Kveldssanger

When I have the time!

Confirmed Ganoderma australe on an impossibly ivy-clad but still living larch (Larix decidua). First record in the country, is my understanding. Found at Mote Park in Maidstone. Cuticle consistently over 1mm thick and spore over 10 microns in length - again, consistently. Another species to add to the list that this fungus inhabits.

Likely candidate is Fuligo septica, as stated.

There are two species, no? One to the left and the one on the right.

Lovely post, David. Still itching to see G. carnosum. At Burnham, I found a bracket that looked like applanatum though was in fact australe, as confirmed by measuring the spore. Andy's article was a great one to help simplify the issue, certainly!

Can you please take better photos. It's going to be very challenging to make any sort of assertion with this photo only. Thanks.

Sorbus intermedia? Not seen it on any other species of Sorbus myself.

I agree. For once, my choice of words was watered-down! Must be something in the water... On a serious note, it is absolutely a sorry state of affairs. Complete with the government looking to streamline the planning process, one wonders exactly how trees will feature in the coming years.

I have heard similarly, which is a shame.

Thanks for the input thus far, Andy and Gary. With regards to low / poor vitality, I'd throw a spanner in the works and clarify my original hypothetical: the veteran tree could be in entirely acceptable condition, though following David Lonsdale's and Helen Read's guidance on managing such trees, the LA could refuse works to prune the tree (even lightly) on the basis that the works could cause a potentially unacceptable degree of harm (due to the preceding drought year) to the tree over the following years, and therefore works would be approved only when the previous year was not a drought year (or growing season, if one applied during autumn).

From the Planning Act 2002 Section 192 (7). 202D Tree preservation regulations: consent for prohibited activities (1)This section applies if tree preservation regulations make provision under section 202C(4). (2)Tree preservation regulations may make provision— (a)about who may give consent; (b)for the giving of consent subject to conditions; ©about the procedure to be followed in connection with obtaining consent. (3)The conditions for which provision may be made under subsection (2)(b) include— (a)conditions as to planting of trees; (b)conditions requiring approvals to be obtained from the person giving the consent; ©conditions limiting the duration of the consent. (4)The conditions mentioned in subsection (3)(a) include— (a)conditions requiring trees to be planted; (b)conditions about the planting of any trees required to be planted by conditions within paragraph (a), including conditions about how, where or when planting is to be done; ©conditions requiring things to be done, or installed, for the protection of any trees planted in pursuance of conditions within paragraph (a). (5)In relation to any tree planted in pursuance of a condition within subsection (4)(a), tree preservation regulations may make provision — (a)for the tree preservation order concerned to apply to the tree; (b)authorising the person imposing the condition to specify that the tree preservation order concerned is not to apply to the tree. (6)“The tree preservation order concerned” is the order in force in relation to the tree in respect of which consent is given under tree preservation regulations. (7)The provision that may be made under subsection (2)© includes provision about applications for consent, including provision as to— (a)the form or manner in which an application is to be made; (b)what is to be in, or is to accompany, an application. (8)Tree preservation regulations may make provision for appeals— (a)against refusal of consent; (b)where there is a failure to decide an application for consent; ©against conditions subject to which consent is given; (d)against refusal of an approval required by a condition; (e)where there is a failure to decide an application for such an approval. (9)Tree preservation regulations may make provision in connection with appeals under provision made under subsection (8), including— (a)provision imposing time limits; (b)provision for further appeals; ©provision in connection with the procedure to be followed on an appeal (or further appeal); (d)provision about who is to decide an appeal (or further appeal); (e)provision imposing duties, or conferring powers, on a person deciding an appeal (or further appeal).

With regards to giving consent for works to a TPOd tree, whilst the standard time within which the approved works can be done is two years, scope exists to vary this norm and does certainly help when it comes to facilitating woodland management (such as coppicing). Hypothetically, for veteran trees, can a Local Authority require the applicant undertake works within, lt's say, a three month period? My thinking behind this is that veteran trees are often fragile and guidance suggests we prune them only during certain months of the year. Therefore, if an application to reduce a lapsed veteran oak pollard by 1.5m in the middle of autumn, can the LA give consent and require the works be completed by 15th March of the following year? I have plucked dates from my head so they don't relate to anything specific, though hopefully illustrate my question. Moreover, can an LA refuse works to prune a veteran tree if the previous growing year was a significant drought year, thereby inferring the veteran is likely to be under physiological stress from the prior lack of rainfall? I admit, during my time as a TO I never considered this and have not met anyone that has done this, though going through the Regs this afternoon and I'm wondering how much room there is to 'innovate', with reference to altering the standard two year consent period and the use of conditions. Ta.

Hah! I couldn't stand just leaving mine unformatted so spent five minutes making sure it looked all pretty and such!

