lowerforest

I've got a WL10/Honda petrol 2stage ram 5ton/10ton - had it about 6 months now. Does the business on just about anything I put through it. Very good on fuel, engine is very reliable, but you must keep the sliding brass plates well greased as they wear out fairly quickly - £20 a pair to replace. Only other issue is the weight/balance - trying to move it by hand can be awkward, even with two persons. Most of the weight is at the ram end, and this combined with the small non-pneumatic tyres doesn't help with moving it around over anything other than a smooth hard surface. despite this, I won't be changing mine anytime soon.

I've got a WL10/Honda petrol 2stage ram 5ton/10ton - had it about 6 months now. Does the business on just about anything I put through it. Very good on fuel, engine is very reliable, but you must keep the sliding brass plates well greased as they wear out fairly quickly - £20 a pair to replace. Only other issue is the weight/balance - trying to move it by hand can be awkward, even with two persons. Most of the weight is at the ram end, and this combined with the small non-pneumatic tyres doesn't help with moving it around over anything other than a smooth hard surface. despite this, I won't be changing mine anytime soon.

Quick question for those in the know - is any form of Operator's Licence/certification/training required for using either of these on a public highway (fitted to a logs-delivery Transit tipper, for example)? many thanks

use gloves when working with/handling anything sharp - even when saw sharpening-up in the workshop. On the practicals, keep the safety helmet mesh visor down at all times when you are using the saw. and don't go to the pub in the evenings during the course - stay in and do the homework! Leave the pub for the celebrations after you pass the course. good luck.

arbwork - thanks for your comments and support! Because of the provenance of the seedlings, I have always intended to make the first offer of them to the Crown Estate, Windsor. I'm hopeful of them coming up with a suitable location and a planting scheme to go with it - this may well include their use for a new avenue of trees, or an extension to one of those you have seen on ggl earth. A similar project was undertaken on Queen Anne's Ride, Windsor in 1993, which involved the felling of many of the old, decayed and dangerous trees, and the replanting of the avenue with 1000 (non-Windsor) oaks donated by the Association of High Sheriffs. I like your idea of possibly approaching the Arb Association, RFS, the National Memorial Arboretum et al, and I think this will be a great way forward if the Crown Estate decline my offer. Approaching Prince Charles is an excellent idea, and I may be able to suggest this to the Deputy Ranger at Windsor, who can have a chat (on my behalf) to HRH's dad next time they meet up! There are also many formal plantations across the Great Park, dating back centuries - maybe the new seedlings can be used to create another one? The Duke of Edinburgh (the Ranger) is very pro-active at Windsor, and may well get personally involved with any scheme that the Windsor Estate is backing or suggesting - I can but hope! As I mentioned earlier, Ted Green is aware of my project running alongside his own, and I will hopefully be chatting to him again sometime soon for advice/info/suggestions, probably with some involvement from Ancient Tree Forum/Woodland Trust (with which he is involved). It is a shame that the super-seed year of 2011 wasn't in 2008 - that would have made Jubilee Year 2012 a perfect time and opportunity to do something with the seedlings associated with the Diamond Jubilee. Still, better we have the trees now, than not at all. All I have to do now is get them safely through the next 18 months, and ready for planting out! Once again, arb - some great ideas , and I shall keep you (and any other readers) advised of what transpires. cheers

David - I think that the paper plan would have to be for the trees to be cared for as maiden oaks (or park oaks, as I've also known them as). Obviously, one cannot foretell with any certainty as to how the trees will fare in future times, or even who will be around to look after them, but if the plan was to have the trees managed as pollards, and then having to maintain them as such, then there is the problem of how to attempt to ensure that this will be done as and when circumstances require it. At least with maiden oaks, the trees ( and the plantation understory) are effectively allowed to grow unhindered, except for any essential/neccessary arb maintenance, which would hopefully be undertaken by the trees' custodians. There are some fine examples of advanced-age maiden oaks in the Great Park and nearby, (there's one within 100yds of Offa's Oak) and although the 'historical element' of such a project may argue the case for a re-creation of an ancient method of tree management for these particular specimens, I personally would feel a little more comfortable if the plan was for maiden oaks, as then there is less of a definite need for tree management in future times - and of course, none of us are going to be around to check up on their progress! I do think that a permanently-managed plantation of pollarded oaks would look splendid, and would help to perpetuate the knowledge and eventual result of the process that has delivered our present-day veterans. However, it's not as probable that any future custodians would continue this process, whereas leaving them to develop as park oaks simply will cost less in time, money and resources, and therefore has a greater possibility of the trees' uninterrupted continuation of growth to a state of maturity. What would be your preference - maidens or pollards? With reference to the spacing, I've been looking at the veteran oaks in Lower Forest, Windsor, and where halo-ing has been carried out around these trees, the space created to the next tree canopy (irrespective of species) would appear to be around 5m in all directions. Bearing in mind the canopy spread of a veteran park oak (or pollard, for that matter) I would have thought 25m planting would be a minimum spacing requirement if thinning-out of the oaks is to be avoided throughout their lives. PS - I'd just like to remind all our readers that I'm no qualified forester or tree expert - this is all based on what I've seen for myself, and from amounts of advice I've received from people far better qualified to comment!

