AJStrees

I did not quote what these fungi were. I believe the first and second picture are coriolus versicolor (many zoned polypore) 3rd picture is Scleroderma of some sort I believe (could be something entirely different). Last one maybe Lactarius of some sort.

What wood is that? Oak? I'm guessing it has been down a while?

Was at Knole Medieval deer park near Sevenoaks at the weekend. Some really nice old trees there. This Sycamore (psuedoplatanas) looked impressive. Said to be about 200 years old. Big mulch circle around it and protection to keep people away from its roots, etc....

ok ta

Sound advice. Will check out the cider makers. Hope the course is good. Sounds like they are people that know what they are doing. Be nice to make something of it.

not noticed anything slow with the system. I have to look after two but have yet to do anything in them. Plan to go on a day fruit tree pruning course next month. The main issue however is that the orchard is not used and every year hundreds (maybe thousands) of apples grow but as these were planted many years ago, like 50 or more I believe. There is no longer, use for them on the site. Look nice but not used. Some of the apples to get picked by the occupiers but a lot of them don't get used. Of course there are many ideas of how we could use the apples, but that means more work....

I think like anything it can be grown as a shrub but in the wild it grows as a tree when it is old enough. Don't have any TPOs where I work so never been an issue. But it certainly comes in many forms. I think what John says would be a good starting point. What are the circumstances of the TPO....

a little bit of foraging today with a good result.

Would this be considered saprophytic? I was going to ask if there were better photos of the gills to be able to see this a little better.

Yes I like that approach and the raised walkway is something we have been discussing. Aeration was going to be another idea by clearing around the tree and then improving the soil on the slop and feeding the tree. Have to decide on the path raising, but that was definitely the most favoured approach. Just a time and money thing.

Thanks David. Okay will have a look for some air spading people and get prices.

good idea on the macrocarpa. And yes almost 2019. Gosh

Right oh. Well thanks for the ideas anyway. Will see what I can come up with in the end.

Trees the only nice pine in the area so would like to keep it and so would the owners of the site. Thanks for all the thoughts and suggestions guys and almost Happy New Year. Sorry to have to bring that into it.

I am glad you started moving on your course, good job!!! I think what Jon said about keeping notes of the key points is very useful. I find similar with the words I do not understand on the subject, write them down and keep the definition of them handy so you don't keep having to go back and find the word again as you have it right with you. Sometimes it seems in new subjects with lots of words in them, one can get a little lost. Ah well, about to have my 40th. Left school, can't remember when, too long ago to remember. Spent years doing jobs and learning lots and lots but never got any qualifications. On a job I love now and it is rolling. Going to become fully qualified in this subject and plan to make something very good of it. I would say I am a slightly late starter and don't feel 40. In fact I don't even know what 40 feels like really. LOL!

How have trees reacted to the tigermulch and compaction underneath?

I know what you mean, yes it is also quite a maintenance issue. its all down to time and money I reckon and weather we want to spend money on it or deal with other more urgent issues with trees on the site. Will have to put it on the 10 year plan I think.

Yeah exactly and hopefully would save the tree long term.

Looking into the long term then, with other trees to consider, would a raised walkway, essentially on stilts, be a solution? A single row of stout oak piles supporting a long "rope bridge" effect walkway? I guess it's cost versus effect.. would cost less to drop the tree! are there other noteworthy trees along the path? There is nothing too special along the walkway tree wise. I like the idea of the walkway on stilts and that might work quite well. We had to do similar over the top of a badger sett where the pathway had collapsed in on the sett, so we built a bridge and platform over the top to a) help the badgers and b) keep away from a dangerous old path. Since the bridge there hasn't been any problems. So the same sort of thing might be a good idea as you say. Will speak with the guvnor about it.

Yeah anything here sounds likes its going to cost a bit to do. Tree does seem fine and probably not massive amounts of compaction happening but for the sake of this tree, it may be worth it. Others trees along the path too which have yet to create much damage with the roots. I need to think a bit more about this project.

Hi Mike, I am studying my HCC Arboricultural Diploma with HCC at the moment. I agree with almost everything the other guys have said and yes there is a lot to take in and learn. I never got any formal qualifications or any real education in my early years so have good reality on the area of being totally crap at study and then becoming a lot better. Key points to deal with in study are: 1. Keep the level of significance and mass balanced. It is really important not to just study theory endlessly without getting pictures and also seeing the physical objects during the study as well as doing the actions involved in the course 2. Make sure you really understand what you are studying and do get it before moving onto the next subject, if you find you are having trouble with the chapter you are on or lesson and feel confused then likely there was something in the earlier chapter that did not fully make sense 3. Most important is to make sure you understand all the words within the study. There is a huge amount of nomenclature in this area and I find myself learning words every single day. Using a good Botany dictionary or the internet can be of tremendous help. Also try to understand the etymology of the word as that will give you a deeper understanding of it. Use the word in examples until you feel really clear on that one word you may not have understood. You probably have a lot more experience and training in the field than I, so I wouldn't want to comment on the training itself. But hope the above helps. Also the tutors at HCC are very helpful and yes just ask questions and take the time to do it in a nice quiet space where you can get on with learning and answering the questions completely and fully until you and your tutor are satisfied with your answers. But most of all. You have to spend the time studying. Like I probably should be now.

A bit of a conundrum with this pine tree. The tree is looking great and looks in pretty good health. One of just a few remaining at the top of the site where I work and this one is still growing well. Its also evergreen and keeps things looking interesting in its locale. However as you can see in the photos the roots of this tree go under a fairly heavily used path. The path used to be tarmac and the roots ripped up the tarmac. In 2015 the path was dug up and then resin bound gravel was put down instead. The roots are starting to come through the path now and this will be an ongoing saga I can only imagine. I think I need to either move the path, which would be a bit odd looking or potentially put some sort of bridge over the path area, take up the path and leave it as soil underneath the ramp/bridge. But again that also may look odd. Anyone got any ideas of what is the best way to solve it. I am surprised the tree itself is still doing so well. Apologies, the photos are not the best.

whats that off?

That's excellent direction. Thank you David. Ok will work on it. Its always down to being able to spend the time on these things. Though hugely interesting, doing this in between being out on the grounds does make it a bit of a challenge.

Okay. Don't know it. But then I suppose a lot of the big oaks look quite similar. Along with the red brick houses in this area. LOL!