Tommy Hutchinson

This is a serious thread making us aware of the dangers to the most important part of our life, our health. Thanks for posting. May be its been affecting people for a long time as in the information below it says that it is similar to flu, cold etc “Its occurrence among farmers is estimated at around 6-8%. However, as many as 30% of swine confinement and grain workers may be affected because of their exposure to high levels of organic dust. ODTS is probably under-reported because symptoms resemble the flu or other mild illnesses. It also has a strong resemblance to an acute episode of the much rarer, but more serious disease known as Farmer's Lung, or hypersensitivity pneumonitis. However, careful medical examination shows these to be very different diseases. ODTS is mild and short-lived, although it may recur. If more than one person is exposed to the same high levels of decayed material, they may suffer ODTS together. Farmer's lung, on the other hand, is an allergic inflammation of the lungs. The rare individual who develops this disease has had prior exposure causing sensitization to mold. This disease may become chronic, disabling and life threatening. Thus, it is important to be able to distinguish these illnesses.” Reference: Occupational Medicine -- AgEBB Should we work with a mask all the time when chipping? Should we wear a mask when carrying out chainsaw work that produces wood chip ? Should we wear a mask generally when working with dusts ? This definitely an area that’s needs research because it’s a serious issue that effects us all. Once again thank you for this thread. PS lets not go of topic this it an imporatant thread.

Gives me a piece of mind for the big diameter trees (cutting the middle from the front), there actually was a little bit of holding wood there but not much, would of been nice to fell with 88 but i think its good to utilize a smaller bar/chainsaw if you can.

Yes I carried out a letter box felling cut for this one.

May be if I had two or three days just to rig it that would have been good experience as well but as I had limited time (one day) and my groundy was not experienced in Arb work and as this tree was especially dangerous I opted for the free fall, big limb dismantle. Rigging this tree would of been a bigger challenge, which I would have loved, but may be next time with more competent Arbs that lessened the chance ofaccidents.

Yes the split did have an influence I reduced the crown in a way that helped it keep a center of gravity just in case. I would not want that tree to split whilst in it, I know its pretty unlikely but good practice and best to be safe. Yes all in board step cuts and some gob/felling cuts on some of the big diameter stems that were of a more vertical form.

I would of been there along time if was going to rig it, would of been a crane job if near buildings or road for example. It took 7 hours to get on the ground. As for for mess or dropping the limbs in a specific place, I was concentrating on getting in the correct position/s and carrying out the correct cuts so that I did not make a mistake, there was no dropzone which was good. Trust me when I say there was no room for error, the consequences of a mistake would have been very serious, injury or death, the branches had an immense amount of weight in them every cut has a lot of thought put into it. It was very beneficial for my improving my climbing. I have only been up say six or seven trees and only then taken off a few small limbs so this was a big step up.

Well its not fully exposed to the public, but in the day i was there 10 to 12 people walked/ran by the tree. the field is used a lot by the public as a footpath. So its pretty busy. Marc, yes you are right

Well its not fully exposed to the public, but in the day i was there 10 to 12 people walked/ran by the tree. the field is used a lot by the public as a footpath. So its pretty busy.

Would of made a lovely monolith you are right Adam but the, customer wanted it down and was worried about public safety although, i did explain that the tree was safe and would stand for a long time, some branches had started to fall. Could of dead wooded it and left it to stand. How to you change peoples opinions, TPO it ?

Yes and the practice was good for me, it was like cutting whole trees off at once, made a hell of a noise. It made my heart beat a little !!! :-)

You might not fell the whole tree because: • imagine dealing with that tree when its on the floor once felled lots of dangerous tension and compression would makes it a nightmare to deal with and it would be very hard to deal with some the branches they are huge and would stick in the ground and cause all kinds of problems, it would be a mess. • I only had a 24 inch bar for the fell so it was hard to make precise felling cuts • Dismantling it made it easier to deal with on the ground • We wanted to try and get some planks or wood to use there was a massive split down the middle and was trying to keep that structurally sound as possible • A straight fell in my opinion would have been dangerous tons and tons of weight in that crown could of gone anywhere

This tree imo was infected Sudden Oak Death, Phytophthora ramorum and was next to a busy public footpath and the farmer made the decision to take it down, I am not usually into taking trees of this size down as they are host to a large species diversity and also the fact that its around 200 years old, but public safety is also important. The wood is being used resourcefully for, signs, wood carving/turning etc and they are going to try and plank some of it although as you can see the tree has a large split in it but its so big that they could get some planks from either side.

Wow!:-)

It says it contains one larva inside thats a huge gall/space for one larva!

Ok looks like a it is Amphibolips confluenta from the Oak Apple Gall Wasp. Very intresting and so big !!!

I found this apple sized soft growth on an Oak tree. Is this a MASSIVE gall or is it an abnormal growth???

Yes, no parking on the whole area. And no it will not just be left as "a waste of space" we will decompact the soil, add mulch with existing soil and then make it a green space. What plants would you suggest that have a beneficial impact on the root system of oak ?

AMBITION AND PASSION WILL TAKE YOU A LONG WAY, GOOD FOR YOU. Mate you can do all this and more, if any one tells you any different tell them kindly to f off. :-)

It’s a difficult situation and very intrusive personally. What about sitting down with them and asking how they felt about what they have done and if they are even aware of the implications of there actions, this is obviously hard (as you are angry may be?) as they are on your land in your yard that you have worked hard for. If this option above is not possible and the police are doing nothing about it, I would say a couple of broken legs is a possibility, but then what happens is they could come back and burn your yard down for example, and the viciuos circle begins. Educate people and may be they will change or may they wont, you can only try. May be a kind but chilling word of warning would be appropriate.

The college have decided to fence of the whole area. We are going to hire an Airspade and decompact the soil around as much of the RPA as we can. The college have now realised that need to consider the enormous value that trees have, they have also said how educational the whole project has been for them and I hope the legacy I have left carry’s on. It’s a victory for me, you, everyone and the environment. If you are persistent and believe in what you are doing with a passion, you can change the world.

Good idear :-)

Some lovely photos of majestic trees on this thread. My view: We are caretakers of trees and the earth. I would rather say I “care for” than “own something” that is a living organism. Its funny how people look at trees/plants (obviously not people on this site), I wonder if they even know that they shaped our evolution and give us food, shelter, air, water, weather etc the list goes on and on and on. In a sense the trees own us, because we depend on them directly to stay alive.

Ok :-)

Bet that’s full of creepy crawlies. :-)

Fairplay, allways nice to be shot down, how little you try and make me feel. sub·side: 1. To sink to a lower or normal level I said that if the roots die there would be subsidence. How was i wrong ? Heave: 1. To lift or haul with great effort. I said if you let the tree grow, there will be heave. How was I wrong?. Yes I may not have alot of experience in this area and was only trying to help. Is this site for "educating" people, or belittling? I am only trying to learn and implying that my post is "daft" is not very nice. Maybe Le Sanglier I have rpercieved your comment in the wrong way, but you certainly did not present it in the nicest manner.