fagus

Good thread this and I like the speed bump idea :-) My too succinct attempt was just to point out that we are trained to know case law to assist our work but trained to interpret it I don't think we are;we might have a good go at understanding it but that is not the same. We are responsible for the advice we give. The brownstuff can hit the fan if by talking the situation through with a client they then think I am on safe ground here stuff this appeal malarky and goes out and takes action.

In Court remember their Brief will likely ask you-You climb trees and have an arboricultural qualification but you are not a member of the legal profession, am I correct? You say yes. He says- Can you explain therefore why are you giving legal advice.Err .Boom Boom. It happens.

As much use as stinging nettle underpants. A pat on the back is only 2 feet from a kick in the arse.

The best safety equipment weighs 3 lbs and is found between your ears. Don't leave it at home. If you want the rainbow, you need put up with the some rain.

As explained thoroughly in an earlier post you have to use the grey matter with which you are having problems. Go around the garden, park or field and name every plant and weed you see (providing you could do so before at one time). If you cannot remember a plant, or for the future trips start a notebook to seek the names out, and then practice. Positive thinking helps i.e have a mantra you repeat three times several times a day i.e I have a good retentive memory.

You have to blame the LA for sanctioning work like this. I am surprised they have the budget to do it. Short termism I guess. It is poor practice and poor economy.TO should explain to his Members and complainants that the trees will block more light as they grow more dense from all the cuts and return visits will be necessary to prune again and again and to eventually remove. A good authority would have a tree management strategy in place highlighting such issues and plan necessary removals accordingly and replant with more suitable species. However with the state of a LA finances flying pigs are more likely.

Best to get professional advice. Nesting time varies on the location in the country and the season. Birds when they get the urge build a nest surprisingly quickly, often in three/four days. They don't always wait for hedges to leaf up. After a shower I once saw young blackbirds with a dusting of snow on their backs.

I have looked carefully at some of these in the past. You can see even early on that they can join up and provide useful food and water transportation routes aiding recovery and even more growth. Even though it can attract pestilence early drying out of cambium initials can be offset with vaseline and greaseproof paper. I have done this on traffic accident tree trunk damage. No idea how really effective it is but recovery has been seen. Has anyone done any thing similar? Vaseline and greaseproof paper is a bit obvious, though these sort of RTA's are often in rural areas. I think I have used polythene as well.

+1 for AA teccies advice. Just have to make the tree is healthy and fighting for it is worthwhile. A good authority will have this covered with a policy in a Tree strategy i.e not to remove mature healthy trees as they are valuable and not replaceable for many years. A strategy is the way to go; agreed within the Authority and by the Authority. A strategy is a long haul but the big plus is that long term it saves time and money(authority will like that) as it saves effort dealing with everything as an individual case and avoids inter departmental liason as they will have agreed how to deal with tree issues in the Tree Strategy.

Tyre system is good, also use rubble bags with compost. In the autumn, or earlier if you can get the leaves, prepare for next years compost using rubble bags, mixing leaves and a bit of soil to inoculate the soil bacteria. Watch out for deals on grow bags,organic of course :-) to get cheap compost.

Methinks right to light has to be proved as being enjoyed for 20 years, only applies to windows.

I reckon the TPO is in place until it is revoked. However a management plan shows commitment to looking after the area. Contact as well your local Forestry Commission Office and seek advice. Best to manage it to get the maximum wildlife value.

Would they really TPO that hedge???? Unlikely. Council would have view them as individual trees. Could be appealed against and a good case could be made as it is controversial use of a Tpo. A Tpo scoring system would be essential and show the visual amenity the trees are giving.

Contact your local Forestry Conservancy Office, they will help with felling licence details and no doubt know some history of the site especially if it has received planting grants in the past. Certainly not Larch +1 for Sitka spruce.

