David Humphries

Sounds like you execute your duty of care with a responsible balance and awareness for both sides of the fence Deano. You've passed the test, d'ya want the job? .

Will be selecting candidates from a wide selection of species in various growing/rooting conditions, and then carry out fracture, ring bark, flush and Ntp on the trees at various heights and within differing shade conditions. Then return and record what happens over time. .

The Veteran Pollards at the Beeches, which is a SSSI and houses some incredibly rare red data species in and about these remarkable trees, Is not a site for cambium damaging and branch tensioning recreational climbing. Just a freindly heads up, and welcome to the site Thomas .

I found this facinating recently. Whilst reducing down a previously created Beech Monolith (5 yr old) we uncovered during a fracturing, this retained stub core which had extensive saprophytic/white rot decay within the trunk, that has been compartmentalised. Where as the external stub wood is still completelysound. The second shot shows what appears to be beetle galleries, which I thought were closed with frass, but on closer inspection were full of mycelium. .

I am currently formulating an opinion on this very issue, which will involve some experimentation at work. So I'll get back to you in say.....5 to 10 years. The answer is reliant on so many different variables that there is no black and white. I think most if not all reasoning, has already been well touched upon by the previous posters. ie; species, target, local environmental conditions, trees vitality etc..... I'm no expert, more an avid observer of both nature and mans interaction with all things Arbor related. We've all seen Oak/Hornbeam etc..... stubs developing strong wound wood around naturally retained dead wood. Like wise we've all seen well intentioned and practiced NTP's, not callous over completely, and then develope associated decay. .

I am currently formulating an opinion on this very issue, which will involve some experimentation at work. So I'll get back to you in say.....5 to 10 years. The answer is reliant on so many different variables that there is no black and white. I think most if not all reasoning, has already been well touched upon by the previous posters. ie; species, target, local environmental conditions, trees vitality etc..... I'm no expert, more an avid observer of both nature and mans interaction with all things Arbor related. We've all seen Oak stubs developing strong wound wood around naturally retained dead wood. .

Never took it on as a past time, but have dived at Cozimel, Dominican Republic and the Maldives. I'm, very jealous Bob, had no idea Kirklees paid their Arbs so well Glad to hear you're having a fine and dandy time. Now get off the "Talk" and go spend some quality time with your other family .

I haven't any experience of Bleeding on Acers. Have you ruled out Armillaria Pete ? Once the Rhizomorphs and mycelium get to the vascular system, it is possible to see bleeding/gummosis from bark and wounds on trunks. .

I shant be frequenting any hoard gatherings further North than Watford from now on. Them there natives don't do pleasantries................well apart from the beer, burgers and freindly banter that is Just make sure Dean cuts back the vegetation from around any proposed Zip lines, unless you're keen to end up looking like something the cat dragged in .

Never been a "Biker", but I am on two wheels everday. Here's my steed. Vespa GTS 250 It's done nearly 20,000 Km since new. Just binned the factory Pipe, and added a Scorpion, now sounds like a Hog .

Have an enquiry from a colleague ref the above. Can anybody Help. He took a course back in approximately '99 - 2000 As we have to be trained up to the eyeballs, he does not remember what this one was, and there is no corresponding title next to the numbers. The training code is 4.9 or 4.9.0 This may be Tractor related. I have tried Lantra and Fastco, with either no luck or no contact. Many thanks. .

Inspired by Pommie and Rich's Zelkova nod, plus whilst awaitng Cappocino refreshment, I got to thinking of this Zelkova at the Hyde Park, which then got me thinking of this Weeping Beech which has this great little J M Barrie connection. "Well, Peter Pan got out by the window, which had no bars. Standing on the ledge he could see trees far away, which were doubtless the Kensington Gardens, and the moment he saw them he entirely forgot that he was now a little boy in a nightgown, and away he flew, right over the houses to the Gardens. It is wonderful that he could fly without wings, but the place itched tremendously, and—and—perhaps we could all fly if we were as dead-confident-sure of our capacity to do it as was bold Peter Pan that evening. He alighted gaily on the open sward, between the Baby’s Palace and the Serpentine, and the first thing he did was to lie on his back and kick. He was quite unaware already that he had ever been human, and thought he was a bird, even in appearance, just the same as in his early days, and when he tried to catch a fly he did not understand that the reason he missed it was because he had attempted to seize it with his hand, which, of course, a bird never does. He saw, however, that it must be past Lock-out Time, for there were a good many fairies about, all too busy to notice him; they were getting breakfast ready, milking their cows, drawing water, and so on, and the sight of the water-pails made him thirsty, so he flew over to the Round Pond to have a drink. He stooped and dipped his beak in the pond; he thought it was his beak, but, of course, it was only his nose, and therefore, very little water came up, and that not so refreshing as usual, so next he tried a puddle, and he fell flop into it. When a real bird falls in flop, he spreads out his feathers and pecks them dry, but Peter could not remember what was the thing to do, and he decided rather sulkily to go to sleep on the weeping-beech in the Baby Walk." So her's the Zelkova and Beech, which are both on the Royal Parks Tree Dediication Scheme. It may not look it, but the graffiti on the Beech's trunk actually adds to the ambience of the site once you get under the Cannopy. .

