David Humphries

How didya know Interestingly, I am in the process of trying to work on a system to fracture break monolith trunks down to safer target height, as opposed to just coronetting. This obviously puts unwanted tension on to the root plate, which is closly monitored during operation. The pictured set up (using tractor and base set pulley as purchase) doesn't work, any constructive thoughts welcomed.

Not saying that it isn't "topped" Mesterh .

This is the type of close up the FC require. Not a happy looking fella is he.

I'm leaning towards an immature Ganoderma resinaceum ( Lacquered Bracket ) Found girdling a Turkey Oak, fruiting inbetween every single root butress.

I know this does not really contribute to the angle of your thread Pete, but it should be said that the "weakest link" in any system is always the practitioner and his/her level of rigging experience. You can not substitute the correct level of training and hands on experience, Imho. .

Tiago, you might wan't to use the super close up button next time. And the little brown fella in the middle of the Black Arches in your photo, is quite probably a male Gypsy moth btw. I'm just going to let FC know the location For Information http://www.defra.gov.uk/planth/pestnote/2006/gypsymoth.pdf .

Here ya go jacko. Do you know why the Tree had to be worked on? What are the targets? (please don't say the landmaggots) On a very tenous positive.....if left, it's gonna make a great monolith. Better than being felled completely or removed. .

Whist surveying around Horse Chestnut today, I was became engulfed in clouds of newly hatched Cameraria. Up me hooter, in me ear, blinkin everywhere. By my reckoning this is at least the third overlapping generation so far this year. According to the FC, we can get between 3 and 5 generations in a year. Out of interest, were any of you guys on or around HC today, and if so did were you amidst any explosions. I wonder if there are any similarities nation wide with regard to hatching times, is it just random or does the countrywide mean average temperature have a bearing? http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/Horsechestnut.pdf/$FILE/Horsechestnut.pdf .

You could also give these guys a call. I believe they supply all over the South aswell as in in Berkshire ( Windsor ) http://www.rosemaryscott.freeuk.com/pages/hire.html .

If I'm being honest Charlie, I would have to say aesthetic, definately comes into the picture. (After all, I work in the most pretentious, critical and overly structured part of our little green Isle) But having said this, the risk reduction is being attained by a mimicking of natural retrenchment, which in my experience does have uniformity at it's core, probably giving a nod in the direction of Matthecks Uniform Stress as a hypothesis. Agreed, a touch of organised chaos would give the ensemble a tad more realism. I believe that that in it's self, would be an almost unattainable skill, and something that should be left to nature. Thanks for posting C, I do have the need to reflect on this some more.

They were concerned, 88. Hence one removed (Ganoderma) and one pollard/reduced. Btw, the Holly bushes are Holm Oak.

It's always good to get balance on these things. Good post Tiago Road Casualties Pedestrian deaths at 40 year low People killed in road accidents, Great Britain In 2005, 671 pedestrians were killed in road accidents in Great Britain, this was 21 per cent of all deaths from road accidents, the lowest total for over 40 years. The total number of deaths in road accidents fell slightly by 1 per cent to 3,201 in 2005 from 3,221 in 2004. However, the number of fatalities has remained fairly constant over the last ten years. Just over half (52 per cent) of people killed in road accidents in 2005 were car users. Pedal cyclists and two-wheeled motor vehicle users represented 5 and 18 per cent of those killed respectively. Occupants of buses, coaches, goods and other vehicles accounted for the remaining 4 per cent of road deaths. The total number of road casualties of all severities fell by 3 per cent between 2004 and 2005 to approximately 271,000 in Great Britain. This compares with an annual average of approximately 320,000 for the years 1994-98 and 324,000 in 1984. The decline in the casualty rate, which takes into account the volume of traffic on the roads, has been much steeper. In 1964 there were 240 casualties per 100 million vehicle kilometres. By 2005 this had declined to 55 per 100 million vehicle kilometres. The United Kingdom has a very good record for road safety compared with most other EU countries. In 2004 it had one of the lowest road death rates in the EU, at 5.6 per 100,000 population. The UK rate was also lower than the rates for other industrialised nations such as Japan (6.96 per 100,000 population), and substantially lower than that of Australia (8.15) and the United States (14.66). Source: Department for Transport Road casualty statistics for 2005 were published in Road Casualties Great Britain Main Results 2005 on 26th June 2006. The publication is available via the link on the right hand side. Note: The statistics refer to personal injury accidents on public roads (including footways) which became known to the police. http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=1208 .

Btw........although in the same garden, the last pics not really one of ours .

Some Bush trimming in swanky Hampstead.

Yeah, I agree Dave. The work in the first picture deserves far greater kudos, as it's almost ( but not quite ) as professional as the last one. :wink: .

Not sure about the garden, but your views pretty tasty. .

Wow..........my dream date . Mind you, with my greying barnet that particular coronet would have a well weathered and worn look to it. .

Cracking story Tom. The imagery is still making me chuckle .

To be fair, it was a hot one .

It may spoil the day of a conisieur, but give the tree a lamas, and I guarantee you, Mr & Mrs Hampstead would be none the wiser, and would continue their pleasant afternoon stroll enjoying the continous canopy cover overhead. tbc......... .

Is leaning toward a well used desire path target. If it wasn't, I would have let be. It was a little bit about practicing the techniques, in picture six .

Me to Mr Lee, sir .

Some during and after shots