David Humphries

Hello Phil, we feel the crack in the butress didn't really give us the opportunity to take in any slack (via ratchet or winch cable) for the base set static brace, as this would have placed further compresive stress on a weak structural part of the tree. So this was tensioned by hand during the splice. I don't believe (in itself) it will arrest the crack, but will aid (with the addition of the top braces) holding the two trunks should the crack develop further. The operation to instal the upper dynamic braces involved two climbers (Michal & Nick) and the weight in their tips on the two seperate parts of the canopy did pull the upper canopy together to help tension the two braces, though there is still some play in them. I'm thinking with hind-sight, we could perhaps have installed a more static metal cable as the lower brace (although invasive) this would have offered more structural support. Regular monitoring may inform some tinkering with how we have it currently set up. .

4 years ago a colleague (Casper Price, who is now helping to manage the trees at Winkworth Arboretum) took up a project to collect seed from a number of our older wild service. Some of these are going out for planting this year. Including a couple form the UK height champion http://arbtalk.co.uk/forum/picture-forum/56106-uks-tallest-wild-service-tree.html .

We have a fairly healthy population of young torminalis out across the site in the woodland and hedgerows. Mostly from suckering but we suspect a proportion are from seed. We've noted out in the field that very early on the dicotyledons are nipped below the leaves. We think this is from mice. .

I haven't seen any fly agarics yet this year, nice one Stevie Did you break your record for how far you could boot it .

The area looks cleared, but its actually only clear under the canopy where regular walkers keep the ground vegetation to a minimum. If you look to the left hand side of this Victorian image you can see the line of trees before they were engulfed in secondary woodland. It's not specifically high up on our risk sequencing zones as its a predominantly wooded area. But due to its local heritage, we keep a regular eye on this particular line. .

any recess for the feet on the reverse Dean (I'm guessing not), or the same both sides? .

it's Quercus robur Guy. Fistulina hepatica decay in the basal region. It leans fairly heavily away from the Sorbus, so much so, that we decided to reduce the canopy of this tree 5 years ago to lower the risk of it falling over and causing signicant damage to the sorbus roots. .

few bits from today in Buckinghamshire .

some norfolk fung found over the weekend, mostly from coastal belt. .

I. dryadeus on holm oak at Holkham Hall in Norfolk .

I would of thought Laetiporus .

Although there is historic metal work in the trees at work there hasn't been anything installed since the early eighties so this was a first for us using bracing here on the Heath. After a few weeks of reading up, watching and talking to a couple of people we chose 4t & 7t Gefa .

due to the high footfall in the area we have now decided to install bracing as well as the canopy reduction. .

The immediate site is regularly visited by the general public but also now by a weekly outdoor pre school group and random local school classes. .

Due to the 'dynamic' separation, we decided upon reduce the top canopy height by 3 meters to bring it down within the surrounding canopies and to also lightly thin & reduce the south growing aspect of the canopy side by a meter or so. The principal being to reduce the sail and try to lessen the stress on the trunk union. The top work was carried out by rope access whilst a small 17m mewp was used for the more delicate side reduction. .

A couple of months ago we noted a small fissure had opened at the base of one of the inner buttresses. I believe this to be as a result of the Kretzschmaria. .

There is a wide array of issues with it including the white heart rot of Ganoderma applanatum and tension stress between the union which has resulted in the presence of Kretzschmaria duesta. It has also been subject of arson, when a dead hedge that we erected to provide some protection to the germinating seed bed within its leaf litter was set fire to. Its subject to regular visual inspections and occasional sounding with a nylon hammer and we once (on the back of a demo day) had Arborecology run a thermal imaging camera over the vascular channels to assess its general heath. .

Its a fantastic 'tree' that we regularly showcase when we have arb visitors from around the globe. I've spent many an hour chirping on about the biodiversity that it supports. It flowers & seeds profusely and provides remarkable autumn colours. its gently arching branches show throughout winter with an architectural grace. A true all-rounder .

This Wild service is within a boundary line of oaks & beech which are somewhere in the region of 250 - 300 years old. Originally thought of as one twin stemmed tree, but now regarded as two separate trees that have fused at the base over many decades. .

How small Alec? My two are 8 & 10 and first time sailers, you can charter the Oysters with a skipper as well and still put off at the point. Was the highlight of the kids summer .

If you do the seals, consider a sail out on an oyster to see them rather than the tourist bus/boat Far more intimate experience Norfolketc .

Felbrigg is on the doorstep Cromer Zoo is just outside of town Good variety of shingle and sand beaches Lifeboat museum in Cromer .

Hello Phillip, seems that you have pretty much all the associated terms and description. Is the above draft mostly from David Lonsdale's work or from a few references? I'm not entirely sure that the demarcation lines between different colonies of fungi is wholly restricted to the white rot decayers. .

few from today......... Inonotus hispidus on ash Meripilus giganteus on ash Lactarius sp mycorrhizal associated with oak Meripilus giganteus on beech monolith Ganoderma lucidum associating with dead roots of horse chestnut monolith Russula nigricans associating with horse chestnut roots. .

How about a pretty please ? Have you tried using the resources (directory/fungi app etc....) ? fairly basic one really. Fistulina hepatica .