Gary Prentice

Probably looking for an acorn to lay eggs in!

I'm not saying that you are wrong Matty (and some TOs are the last people to talk to about the finer points of legislation), but I don't know where in the T&CPA it says that maintenance is exempt. And what is topping? Taking ten feet of growth off, or a foot of new growth thats grown since last years cut? Where do you draw the line? I hope that I'm not coming across as argumentative or pedantic, not my intent, but the interpretation of the legislation seems pretty diverse. I've recently had to apply (TPO) to remove epicormics and basal shoots. The LA wouldn't allow an 'ongoing' consent in case the owner took liberties or did it wrong - even though I'd written a guide for the owner (how/where to prune/limitations to size of wound, what to cut with - an idiots guide to epicormics) and included it in the application.

The air filter on my L200 had oak leaves in it when I looked yesterday. Could I be on to something? Or on something? Not sure which this morning.

Over 75 mm Matty. Strictly speaking I think that even trimming a hedge requires notification, even just new growth, as it's 'lopping and topping'. I think that you can fell trees up to 100 mm dbh if the purpose is management of a group, although I might be getting mixed up with the felling licence regs there.

You're right, by reducing airflow they can concentrate particulates close to the emitting source and raise levels. Buildings do the same and they don't trap particulates. But even when sited at distance from a pollution source, they act as effective filters and reduce pollution to the leeside of the canopy. Basically we need more trees properly chosen and sited, and more evergreen species than we currently use. Keith Sacre was complaining that the average landscape architects palette of trees consisted of around a dozen species. There's (almost) always something suitable for any given situation. Did I mention that we need more trees? I think that they change the chemical formulae into less harmful stuff, so less of an issue when they are burnt. Tree are good I've an article somewhere about using trees/tree pits for surface water runoff in I think Manhatten. The run-off is/was so polluted that it was affecting the river where it ended up. The solution was to run it through 'tanks' with trees and shrubs growing which cleaned it before it flowed onward into the Hudson. All kinds of shite like oil, brake dust and other stuff from vehicles.

I’ve a Nikon Forestry Pro, the downsides are trying to get a base reading - two blades of grass and it won’t read. And it won’t read from less than 10m away so useless for crown spreads. It occasionly throws an odd reading up, which is so far wrong that you look at it and ?????, but comparing it with others it seems pretty comparable for accuracy. Im looking to upgrade myself, but don’t know to what yet.

The only real legal definition of a tree is something you’d ‘ordinarily call a tree’, so really useful. Ive notified at as low as 5m, to reduce to three, where it had lapsed and individuals were identifiable. It seems a grey area and if the local authority’s difficult I tend to err on the safe side.

Only the good stuff (mostly) like oxygen Stubby. Its amazing the shite that trees can bioremediate into less harmful chemicals.

Airbourne particulates get trapped by the leaves and washed off to the floor when it rains. Tree roots can adsorb some pollutants and, I think, these are retained within the tree. The process is called bioremediation and it’s more involved than that, but I’ve forgotten most of what I’ve read about it.

Some things are better left unsaid Joe!

Ancient/veteran tree avenue management! This should turn into an interesting thread with lots of different answers. 'Management' is a really loose term and how you go about things is dependent on what you want from it. Originally they were planted as landscape features and as such were fairly dependent on evenly spaced, evenly sized trees. Once trees start to fail and decline there are some real hard decisions to make. I think it's pretty much agreed that to restore the original intention, you fell the lot and start again. On the other hand, if you want a couple of rows of veteran and ancient trees for ecological habitats, do you need to do anything? particularly where 'risk management' isn't a requirement. Whether or not they would resprout well after pruning is likely to be dependent on how much vitality individual trees have. I know that Burleigh House (sp?) recreated some of their avenues (over a mile long and four rows of trees) from cuttings taken from coppice growth from a number of trees (of a particular old clonal variety) that were felled. I think these were 2-300 yr old trees, Capability Brown planted them originally) Are the limbs that you're concerned about 'over-extended'? Projecting beyond the rest of the canopy? These are the ones that ring alarm bells, but all we can really say is that they are more likely to fail because of this, not predict that they will. And then again, would it really matter if they did apart from reducing the predicted lifespan of the tree because of decay on a large tear-out wound. What you do may depend on how much time and money you've got. You may want to do some sympathetic pruning, in an attempt to render particular trees or limbs more wind-safe and extend their lives, or do nothing and let them decline naturally. Have you got a local ancient/veteran tree group? They might be the best people to contact, to see them and discuss some of the management options. If your lucky they will be a consultant amongst the membership who can give some on the spot advice (and if not they'd probably enjoy the opportunity to visit). Sorry that I've provided more questions than answers. EDIT: Where are you based?

You may not need a felling licence, is there full planning consent on the plot already.

Overnight, I think we had that within ninety minutes last week https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/flash-flooding-stranded-cars-thunderstorm-14735057 Hose-pipe ban coming?

Not being argumentative Sean, but I find that the intolerance to shade is one of the most common reasons given for removal. It's hard to dispute on a wet, overcast day in Manchester, to extol the benefit of shade you need sun first!

Sack them both as a lesson to others... The innocent one would be guilty in lacking initiative by not taking responsibility in mixing the fuel himself anyway, so no real loss

Worked alright for McDonalds, and they have two

Why's that? (I don't know) I thought that anything in the workplace that elevated a load did.

Why do clients think that it's perfectly acceptable to telephone on Bank Holidays, Sundays and after 9PM to discuss visiting to look at a tree that has been there for years and will still be the same the following day? Emergencies - Fine, no issue. But your conifer hedge doesn't need a response from me at ten PM

Why does tea taste so bad?

Very true. If our work warranted one I'd be building one now. Access is normally too restrictive to own one, but as you say it wouldn't take much effort to make it removable to allow it's use when required. Now if someone could design a trailer that climbed steps, went round corners in 3ft wide passages and fit through a garden gate we'd have a winner. I wonder if the hydraulic power pack on a tipping trailer could be used to run a couple of rams like a skip wagon?

I remember meeting Mr Leaf many years ago, so can confirm that he exists What a strange story.

Reading this, I wondered if there's a beech leaf minor, is there a beech leaf 'major'? Just kidding. Just came across this useful site http://www.ukflymines.co.uk/Keys/FAGUS.php

I can live with that, it's when you're told that one of the cars belongs to a son on holiday or someone else at work and they have the keys!

People who are always happy!

And belts, filters, hydraulic pumps and the like. Lots of parts are bought in by the manufacturer for the original construction.