1. Does your country have a recognised definition of a veteran tree? If so, please provide below (to understand variation across partner organisations). Ancient Tree Guide No. 4 defines an ancient tree as one “that has passed beyond maturity and is old, or aged, in comparison with other trees of the same species”. Similarly, according to current guidance for use in the Ancient Tree Hunt, an ancient tree is one that has all or most of the following characteristics: a) biological, aesthetic or cultural interest, because of its great age** b) a growth stage that is described as ancient or post-mature c) a chronological age that is old relative to others of the same species Source: http://ancienttreeforum.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/ATF_book.pdf (page 4) 2. What are the three most common places veteran trees can be found in your country? 1. Wood pasture 2. Formal parks (carried over from old deer parks) 3. Field boundaries / hedgerows 3. What are the three most common problems/conflicts which arise in relation to veteran trees in your country? 1. Urban sprawl and other forms of development 2. Agricultural practice for the pursuit of profit 3. A lack of awareness and knowledge on how to manage their presence 4. What are the three most important things someone who works on veteran trees needs to know (knowledge)? Practicing Level (Tree Surgeon/ Forester /Contractor) 1. When one should and should not work on a veteran tree (i.e. time of year, following drought is a big no-no, etc) 2. The degree of works to be issued at any given time to the veteran tree (e.g. a partial crown reduction with a full reduction staggered over a period of 5-10 years) 3. How to manage the rhizosphere of the veteran tree(s) Consulting Level (Tree inspector/ Forestry inspector/ Advisor) 1. How to calculate the root protection area of veteran trees 2. When it is and is not necessary to issue works to a veteran tree for the pursuit of effective risk management (i.e. no excessive or unnecessary works to be issued) 3. Signs to look out for that a veteran tree is in decline (with regards to vitality) 5. What are the three most important things someone who works on veteran trees should be able to do (skills)? Practicing Level (Tree Surgeon/ Forester /Contractor) 1. Undertake natural pruning / fracture cuts 2. Identify a suitable location nearby in which to place the wood removed from the tree for the purpose of ecological considerations 3. Explain what a veteran tree is and why they are important (culturally, ecologically, historically, etc) Consulting Level (Tree inspector/ Forester/ Advisor) 1. Identify accurately the associated organisms with the tree (notably fungi, cavities for bats and birds and bees, late successional lichen communities, etc) 2. Explain in detail what a veteran tree is and why they are important (culturally, ecologically, historically, etc) 3. Rank the pros and cons of the particular tree in relation to its setting, identifying top priority management considerations or arboreal attributes that add or detract from the value of the tree being assessed 6. Should there be any minimum conditions of entry to the accreditation scheme? A) Number of years’ practical experience Practicing Level (Tree Surgeon/ Forester /Contractor) Yes - between 2-5 years. Consulting Level (Tree inspector/ Forester/ Advisor) Yes - between 2-5 years. B) Qualifications Practicing Level (Tree Surgeon/Contractor) Yes - a bespoke qualification for veteran trees (such as the ATF’s veteran tree course) Consulting Level (Tree inspector/ Advisor) Yes - the Level 6 Diploma in Arboriculture or a Bachelor of Science / equivalent qualification, in addition to a bespoke course aimed at teaching consultants about veteran trees and their management (maybe can be done by LANTRA or something in conjunction with the ATF). Setting the bar high for the consultants, eh!

Sent mine off Thanks, David.

Could be early Kretz in its anamorphic stage. It's beginning to get going for the year now. Is there any wood substrate just below the surface?

Great post and great fungi on that beech. Indeed, your remarks on why it took you guys to note it is concerning, however!!

Lovely photos there!

They should throw in a Podoscypha multizonata or Hericium coralloides just to mess with people. ...or a blackened stipe of Armillaria!

A bit like electronic noses - https://www.srs.fs.fed.us/pubs/ja/2013/ja_2013_baietto_001.pdf

Be careful you don't bark up the wrong tr.... ... ...yeah I'll leave now.

If I see the colour red in an image, is there any means of verifying that the colour I am actually seeing is exactly the same colour as everyone else who sees the same image that contains the colour?

Nope, that still is an Inonotus species - as is I. cuticularis. Aye, pruning, compaction (it is near the Knightwood Oak in the New Forest) and so on has likely aided in its impending demise. Shame, but the fungi love it.

A weak pathogen, perhaps - this beech was still alive (just). From the ex-Inonotus bunch (and remaining ones in that genus), Xanthoporia radiata is likely to be the least pathogenic upon trees, instead leaning towards the saprotrophic end of the continuum.

By this logic, any change in any political figure would occur to spite the existing establishment. Do we apply the same logic to when Obama became president, when Kennedy became president, when Clinton became president, and so on? And if we do, what's the ultimate difference? Are people not allowed to demand any form of change without their being accusations of spite thrown around? The political 'right', which typically voted for Donald Trump, almost certainly don't want to see the US burn. After all, who would ever want to burn down their own home whilst they are still there and want to stay there? You'd have to be pretty darn silly to leave yourself prone to the scorching effects of the fire and the eventual collapse of the roof from above your head.