Chris at eden

Grifola frondosa

Southern California, so dry and hot I am guessing? Have you been watering it during establishment?

As is Deodar

I personally think that you should be describing structural condition by describing defects and their severity. I wouldn't use dangerous either as that requires more than just a defect. If I were to use Good, Fair and Poor then I would go as follows: Good = Tree is free of significant defects and is in overall good health Fair = Tree has minor structural defects and / or is physiologically distressed, but importantly these can be remediated. i.e. pruning, de-compaction, etc. Poor = Tree which has significant defects or severe physiological issues that cannot be remediated through pruning, de-compaction, etc. Just my opinion, others may differ.

Hi Gary It used to be pretty easy to judge what the PINS inspector was going to come back with but then they stopped using Arbs for the appeals and started using planners. Its more like rolling the dice now. Its quite a recent development so I haven't handled enough to judge what their views are going to be moving forward. In response to the one you had, I suppose it depends on whether the use of an engineering solution was feasible. If it wasn't then there is only one option. The one I mentioned was an easy fix and they were using the drive as an excuse to fell the tree. Its also in the AONB. Cheers

Hi Arbgirl I currently split my time between consultant and TO within a Planning Department. I processed an application last year to fell a mature Horse Chestnut as it was damaging the edging blocks on a driveway. I refused the application as the tree has high amenity value and clearly there is an engineering solution in that the block pavers could be lifted and re-laid grading up slightly over the offending root. Not a costly operation. The agent then submitted an appeal to the PINS who dealt with the issue via fast track. The PINS inspector agreed with us that the amenity value of the tree (and loss of) would outweigh any benefit that would be gained by felling. The appeal was dismissed and the drive is still in the same condition. I suppose technically we could be liable if the damage progressed significantly but it cost would be low so we take that risk. We never receive claims anyway so not a big issue where I work. Cheers

Cream soda! I think I would prefer the dog piss!!!

Sorbus run a workshop for their customers that they call master classes that support, definitely the resi drill but I think also the Picus. Its an add on to what you already do as VTA though, so competency in that is needed. Sorbus also do re-con units if you want to pick one up on the cheap. You can get a resi drill for £2.5k. There is an assignment on the L6 dip course which covers interpretation of decay detection equipment also as well as other bits and pieces about decay detection.

No drop out of the virtual number as such but it does rely on you having signal if you divert to a mobile. Mine is with Tamar Telecom. £5 per month but London numbers start from £10 per month. I think you can send faxes to them also using the number and it will covert to a PDF and come through as an email. Necer tried it though as its a bit old school. You can just log on to the account also and divert it to different numbers if you want.

Heartwood it feeds on. Not dead branches as such.

Its basically a micro drill which measures resistance. So solid wood resits the drill and then when you hit decayed wood there is less resistance so the drill goes in easier. This then shows on a graph so you can measure the thickness of the sound wall literally by measuring the graph. Its a physical resistance test so not much scope for it to be skewed. Unless you believe Frank Rinn that is! You apply your own pressure to the drill button on the resitograph and Frank says that this introduces a variable. The one his company produces has a flick switch for on and off so the pressure from the drill is more constant. Its also a lot more expensive to buy. Picus on the other hand measures time of flight of sound waves travelling through the wood and then gives you a two dimensional picture (or 3D of you do more than one scan). This can go a bit astray sometimes and its doesn't work well on some types of decay as mentioned by Gary previously. Picus may not always be as accurate as the resi drill but its less invasive. There is a place for both but the appropriate one would be recommended by your VTA results. You wouldn't drill or Picus a tree just for the sake of it though, you would be investigating a defect you had already suspected or identified. You would start with a mallet and a probe and go from there. I inspect 1000's of trees every year and I probably recommend decay detection on two or three.

I use one with a local area code. Directs to a mobile. I like it.

What he said.

The whole thing was removed. It is now: Dead trees Dead branches within trees An immediate risk of serious harm Five day notice applies to 1 and 3 above. You don't technically have to give notice to remove dead branches but I still would as it keeps the TO sweet and its easier to prove the branches you are removing are dead while they are still attached to the tree. Cheers

The tree has a TPO so the evidence would have to support the statement of reasons within the application. The tree officer is unlikely to allow felling if the decay is only minor irrespective of on going management costs. Equally though, you cant ignore it if its significant and has associated risk. Reduction may also be an option. It depends on a lot of other considerations as Gary said though. Species, extent of decay, exposure, targets, etc. One thing I would say is that I wouldn't trust Picus 100% anyway. I've done and assessed dozens of Picus scans. In the most part they are OK but you get the occasional one which throws out results that are a little misleading.

Hi Rina To add to what Gary said, summer branch drop (SBD) has been a red hot issue this year with the extended period of drought. I have inspected at least six trees this summer which have dropped branches consistent with SBD. Some had associated defects such as minor decay and squirrel damage but not all. I agree with Gary though, do the inspections in stages. Start with a VTA survey and then get something more detailed if needed. You should probably also look at treating the leaf miner infection if you want to extend the trees life span.

I suspect they have changed the levels at some point also, wall up or drive down, cant see much root flare. Grade and compact 50% of the RPA for the drive and build a garage on another 25%. I wonder why it has a root issue.

You would think so wouldn't you but I met a solicitor a year or two ago who had been doing property conveyance for over 20 years. He had been stopped from exchanging contracts at the last minute as the vendor had removed some pine trees the year before and not complied with the replacement condition. The buyers solicitor then got twitchy over the issue and said they need to sort that first. I met him on site and came up with a plan to replace the trees over the weekend and get the TPO updated. He said that he had never heard of a protected tree in his 20 years and asked if it was something new. As such, my advice would be never assume.

Thought you said you knew nothing about Arb.

Did you go to appeal? I see repeat works for epicormics as totally reasonable. They cut take liberties with a single cut so that argument would not stack up would it. It would be a contravention surely. When I am doing my TO bit I allow repeat works for epicormic all the time, I actually encourage it. Saves everyone time.

Maintenance is definitely not exempt mate, check the regs and you will see. I know some TOs don't ask for apps to clean epi but I would always get this in writing by email. If it goes pear shaped and fingers start point in his or her direction then there is no guarantee that they wont just cover themselves. I think you are right though, it was probably just 'don't bother us with that nonsense'. Cheers

Hi Gary The guidance says 'trees in a hedge or an old hedge which has become a line of trees of a reasonable height'. A 60' hedge would fit into the second part of that paragraph I would say. Trees within a hedge I would take as say a maintained hedge at 2 or 3m with individual trees sticking out of the top. That is my personal opinion but I would always run it by the TO as its the safest approach. Cheers

The forestry officer around by me says its only the trunk as its a 'felling' licence. He doesn't count the branches. I suppose because topping and lopping is exempt.

The large scale surveys is a price you have to pay when you move into surveying at the start. Bit like dragging brash. I was doing highway surveys for a LA which as you were saying was a bit dull so I agree there. Now I pick and choose what I want to do. I stick to small developments with 10 - 30 trees, QTRA with up to 100 trees, and mortgage and CPR reports. Not boring at all and pays way more than when I was climbing trees. I agree with the other chap, L4 first and then PTI for a start.

Thanks Jon