Gary Prentice

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever So if the little fella looks American, handle with care?

As some LAs no longer employ TOs, they've got to get arboricultural information from somewhere

I've never been asked to provide a report, but as I'm normally the agent I'm normally providing arboricultural information in support of the application anyway. Section 8 of the app opens the door, depending on the reason given for justification. I suppose if the application was to reduce to reduce shading it would be hard for the LA to justify wanting an arb report.

A different story is beginning to appear with those last photos. It looks like the two lateral roots have been damaged and there's some dysfunction. Which would point towards a saprophytic fungi. As Jules said(and I missed) is that they're brackets - So not KD. You need a good close up for identification, including the underside of the cap. Edit: When the other trees were felled, did something strike the root buttress?

It could be. Can you get a clearer, better focused picture?

Tree roots and hard surfaces are a continual problem everywhere. There's a lot of literature out there but essentially it seems that compromises have to be made and then any solution has to be site specific. Going off of the photo with a tree that's probably slowing in its growth rate the cheapest option would probably be just to lay a new wearing coat, accepting that there is the potential that some upheaval may occur again in future years. There would be some argument that impermeable tarmac/asphalt would detrimental to the permeation of air and water, but the trees adapted to the existing surfacing so a fresh layer on top is, IMO, the least harmful solution. The next alternative I'd suggest would be the remove as much of the existing surface as practical (in accordance with the guidelines of BS5837 -the section on removing hard surfaces in RPAs) to lower the overall ground level before installing a cellular system like cellweb TRP. which can be surfaced with permeable tarmac to allow air/water to percolate down. Admittedly permeable asphalt/tarmac does tend to become less permeable in time IIRC. I'd debate with the LA TO that a normal tarmac wearing coat would only be replacing the existing surfacing (as long as everything was on the same footprint as the original drive) so wouldn't be detrimental. The problem with cellular systems is that surface levels are increased, so in circumstances where there are existing levels that the drive has to join such as the public footpath it isn't always feasible. The Americans use a lot of cast in situ concrete for footpaths which also has its pro's and cons. If it's agreed that the existing surfacing provides a non-permeable barrier within the RPA then carefully removing the upper tarmac layers (as above) and replacing with cast in situ concrete slabs, at least over the RPA, might be a solution. Sorry Eggs, I don't think I've answered your question fully, but within the parameters of a like for like replacement these are what come to mind. A TO, who wanted to retain the tree, would probably say that rather than fell it gravel above the existing surface is sufficient - whether the homeowner liked it or not. Similarly, judges have decided that tree removal shouldn't be the first option before other solutions have been exhausted. I've had to take to a felling application to appeal after a refusal and demonstrate that there was no reasonable engineering solution because of the surrounding levels .e there was no alternative other than fell, although in that particular situation the damage was to a neighbours drive. I won the appeal but I'm still unsure how it would have gone if the damage had been to the owners drive - because of actionable nuisance the tree was causing. Anyway, as a hypothetical question based on a blurry photo that's all I've got for now. If it was my house I'd probably skim over the top with more tarmac just to level it and accept it as a temporary short term solution. But I'd also work out, considering the surrounding levels, if cellweb was suitable as I believe it has a degree of flexibility that could, possibly/probably cope with future root expansion growth. Concrete slabs would be my least favourable solution, reading what I've read of the American experiences but hey, I'd at least consider it. If anyone else cares to jump in with hypothetical engineering solutions feel free

And buying fruit and veg (or growing it ourselves) sourced locally and in season - not strawberries from Israel at Christmas. Come Brexit we may not have much choice

How far are you prepared to travel. I've some local contacts in and around Oldham - both LA and arb contractors. If you want to PM some contact details and species you like/want - I'll happily pass them on.

Are imported kiln dried logs any worse (forgetting the ecological importance of some of the forests that they are harvested from) than power stations running on woodchip that is transported across the Atlantic from the USA? And don't even mention where some of that is reportedly sourced!!! Not trolling, just asking purely to encourage debate. Personally I'd like to reduce my own carbon footprint but sometimes I'm not sure you can do right for doing wrong.