Great script in IMO .

We (Barchams) invite you to join us for an interesting seminar with DR. DAVID LONSDALE The presentation will explore the wonderful existence of Veteran Trees. TUESDAY 28th APRIL 2009 There are 60 places available on the day, based on a “First come, first served”. A full day starting at 9.30am until 4.00pm. The day will include breakfast on arrival and lunch. There is no charge to participants. If you would like to attend and reserve your place, please call Jules Baird on 01353 720748 or email [email protected] Part 1: Growth, Aging and Decay Indefinite growth habit; concepts of immortality and mortality; misapplied concept of finite lifespan; phases of expansion, maturity and retrenchment; accumulation of physiologically dysfunctional wood; patterns, causes and types of decay. Part 2: If, When and How to cut Cutting to help prevent mechanical failure (for the sake of the tree or of people and property; debates about rejuvenation and reduction of the tree's energy requirements; seasonal considerations; weather-related and other environmental consideration; how much to cut; stubs; target pruning; coronet cutting; 'natural' fracture techniques; veteranisation. Get in quickly as I've booked 20 seats for myself, as it's a bit too cosy for my liking. .

Not convinced your mystery Blob is Fuglio septica. Here's a set of them I took firstly, yesterday on dead Sorbus torminalis wood. And then on trunks of various dead trees. ( Oak, Hawthorn & Pine) .

By no means the biggest or most venerable in the UK, but this is possibly the oldest living thing in London, and as it's on my door step, thought I would share. The Totteridge Yew - St Andrew's Church, Totteridge Lane The Church has been here since 1250. Trees for cities has it listed as "probably well over 500 years old", but whilst there, I spoke with the Vicar to garner a bit of indepth local history and he then went on to explain that Kew had been contacted 30 years ago. Post inspection, the Tree had some of the soil around the roots freed, some of the withering branches were cut and they then poured some hardening material (see last Photo) into its centre to stop it drying out. The Vicar also told me, he has a certificate signed by Prof David Bellamy of the Conservation Foundation stating that the tree is 2000 years old. What ever the age, It's mightily impressive. .

You've rumbled me Deano, It's my prefered alta ego for the weekends, don't you know . Would you look at the strength of the man? I bet you can box a little can't you sir? You look like a boxer. .

Major Ooopps ! Don't I feel like blushing Bride. Was sold this Tree with a Cercis siliquastrum label on it. Guess the moral is, don't aspire to be a professional, then put a thread on a public Forum, miss-identifying a trees species. Ofcourse what it should read is................Cercidiphyllum japonicum .

As this goes against point 15 in the PPE section of the revised AFAG 401 leaflet, where for climbing chainsaw users, HSE strongly advise the use of a Mountaineering type helmet conforming to BS EN 12492:2000, then Stevie is quite obviously pulling your leg http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/afag401.pdf .

Arnold, can I ask you if your above post is purely based on your observations or on any particular published material? Not naive enough to doubt it's validity, more a case of trying to understand if Kretz could adapt it's decay stratergy due to it's environment. .

T'would make a right fine Monolith that one, Eh .

Pm sent .

My original thoughts were around a very desicated Laetiporus, which would not be good news, but now think it could possibly (stressed as it is obviously pretty desicated) be either Phlebia tremellosa or P. radiata - Jelly Bracket. Colours could fit in with your description. Usually found on stumps of birch and Beech. So could fit in with a stratergy of being saprophytic (if there is localised disfunction) as Giles has suggested. .

Colin, do you have any thoughts on the concept that Ustulina can be quite often post associated with an Armillaria attack. Basing this on the fact that a lot of Id'd instances of Ust/Kretz, happening to be fruiting on areas of (roots/butresses/trunk) dysfunction, that also has advanced encroachment of both Rhizomorphs and Mycelium of Armillaria. Could this suggest that Ust is capable, if not entirely acting, as a secondary infection, being saprophitic in nature? David .