Another part of this project is formulating a plan for the eventual use of the Oak seedlings. Because of their 'historical significance', and the possibility that we may not see another seed-production year (like 2011) for many years to come, I'd be interested to hear of suggestions as to how/where this batch of seedlings could be put to best use. As I currently have around 300 seedlings on the go, I have been thinking of a planting scheme incorporating this number, but with an essential element being the planting of each seedling in what would be its final position - ie, there is to be no thinning of the Oaks as they grow to maturity. I have been advised that a suitable spacing to achieve this is 25m, so as to avoid encroachment of the mature trees on each other, and to (almost) redress the need for halo-ing, as it the current practice at Windsor. At 25m spacing, and using a formal design (rectangle, perhaps?) there's going to be a need for a BIG plot of land to achieve this! There's also the need for the provision of an accompanying 'understory' crop of trees, which would also assist in the early growth of the Oaks, and which would be removed in due course. What trees would be suitable for this? Any ideas/suggestions are most welcome.

I've only had my 460 since January, but for the work I do with it (crosscutting timber for log production) its the DB's - don't know how I managed without it beforehand, TBH. I use 20 and 25 inch bars - no problems with performance or reliability to date, and not too bad on fuel.

David - the acorns were collected and bagged in small amounts of leaf litter collected from around the base of Offa's Oak, then mixed 50/50 with damp compost before stratification in my fridge for 3-4 months. Planting medium is a c25/75 mix of peat-free compost and sieved general purpose topsoil (purchased from a local topsoil merchant). No soil was collected from the Forest or used in the planting medium - not allowed to remove it (SSSI). The soil in Cranbourne is acidic heavy London Clay, but my planting medium incorporates a much lighter loam. In my chat with the Forest Ranger, we discussed the probability of having to plant each individual seedling in a prepared hole, complete with the pot soil ball intact, so as to minimise root disturbance, and to give the tree a better chance to establish itself in its new home before root growth extends out into the surrounding soil. It was pointed out that this is a far more labour-intensive exercise as opposed to bare-root planting, but I consider it to be worth the effort in this case, as its taken a looooong time to collect and raise a batch of seedlings from this particular tree! And yes - I'm more than prepared to get my hands dirty in order to get this done! Apart from regular watering and weeding, there has been no other treatment or chemicals applied to the seedlings to date. Although the seedlings look to be doing well, I have thought about feeding each pot with a small amount of bonemeal, to try to stop the pot soil from becoming drained of nutrient - what do you think about this? Arbwork - thanks for the comments, and I hope you will continue to look in on this thread as the project develops (albeit slowly!)

update - I have spoken today to one of the Forest Rangers at Windsor, who tells me that the previously-mentioned Ted G nursery isn't doing too well. I had looked in on it a few weeks back, and noticed the distinct lack of new seedlings from what was a genuine concerted effort by all concerned to raise some new trees from the Offa's Oak 2011 seed stock. The apparent lack of successful germination (plus damage from vermin) also includes the c550 acorns planted by my parents ... oh well.. I shall have a drive up there this weekend to see things for myself. On a lighter note, the 400 acorns sown in pots here have done better. I now have c300 healthy seedlings, so I'm very pleased with the results to date, and all may not be lost with the project to raise some new trees from the acorns collected from Offa's Oak. Here's hoping I can keep them safe and healthy until planting-out time, whenever that may be! I also sent a small parcel of c25 acorns to another ardent ancient tree 'devotee' - I shall be very interested to find out how this batch have fared - hopefully, successfully!

254xp is a great saw. Had one for many years now and, with a little regular uncomplicated maintenance, it runs/works as well today as it did when I bought it. Recommended (if you can find one!)

David - I've never known Tony to be referred to as a 'farrier', but I have no doubt he could do it if required! He's a very talented man when it comes to metalworking When I last spoke to Ted G, he mentioned the possibility of trying to get Tony involved once again with the metal re-propping of the oak we're discussing (which I understand Ted refers to as (King) Offa's Oak, thereby tying-in with the tree's supposed age @ c1300 years old).

In-house manufactured, by Tony Ambrose. There is/was a youtube vid showing Ted and Tony in discussion about the tree-propping project - can't seem to find it at the moment, though. jammydodger - thank you, and you're welcome!

Just noticed three more youtube vids covering Ted & the Dutchmen's Windsor 2012 trip. The Conqueror is shown in one of them - saves me posting up my photos! Also shown in one vid is the 'open, protected ground' I mentioned (Ted's tree nursery!)