It's annoying that most LAs have the resources to water hanging baskets and planters to keep flowers alive for a few months and ignore more costly tree planting that will provide benefits for years and years. Maybe long suffering TOs need to fight their corner more to make the other council bods understand better! I'm told locally that last summer some residents 'adopted' some new street trees and went out watering them themselves Could be due to frost or wind scorch if it's localised to one side of the trees. Drought symptoms would generally be expected to be evident throughout the crown rather than being localised unless there are other factors involved. Have you some photos of the trees and their surroundings (buildings/hardstandings/roads etc that would affect root usual root distribution or water uptake.

I don't think he's that bothered to be truthful, sat in his Nevis retirement property.

Deadwood provides ecological niches that are becoming increasingly rare because of our habit of 'tidying' everything up. Standing deadwood is rare enough that a some of the woodland management schemes/grants require ring-barking trees to kill them to provide that habitat for flora and fauna. These brash bales provide a short term habitat similar to the branchwood of a naturally fallen tree in a wood. It's acceptably a short term habitat, different to growing living vegetation, but for it's there for a variety of bugs and beasties for a period of time. Don't ask me to name them, just take my word for it. BTW I agree with your argument that to be eco-friendly, bales should really be locally sourced, but the same could be said about pretty much everything we 'consume' or use.

If the soil type is as stated (chalk) I think that tree related subsidence is rare or unusual. But without onsite investigation it's unsafe to presume that is what is actually there. Are the cracks subject to seasonal changes? Are they uniform in width top to bottom or wider at the top - usual when a corner or side of the building subsides causing a rotational movement. Cracks widening during the summer and closing up a little during the winter when (on shrinkable soils) the ground re-wets and expands? Another common indication is that doors and windows stick in the summer as the building rotates/twists but free up in the winter when the soil expands and the house rights itself a little. You're probably starting to realise tree related subsidence is a complex issue, which is why everyone is suggesting that you contact your insurers in the first instance. Cracks and damage o tarmac in that a proximity to the tree isn't unusual. The larger roots grow new cells around their circumference similar to the above ground parts and can create enough upward pressure to lift the overlying surfacing. It's fairly common and unlikely to provide sufficient reason to support an application to remove the tree if that was your desire, because there are engineering solutions available other than simply removing the tree. Hope this helps a little.

You forgot to say that everyone will moan that you've firewooded it.

Same over the hill here. More recent Council street planting of birch appeared to be around 100% loss (must be cheaper to replace than to water although apparently the grass cutting staff had no grass to cut ) but self-seeded stuff seemed to fare a little better. Some of the well established street planting didn't fare well at all, lots of dieback of the branch extremities observable now. Tarmac doesn't appear to be a great moisture retentive mulch!

It's okay Khriss, I was reading yesterday that he's said it's going to be the 'right tree in the right place' and he referred to this publication. So there's hope! The Right tree in the right place.pdf

Probably because of its low melting point compared with other ropes.

Sorry to hear this Stubby. My chiropractor recommended ibuprofen as a painkiller for trapped nerves. IIRC a skeletal maladjustment reduced the gap the nerve passes through and causes inflammation of it. Ibuprofen reduces this inflammation and the pressure on the nerve.

How do you manage to eat your lunch, with your fingers crossed?

A bit of an update, prosecutions for felling seventy trees are commencing. www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/three-face-court-after-giant-16320434

I read this a week or two David. https://www.foxnews.com/us/new-york-city-tourist-fractured-skull-tree-branch-washington-square-park

Thought this was familiar. It was originally reported last December

Going to be awkward telling the boss that not only have they lost a saw, but...

Ten years isn't that long in tree terms though. I'm in accord that bad specifications should come with some liability but I can't see that happening. Any defect that is outwardly apparent to inspection comes back to the inspector/owner. So if the causal pruning causes failure, due to the arising decay, then a lack of an adequate inspection regime would probably absolve the initial creator of the spec.

Why is it different to your normal crown reductions?