Kveldssanger

Thanks, David. Looking at Roger Phillips' book and Michael Jordan's book as we speak. Got R. ulmarius right this time - it's not G. applanatum!

Quite a good day today for fungi. R. ulmarius within a hollow of a P. x candensis ssp.: Some sort of agaric (Mycena sp. or Coprinus sp. (disseminatus)?) on Populus sp.: Growth on the rib of a wound on P. tremula: Some rather nice G. resinaceum on Q. robur:

Unless all symptoms of HF are present, Luley suggests in his Wood Decay Fungi book to not diagnose it as such and to instead look for other causes. Any change in neighbouring land use or hydrology?

I would much like to see Mr Gilman and Novak talk. Perhaps the Big Barn Conference next year will be possible, assuming there are no restrictions on who can attend. Barcham isn't too far away. 100% at next year's AA though, assuming it's not right up north.

Would the air not be taken up for photosynthesis, and predominantly released back as waste products (oxygen primarily, though also VOCs)?

Got a massive line of 'em down by a railway bridge. Huge beasts, sitting in an area that floods even in late spring. Dreading the day they all spontaneously die.

And yes, you're over-training so to speak. Just as if I train (gym) 5 days a week solid for a few months, I get inured. You're doing a tough, demanding job, and your central nervous system is likely fried. High (good and healthy) fats, clean foods, rest, and cut out sugary drinks.

Don't drink lucozade. Carbs only make you crave more carbs, due to insulin spiking. Be careful with sugar drinks as the additives can be less than desirable from a consumption point of view, and they really hit your insulin levels hard. Base a breakfast on high protein / fats (satiates you / makes you feel fuller), and snack on some mixed nuts throughout the day. If you are having a sugar hit, have some fruits. Blueberries, strawberries, grapes, oranges, apples, kiwis, and the odd banana are good. Snacking on sweet potato wedges may also be an idea, as the Glycemic Index is lower than other sources of carb I do believe.

Sounds about right. See, the leyland is good for three things: - birds - pollution capture - annoying neighbours

Will go next year I think for the 50th one. Got the Lvl 4 this year, don't want to over-load myself with commitments.

Here's some over-mature yet still moist L. sulphureus:

This link shows how much leyland does, but I cannot find plane on the list! (right at the bottom)

No! It's good you pointed it out.

Is this some very large Laetiprous sulphureus? The growth form looks like it could be, though I have no idea on whether it ever persists in a desiccated state.

Beautiful colours right now in the south east. Rich reds on the females.

Oh no question. Treat it merely as an ice-breaker. I do find myself talking to the trees at times. Often remark on the beauty of some, and the poor health of others. It's such a great profession to be in, and I haven't had anyone ever suggest my job is "boring". Usually, people seem envious and, if I'm honest, most probably didn't think such a job existed!

I believe they aren't ranked high enough as people in places of significant influence don't care enough. Protecting a tree is a cost, and if such a cost can be cut without repercussions (or repercussions that still wouldn't equate to the original cost), it will be.

I do agree with you, yes. I shall double-check statements like that from here-on-in.

A lot of planning applications do seem to be mere box-ticking exercises. I've got photos of rubble stored right at the base of a poplar, and likely other photos of similar poor practice elsewhere. Disconcertingly, the instance with the poplar involved development on a site where they had explicitly stated they would work in accordance with 5837, and the excuse was that of "oh [the pile of rubble will] only be there a few days...". Whilst things are driven exclusively for-profit, any corner-cutting will be undertaken if left unsupervised. Unfortunately I cannot be omnipresent and am fortunate to spot certain things in passing as they unfold.

In an ideal world, we would prosecute the contractor for negligence and unsafe working practices, specify for replacement trees and proper aftercare, and question why no assessment was done of working within RPAs.

I checked the Today's Urban Forest document just now and it states the following: The amount of pollution removal by the trees in Torbay was greatest in May, at 6 tons. Total value of pollution removal per hectare per year in Torbay was 0.002 tons, much lower than the 0.009 tons for London and 0.23 tons for Guangzhou, China. Source: Rogers, K., Jarratt, T., & Hansford, D. (2011) Today's Urban Forest: Assessing Urban Forest Effects and Values. UK: Treeconomics. Also available here as a PDF.

Oof... Surely even common sense would prevail... Obviously not!

Here's four days difference between L. sulphureus. I posted the first pics on 15/08/15, taken in the early afternoon. Four days later, here is the difference: Big picture (no loss in resolution): http://i.imgur.com/MgyV3is.jpg And one for the forum (huge loss in resolution): This is on a moderately-sized, though probably nearing (or within) early maturity, Q. robur.

Thanks for that link. Here's another good one - Illegal foragers are stripping UK forests of fungi | Environment | The Guardian

19/08/15. Fact #10. Cladoptosis is the process of natural branch senescence (or deterioration), which involves the re-allocation of resources to other parts of the tree's structure and is principally induced by a lack of light, which means retention of the to-be-shed branch is not efficient. As the branch is 'shut down', conifers will deposit resins and broadleaves will deposit tyloses / gum, reducing the likelihood of pathogens entering the dying branch (such as specialised opportunists). At the protective zone, which typically exists around the area of the branch collar, wood becomes significantly lignified and is rich in extractives. The abscission zone, which resides on the outer side of the protection zone, eventually becomes the point of failure, and the protective zone then begins the process of wound occlusion as would naturally be expected. In stem junctions of juvenile oaks, the formation of regular xylem disables the abscission zone immediately after flushing of a branch, and in mature trees the frequency of active abscission zones increases with age and declining vigor. Benefits of cladoptosis include that of trees not having an overly-busy crown (that increases wind sail area) and having a sustainable maintenance (maintenance respiration) requirement - lower branches are usually shed as light availability decreases - particularly when below 20%, as this is the usual cut-off for when branch retention operates at a 'loss'. For species such as willow and poplar, the shedding of branches can even be a way of propagation. As willows and poplars are commonly found along water courses, one of their propagation techniques is to shed branches via cladoptosis, having these shed branches travel down stream and then potentially take root when washed-up. Sources: Bhat, K., Surendran, T., & Swarupanandan, K. (1986) Anatomy of branch abscission in Lagerstroemia microcarpa Wight. New Phytologist. 103 (1). p177-183. Kozlowsky, T., Kramer, P., & Pallardy, S. (1991). The Physiological Ecology of Woody Plants. UK: Academic Press. Rust, S. & Roloff, A. (2002) Reduced photosynthesis in old oak (Quercus robur): the impact of crown and hydraulic architecture. Tree Physiology. 22 (8). p597-601. Thomas, P. (2000) Trees: Their Natural History. UK: Cambridge University Press.