David Humphries

Sorta quessed that. Personally Tully, I am starting to believe that a trunk/branch union will heal more naturally if a stub ( what ever length 50, 100, 150, 200cm depending on target/tree species ofcourse) should be left on where possible, so that the a branch collar can form at a slower pace which may provide a higher level of hormones than when a target prune up to the perceived collar takes place. In my opinion, this is partly where the technique of using coros comes in. Who really wants to see a flushed off stub, T prunned or not ? We may never be able to replicate a fracture/natural coro with a chain saw, but with pratice we could get close. Win win, aesthetically it appears that no saw cutting has taken place and the branch collar gets more time to "heal" more naturally. Im obviously not advocating we bin percieved arboricultural knowledge with regards to Shigo, target pruning, CODIT etc............ ..........but , from my observation of trees over 20 odd years, they, if conditions allow, do a damned fine job of healing naturally disguarded limbs and branches. Where dy'a think the boffins got their ideas of collar healing from? Right, I've bunkered up, got me armour on and am willing to get me head shot at from above the parapet, as I've now shown me colours. I do not have the scientific data to back this up btw. Just an instinct. So, what say you, Arbpadres ? Bring it on.

Do not know, to what you are possibly refering to Tim ........... Nice One http://arbtalk.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=558&page=8 .

In both the Salix in my original A. tabecens thread and subsequently the the stump above, both fb's were noted well after the demise of the trees, and no fruiting bodies ( pahogenic or saprophitic of any genus ) appeared on either Tree in the preceeding years before death. What d'ya reckon, Tim ? .

MB, i do respect your opinion adds balance towards this debate, however, could you expand on your above theory please. "Punji" ? "More harm than good"....How? .

Situation and images, certainly match A. tabecens.

A few new attempts............. third shot, from a reduced dead standing Oak. Great bat potential, cracks, cavities & delaminated bark. Reduced by a third, as too near to target (path) at original height .

I'm in. Great community spirit .

Reduced canopy sail of Sesile Oak next to high target commuter path, within Urban Woodland. This Tree has a recent branch failure history, and canopy climbs out above & over the surrounding Trees. Predominantly fractured (butchered, I hear you scream) with the occassional coronet thrown in for aesthetical consideration. Trees to south and west haloed to open up more light for the sessile to aid natural retrenchment.

Great post Craig .

Ah Ha ! That little piccy woulda helped earlier Ben. There are seven known species of Armillaria in Europe, all of which have been noted in the Uk. A. mellea A. gallica A. ostoyae A. borealis A. cepistipes A. ectypa & A. tabecens We know yours is not tabecens, so were now down to one of six. These all vary in pathogenicity. For example A. gallica is recognised as a saprophite, but may also actually kill stressed plants. So, a positive species id is not coming from this ammatuer, but Armillaria of some form of pathogenicity it surely be .

Yeah, I'm puzzled by the lack of annulus in the pics. But A. tabecens is saprophitic, and when we get it, it's always on dead stumps or dysfunctional wood. http://arbtalk.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=3399 Gonna look further in to possible other Armillarias .

Thanks for sharing your experience Jason. Inspiring stuff indeed. Did you see anyone climbing on el cap? .

Dryad's Saddle - Polyporus squamosus Also known as pheasants back mushroom. Parasitic and Usally around spring to Summer, but that don't add up to a pile of beans these days. Looks like your Id's are up to scratch fellas. .

Will your RQ reach that height? The outreach might struggle a tad, set up this side of the fence. D'ya wanna borrow a real mans MEWP .

MB, I didn't know you cared I'd be more worried about what possibly lurking behind the Ivy on the Tree behind Nice work btw .

T'was a grand day for Fungal finds. Here's Piptoporus betulinus, hosted not on Birch

Click on the greyed out youtube at the top of the small screen .

Here's a new one on me. Believe it to be Gymnopilus junonius - Spectacular Rustgill Hosted on Hornbeam stump. Saprotrophic and inedible. Colours a little over enhanced due to flash. .

Me likee. Just had me first couple tonight. That's the best bottled Ale I've tasted in yonks. Closing my eyes, I could be supping in a quaint village pub, fresh from a well looked after pump. Bought a crate of the Organic. Cool bottles. Great nod, Mr Collins

Bought a copy last week. Covers a great deal 75 pages Steering group included- Ipaf, HSE and various access companies. Over view of- Legal considerations Risk assessment Machine selection Training Set up Mewps & Highways Mewps & overhead electricity Lines Utility Works Emergency rescue Aerial rescue Inspection regimes Appendix includes pro-formas and a handy Beaufort scale. There's even a picture on page 33, which show's a climber exiting the platform and anchoring on to a tree. This should keep Deano happy Like the idea mentioned of using a Mewp for students to observe arboreal demos. There's also a paragraph that mentions that consideration towards using a Mewp, is not nescesary, particulrly if you're a double hard northern barsteward with a predelection to self craning and climbing anything that will hold your weight Seriously, I recommend this publication to all, whether or not you've used a Mewp yet. Will give people an idea as to where the industry currently sees the provision and use of this particular "tool" with regards to Arb. At £10..................... a copy knocking around will possibly fill a few gaps, and may help show any over zealous spot checkers, that you are serious towards these well put together guidances. And if it helps prevent just one fatality, (which lets face it, are becoming scarily regular) by providing that one little piece of overlooked wisdom/guidance..........then thats a bargain in my eyes. Be safe brethren

Some more showing the Grif brackets, which completely encircled the base of the tree. Plus fracture/coro of lateral branch and haloing of adjacent trees.

So.............. instead of the programmed spec, I fracture reduced the second Oak which had six Grif brackets, and a much thinner residual wall thickness. This one popped out above the surrounding canopy and targets include main wood path plus childrens enclosure. A couple of sets of before and afters, not looking for points for the shaping of the canopy btw. .

Yes, 2nd is tension and it is the side facing on the main shot. .

Thanks for the input Andrew. Eerily. I was programmed in to do the reduction on this Oak today, saw your post this morning and decided to hold back. It's understood from reference, that Grif only attacks disfunctional old wood, all be it root or basal trunk. But after Vti, nylon hammer, then finally deciding on the Dmp, (no access to therm yet) I am perplexed as to what, if not Grif, is responsible for the asymetrical tension side internal decay, recorded @ 50cm height. No other fungi species have been noted on the trunk. With path and lodge within falling distance, I will be reprogramming this tree in for a 10% sail reduction, which will help mitigate and reduce wind sail effect coupled with the adjacent south/west canopy comp haloed, will allow retrenchment, with future further reduction to take place (3-5 yrs) after regen appraisal. Location is Highgate woods btw. Second shot does not show the desicated brackets which were between the two outer root butresses. .

I thought every self respecting Arb did ! Well at least I used to, before all this "Talk" nonsense appeared.