the atmosphere to warn of danger. Look at the symbiotic relationship between acacia and ants in Africa and how they respond when under attack from browsing animals like giraffe. Our oaks do similar things by promoting extra tannins in their leaves to repel browsing insects. All super interesting stuff.......

Grifola frondosa. Butt and root rotter. May render tree unsafe

Those are cool shots David~I like!

Well done, I remember the feeling well! Now you have to perfect the knowledge and pass it on to others in the big wide (tree) world. I wish you success in your new venture.

This is not a rant but a note to ask that those of you in contact with the public should attempt to assist; This recent publicity has not done us any favours as TOs. We are inundated with enquiries to verify either way that the residents ash tree has Chalara. I realise that the FC is responsible for this verification but it does not deflect the constant worry we are experiencing from the public. It is time consuming for us with limited resources and manpower. The most popular related concern is "the ash tree is dropping its leaves"! In autumn that is quite normal but no one has actually pointed that out during all the panic and scare mongering from the media. Like David has alluded; seeing the real thing up close and personal will certainlhy be giving me a better understanding and I am in contact with the FC at Alice Holt for a chance to see it. Fingers crossed.

We finaly got to the bottom of this mystery leaf! Rob you will be impressed as it is a Rubus lineatus

I can see the pics now - any help on this one?

Went to look at a tree root plate that was the remnants of a large eucalyptus and found this fungi lurking under some moss and ferns! I know the pics are not brilliant but you may know what it is? Also the wood that was left was as soft as a sponge.

We were thinking along the same lines and the closest we got was a Buckeye but there are some features that do not marry up?

A leaf taken from a stump sucker. I don't have the tree to show you as this was off a single stem. Very ribbed and silver/grey underneath with a velvet feel to the underside. I have no fruit of buds to go on either - sorry

Curious? Can't wait til you get home and complete the connundrum for us!

Have you considered pigeons? I have two trees on my patch desimated by the blighters! Look at the leaflets and if they have a small 'V' shape you can be sure it is the lovely, well -loved and coveted pigeon. Don't dismiss this - I did at my peril. Evidence was made available and then I sat tight and watched them defoliate an Ash!

Fasciation is coming up favourite via my work and social (tree) colleagues too - David you may have won a gold here (although none were on offer!)