Nah,its Apium. The post photo has smooth leaf edges,water parsnips are indented. Though both do grow in similar places

Thanks for sharing. Interesting, shows that when trees are in decline with smaller leaves, they produce less sugar and it will decline further as the growth sugars produced will also be slowed getting around the tree making the situation worse. I guess feeding will help in these situations.

Crown thin as has been suggested. When it is so close to the house you can keep an eye on it yourself. Have a look out in inclement weather particularly in winds and judge what, if anything, is happening that could be of a concern e.g creaking sounds and excessive movement.

My view is that it is Apium nodiflorum, (synonym Helosciadium nodiflorum) commonly called Fool's water-cress

Has the LA maintained this land, this can be as little as inspecting fencelines, boundaries etc. Highway /ground maintenance grass cutting in the early days pre work study, competitive tendering was not an exact art and was often done for many years on the foremans sayso i.e if its growing and been a bit of nuisance cut it. then when it came to be measured it was included on the grounds that we have always done it. LA's have inherited plenty of such areas in this way.

I have dealt with a few of these mostly re effect on garden walls. The hidden agenda was to get rid of the tree. There is often a simple remedy i.e amend the wall or fence. I used to recommend a slight wall reconstruction with the addition of lintel to over span the roots. A less expensive solution to removing the tree.

I have been fortunate enough to have planted a few woods British natives Ash, Birch,Oak etc with Holly,Privet, Field maple, Guelder Rose and Blackthorn, Mountain Ash margins. One area was Poplar and Ash to mask a massive sewage farm. Some woods are now 40 years old. The trees are good but I get as much of a kick out of the stuff in the leaf litter and the wild life. l like to see the first birds nest usually a Blackbird or a Hedge sparrow then you know it is working. When you can recall the whips being planted and then pheasants wandering about in the wood it is great. Had a dream for a Rookery to establish itself in one, no go yet; but have had the odd crows nest. Then you know you must be getting old.

Hunt and ask around for any planting records for the Estate

I thought Jonnys was an excellent reply.I also have experience abroad it does broaden the mind when you see regular maintenance in direct contrast to some UK tree and shrub dogma. However I consider some of the things that work abroad are not good here because we have such a different climate. They have different culture and more importantly prepared to fund annual pruning I see fine pollarded Planes in Annecy France which are carefully pruned and monitored but that is a world of difference to what was being debated here. Those trees provide necessary managed shade in the summer with people playing Boule and promenading underneath. As I newbie on this excellent site I was in danger of starting another debate on pollarding and topping which are should have guessed had been well aired before

Offended. If there are no defects or other reasons why do anything. Pruning trees to allay worries about what might happen is poor practice; pruning should be based on the facts present. Any pruning wounds lessen the life of the tree.You now have a tree of limited life say 30 years and still going to cost money. If totally necessary it is better to fell and replant with a extra heavy nursery stock and you have a tree for next 150 years. The worse thing is that it is a advertisement for the hundreds of passing public; giving the impression that this is an acceptable way to treat trees. There are considerations about client wants but there are safety issues in a few years of which they should also be made aware. Sudden branch drop is rare occurrence, insecure branches falling from previous cuts is not. Remind them as prudent tree owner they should have their tree stock inspected twice a year-in leaf and out,to keep inspection records which will satisfy any liability considerations i.e any issues that occur could not have been foreseen. I know if you turned down the work someone else will do it but at least you have standards. It is a slippery slope to do just about anything to get work.

The BBC are reporting the tree cull which follows the death of young girl by a falling branch.The expert said this about sudden branch drop; "This occurs in mature broadleaf trees when a sudden downpour follows a long dry period and water being sucked through the tree causes the brittle branches to literally explode. "It generally happens between the hours of 1400 and 1600 BST. "It is not possible to predict which particular branch might fall, but a specialist would be able to identify the signs," he said. Not sure about his last phrase which is not clear.The signs are the weather conditions but it is identifying the suspect Genera and branch structure that would help. HSE require risk assessments for public spaces this is a phenomenal task for local authorities. A tree policy covering inspection procedure with frequencies is essential. Any other comments.