WoodMouse

New developments close off access from the back, closed pathways to stop fly tippers stop you getting in between. Then everyone builds a kitchen extension with side return. Typical London building on top of itself.

I have the same.

thanks

That was my question, anyone sharpen theirs?

Going to have a chat with Mark from Tree Surgeon insurance. They advertise on the site, it'll be interesting to see what he says.

I'm quite glad i questioned it. I have to say, it's a different opinion than the one i get from my G&T contacts, but then they own MEWP's, lots of them.

It's insurance really. I know mine wouldn't cover it if i had roped into the Lyme and it had snapped out and smashed into the house. Infact i shoud probably check that.

Thats how i'm feeling, the Lyme the regrowth has almost got larger than the stem holding it up. But the Ash seems fine imo. Might consider roping in twice tho.

Thanks again all, apreceated responses.

not the Ash, the Lyme, those poles just keep going for ever, above three story london houses. Nope, the ash isn't too bad. The Ash, imo is acceptable. The lyme was a joke. I wish i could have got a better shot.

Thanks Steve, apreceate your opinion. So what about rigging, would you ever consider rigging off Epicormic growth like this?

this one i'd feel only slightly more confident about. But technically speaking, its a neglected pollard, all that regrowth is epi

What about this one, that Epi's about 25yrs old, goes up to 90ft and isn't even square on the origional pollard points, at an angle.

Well, thats the thing. It's all very well and good while everything holds. But from what i've been told about the formation of epicormic growth, and the way the union forms, that the strength of the union isn't reliable. Yes, 99% of the time you'll probably be ok on a decent piece, but i have heard of people stepping out onto bits that have just come away. Also, i've seen stems recently that are literally twisted and buckled trying to support the growth. Let me see if i can get some pics up to show you. All the guys at G&T's used to talk about it, but it's only since i had a Lv3-Lv4 student come out with me on a few quotes that i was informed what they're being told in college. You should never even anchor into epicormic growth, and doing so would invalidate your insurance because if you had filled out the risk assesment correctly, climbing Epicormic would push the score above a 5 and into dangerous. Honestly, i've done my fare share trying to build my business up, but now that i'm beinging in other people, it's a different thing to ask this from someone else.

13mm thick, i guess that goes with a 10mm prussik. I'm on Yales Poison ivy 11m rope with an 8mm prussik. Thinner ropes, really fast, must use a cambium saver tho, it burns very easily