David Humphries

To be honest Guy, it's what we had at hand at the time, left over from a couple of previous bracing jobs. There was literally just enough to reach and cover the two spans. As the tree had already failed the system put in place is a tether to restrict further delamination. I prefer dynamic systems as it still allows natural movement whilst slowing down oscillation. The aesthetics of it on this particular tree were of little concern as the tree is really only seen from across the water (sunny side) and not from the back where the shots of the bracing are taken from. As you know BS3998 is informative but brief in touching on restraint systems at the back of the document. So our decisions on type of system to use are based on comparing the standards out there including our own and the ZTV Tree Care Standard (2006 update) & also our experience in what we see out there and who we talk to within the industry both here and further afield .

bit overloaded on the front axle, no? Brilliant .

I think your set is likely to be Ganoderma sp Alec There appears to be cocoa brown spore associated with the lower fruitbodies. I. dryadeus has a whiter spore colour. This at work? looks like one of your old estate trees. .

Good wider context post Paul .

Any update Paul? .

will continue to monitor before deciding on the reduction. .

We've taken the option of bracing the sections to arrest further delamination & will consider a small linnear reduction of the latteral end weight of the side canopy. .

not a really old veteran, but probably a victorian planting and now in a state of being a segmented semi-autonomous tree with individual functioning units. These are now delaminating and threatening its continued vertical existance. .

Crataegus Laevigata 'Pauls Scarlet' (Midland Hawthorn) plays a significant role in the aesthetics of this water garden. .

Not yet, going to text him in a bit .

Mmmmm..........I can only apologise, I did try .

your example Ganoderma resinaceum Inonotus dryadeus Similar but different apart from the top crust, the flesh is really the key difference White & spongy with resi and more fibrous with dryadeus Tubes are fairly similar in length & colour .

resinaceum say I .

Soft would suggest annual fruitbody (resinaceum) Desiccated dryadeus are pretty much like old tough leather would love to chat more but there's a cappucino calling in the distance !

Are you 100% dryadeus Nick? Definitely sure it's not desiccated resinaceum? .

The plasmodial stage of a slime mold, moving its way down this birch trunk I'd imagine it's Enteridium (reticularia) lycoperdon. .

that's a ladybird larvae which mainly feed on aphids not vegetation it's the aphids in the wooly fibres seen in your first shot that are probably causing the leaf damage. Don't kill the larvae, they're helping to manage the problem. .

Inonotus dryadeus .

Very obscure .

Thanks Reg, appreciate you taking the time to answer. Thought that you'd say there'd be nothing really different if you were faced with it again, but it's been on my mind to ask. Can you remember whether the teeth of the block driver struggled on the white rot in that ash? Do you get the opportunity to still use it? Cheers David .

Collybia fusipes (spindle shank) here on the roots of a long dead fallen oak..... .

the fruiting is starting to stir....... Hypholoma fasciculare around the base of a dead oak also has the rhizomorphs of an Armilaria sp, rh corner in the 2nd image .

a fantastic place to go hunting fung and trees. Shame we have to have the families along aswell .

Tragic I feel for his family, friends and colleagues. What an horendous situation to have witnessed. Be safe people ! .

How far up the trunk does the mycelium go Tom? Heterobasidion is mainly a root/basal decay but can invade and spread into the stem (Butin) Not sure I would rule out Armilaria completely. No fruitbodies at all at the base of the stem? .