I can only offer personal (rather than professional) examples and information. I've been in awe of this tree since the day in 1966 my family moved into the house alongside. I had simply never seen a tree this large in diameter, nor one that appeared so 'old'! The section that has fallen down succumbed c1976 - possibly drought? HM The Queen saw it and ordered it to be propped-up. The other propped tree in the youtube video is just up the road from this one and was also propped-up with wooden poles around 1978, and has since received nice (?) new metal supports, (also available to view in a Ted G youtube production, btw) In the time I have known it, seed production has been scant at best, until last Autumn. The most acorns I had managed to collect (in over 20 years of trying) was six. Last Autumn I collected around 1000, c550 of which have now been sown in open, protected ground nearby, along with another 400 in 19cm pots at my home. A small sample of acorns has also gone to another home, and I'm looking forward to seeing/hearing of their progress in due course. Our family has a small tree (with a marker plaque) planted opposite this oak - guess where the seed acorn came from?? Over the years, the tree has been the subject of much activity from those associated with the coleoptera of Windsor, and there are regular attempts at capturing/collating samples from the central core of the tree by means of small 'beetle traps', some examples of these insects being in the very rare/unique class, I understand. The tree has been subjected to much wear and tear in former years, including a car crashing into it, but I have no recollection of lightning strike, which has accounted for a couple of large neighbouring oaks in the last 30 years. I cannot recall any incidents of chainsaw/arb work being undertaken on this tree, except for the clearing-up of debris following the section fall and the positioning of the support posts. Even though the tree is situated in a private area of the Forest, it was not unusual to see groups of people clambering around inside the core and attempting to scale its branches. Consequently, the erosion of the central core, and particularly the fallen section, has been artificially enhanced somewhat, I would suspect. Fortunately, this 'clambering activity' has almost ceased - today's visitors seem to understand and respect it far more than in past times - although I have seen the odd 1 or 2 incidents during my regular return visits in the last 10 years. There have recently been moves made to protect the tree from unwanted 'traffic' by means of placing large trunk lengths of Turkey Oak around the perimeter in anticipation of preparing the area around the base with mulch, and possibly replacement (metal) supports, as per the top-of-the-road tree. I have only occasionally noticed any large fungal growths on this tree, although I admit to having very little knowledge on this subject! I shall have a closer look later this week and see what's there - may even get a few photos for you to look at. There was once another veteran oak further up the road, which was a well known landmark during the 18th/19th centuries. It was known as 'William the Conqueror', and I did get to see it in a far more complete state than it is today. Even though legend/history advises that the Conqueror was the oldest & biggest oak in the Forest, I would say that this one has always been a larger specimen. Only a small stub of the Conqueror now remains, although it is tagged and recorded. Thats all I can think of at the moment - will add more if it comes to mind.

erm, you could say that! I lived in the cottage next to it for 36 years. nice pictures BTW - although there's been some changes to the ground layout around the tree's perimeter in recent months. Ted G will give you all the gen if he hasn't spoken to you already about it.

The oak video'd at 1.04-1.38 is quoted by some sources as being c1300 years old - oldest one in England/UK/Europe?

I've used non-Husky/Stihl 2stroke oil in my Husky saws for many years now without problems.

just heard that Brookwood Cemetery in Surrey has a wildfire ongoing - big place (500acres) so I hope they get it under control pronto. There are some superb conifer specimens in there - would be a great shame if any are lost. Brookwood Cemetery On Fire Because Of 'Tinder Box' Conditions

I suppose it is to the benefit of some of us on here that not every chainsaw owner/user either attempts to keep their machines serviceable, or actually knows what needs to be done - it keeps some in gainful employment doing the servicing and repairs, and even offers an occasional 'non-runner, easy repair bargain' to be picked up by others (like myself haha! ) I totally agree that having enough spare time to attend to a bit of home maintenance is essential, and I'm very grateful in that I do at least have time to do this sort of stuff myself (and a missus who doesn't bend my ear whenever I pop indoors for a cuppa and leave a nice pattern of red grease fingerprints all over the kitchen!) Apart from the usual spare plug, chain, bar, how many of you carry a selection of extra spare parts along - things like needle bearing, starter recoil cord/unit, clutch/sprocket kit, chain brake band, filters - that type of stuff?

fingers crossed for you, then! I've got a similar (sort of) project underway here - may possibly have a few 'spares' you may be interested in if the sowing programme comes to a successful fruition. Email for you.

"im planting several this spring, an oak an ash and a beech" hamadryad - home grown from seed, by any chance?

Spud - if you have a saw which only gets an outing on rare occasions, and spends most of its time locked in the toolstore, what's better - draining down fuel/oil and dry storing, or getting it out once a week, start it up and let it run/rev for a while?

I can certainly imagine the possibility of it happening within established 'heritage' sites, such as Royal Parks with associated woodland, where the concept could possibly find favour with the conservation/preservation/heritage restoration advocates.

Nice images, and nice job! Its always pleasing to see a tree given a new lease of life when it starts to get a little too large for its situation, rather than taking it down in its entirety. As my Dad says, '100 years to grow, 100 minutes to tip it over'. ho hum.. Hamadryad says "I can see it happening all over again.... and trees wil once again be worked as we had done for so many centuries before" Out of interest, whereabouts do you envisage such tree management programmes being undertaken - within existing commercial forestry plantations, or would you want to see newly-created woodland, specifically planted for the purpose?