David Humphries

I'm all MEWPed out. Work with them, Dream of them, Talk about them................. .

I was there yesterday, didn't particularly check the MEWPS, but did have a good look at the tracked cranes at Eco lift. Particularly the MC 405. Lfts 3.8 and raises to16m. Feel a demo coming up. Doubt I'll get to APF, constantly on shows and seminars these days, off to Woburn Abbey on the 25th, reckon the "strife" won't tolerate another show this year.

Sorry to have you missed you Deano, maybe catch you next time.

Looks to be a good read imo Jim. Wide ranging contents. Articles this issue; Landscape & Floods CAS Tree disease Ancient woodland restoration Capel review Woodland flowers Bats AA news Arbtalk Gear junkies Rogue tree surgeons Health & Well being Forestry Westonbirt Turkish woodland Credit Crunch All good stuff, apart from having to suffer Andy taking advantage of this editorial platform (page 18)

The scene - having a chat and a cold one with Andy and John (nice to have met ya) out side the beer tent at the show yesterday. During general AT discussion, World of Trees came up, and in particular the recent issue with the near centre page spread on Coronetting. You know me and this subject, started getting all excited, went over to the lovely Dal to get me a copy, and got a shock to see my thread and little old me dangling and platforming whilst engaged in said activity. Firstly, vanity kicked in, horrible mindset is the old "V" Excited that I'm in a trade glossy, but then the reality that me and my thoughts are up for further scrutiny to a larger audience. Then later after having a chat with a director of an Arb firm that specialises in Veteran Tree management, negative comments were made about the photos in the article, particularly the attempted delamination picture and i got all personal and embarrassed, and thought about chasing Mr B down to castigate him for posting this thread with out approaching me first. After about a nano second, it suddenly hit me that this is exactly what this forum is about, subjectivity, one mans Del boy is anothers Alan Sugar. Accept criticism, run with it, learn from it. Reflecting on the piece in the mag, i now feel that it is a well put together and nuetral artical, that achieves exactly what it says on the tin. I'm sure there will be the proportionate and correct measure of riddicule and praise for this subject matter, but i'm now in a much more comfortable place, thanks to the psycho annalysis that posting affords yourself here on the site. Right, my insignificant little tsuname has ebbed away, you can now get yourselves reading about far more pertinant threads such as what gastronomical delights has Mr Winger and his fellow FoodArbies have got in store for us next BTW, further excellent work Mr B.

Welcome Back Jack .

Richmond is one of Londons Royal Parks. Currently 600 odd Deer, and about a thousand Vets, mainly Oak. Very impressively managed with the works being carried out by TEP and The Tree Company. Coronet City No Tet today, I'll be catching up with him at Woburn on the 25th, but David Lonsdale, Nev Faye and the day was hosted very well by the Local Superintendant and his Tree Officers. The next ones on the 9th of October at Burnham Beeches ( Helen Reed et al ) well worth attending if Vet Tree Management is your bag. http://www.woodland-trust.org.uk/ancient-tree-forum/atfevents/events.htm

You'd know all about that "Jock", where ya from north of the Wall ? .

997 were there, I opted to do the Ancient Tree Forum visit to Richmond Park today. Will be at the show on the morrow...............keep a cold one aside for me Justin. .

No mention of the seat being a bird. The memorial was to a local bird watcher, so the trunk has been given avian like features. I recall the sculptor saying he saw a sleeping bird in side; before the first cut was made. I guess we all see things differently MB

A couple of years ago Jeff Higley was invited to come and transform an Oak trunk into a memorial bench which was named 'To dream of Birds' My involvement was merely to cut the trunk to size and under Jeff's eye, cut out its very basic shape before sitting back and becoming mesmerised by Jeff and Kates craft. http://www.landartnet.org/jeff_higley.htm Hope this gives you something to ponder.

Hello Angus thanks for coming on and sharing these awesome shots Hope you dont mind me asking, but @ 3.55 in the vid, it seems you hauled up the stihl manualy, on your lonesome. Was there no pulley/ground crew assistance, as it appears. Question from an ageing unfit climber; If so, were you not disadvantagely knacked after that? .

Bundle, from the second photograph IMO there appears to be graft bulging at the base of both stems at approx 1.5 m just below the main union. My understanding is that many coppers are grafts. As such; I am suggesting that this may be a graft, and extra caution may be prudent if removal of dead stem is considered, due to unknown condition of internal graft/reaction wood and the corolation of this and any shock loading that could occur during removal. Am willing to be educated by definitive proof of alternative.

TREES ARE MAGNIFICENCE, AREN'T THEY ! Great work Matty. Good on ya, yall be goin to those big Pearly gates when OFT comes a callin .

A worthy exercise maybe, if it rocks Mrs Miggins boat. What Pete suggests would be my prefered method. Not sure a grafted Copper will take any serious (even phased) reduction though. Speicialy like the wild flower failure zone Pete .

we're all agog. Matty..............

Looks close to being beyond safe working life expectancy to me. Garden appears to have some ecological potential. Sell that angle to the clients Be Uber radical, Monolith, Coronet and add extra habitat niches, then replant. Maybe even a bit of relief carving for aesthetics But you knew that.

What was the reason for removal ?

Last photo is very good. I bet the property owner would be keen for a copy .

I supply green oak chips to a guy who smokes Salmon in a converted freezer .

See your dilema with the owner, but if its a desire line path could you not obstruct and open/cut a new suggested path.

Personaly never come across any mistletoe in Oak, seen a lot of old Oaks at Staverton, Hatfield, Windsor, Sherwood and our own. Reckon I would have recalled if I had. We tried seeding and grafting on to limes from a stock that came from veteran limes that were felled at Hampton Court a few years back with no success. Have you any experience David?

Why not Mack ?

Same here Huck. I did suffer pre kids, but these days I'm good for 7/8 hours & up at 6. Even if I'm caffined up.

Admirable work IMO. Far too many old character Trees are lost to H&S. With little or no thought to amenity & ecological values. Your work here appears to be sensitive to both Tree and public safety. Is the Tree to be monitored and Inspected annualy? Can the area be excluded to pedestrians ie moving paths, dead hedging and/or under planting?