Where pruning to reduce the size of the crown will reduce the windloading on the tree it does not address the heart of the matter the ‘roots’.The roots not only provide anchorage they are required for storage of sugars and starch and the uptake of water and nutrients. Mulching the ground beneath the tree out past the ‘dripline’ with well composted organic matter does wounders for soil structure. The organic matter encourages earth worm action! The worms digest the organic matter improving the soil nutrient content as well as decompacting soil horizons, improving drainage and the availability of soil oxygen. All of this is good for trees.

So far we have completed stage one the crown reduction (just as well with the winds at present!) and we will be returning in February for stage two. Measurements and photographs will be taken to see if there is an improvement of the branch ‘extension growth’ from previous years to provide the basis from which to compare the new growth in years to come. We will keep you informed……..

As tree surgeons in Wiltshire we received an urgent call from Longleat Safari Park asking if we could help mend a hole in the netting which was caused by the recent high winds.

The safari park had hired in a cherry picker to mend three holes but found the machine was not tall enough to reach the largest hole on the edge of the pool.

We used the picker to access the tree and with a bit of teamwork between Jon in the basket and Chris in the tree they were able to insert a new piece of netting and tie it all together with zip ties. (Is there anything zip ties can’t do?) Thankfully there were no such problems in the Lion enclosure!!

Die back at the top of a tree more often than not indicates a problem with the roots, this can often be caused by soil compaction, recent excavations such as trenching and decay pathogens.

We started the day by carrying out our ‘on site’ risk assessment and setting out our Men at Work road signage to alert motorists. On a tree of this size we use two climbers this is so we get the job done efficiently and safely.

Caleb climbed the tree first and installed Chris’s climbing line and the rigging line so that we could carefully lower the severed branches to the ground. Matt and Mark did a sterling job keeping up with the climbers by chipping up the branch wood and logging the timber as well as controlling the traffic when required.

We certainly had the weather on our side as we had probably had the only dry day in April! I will post a picture of the tree in leaf so that the difference in height and shape can be seen to its full.

Subsidence is not only caused by trees, although this is where the finger is often pointed first. It can be caused by shrubs, hedges and even your lawn! Many properties that are on a ‘shrinkable’ clay soil with shallow foundations can suffer subsidence from the surrounding vegetation taking up water. If this water is not replaced then the soil shrinks (moisture deficit) and the foundations drop causing large cracks, usually 6mm+ often doors and windows will not open or shut due to the distortion of the frames. Removal of the vegetation in some cases solve the problem although this can lead to ‘heave’. This is the opposite of subsidence, basically when the soil re-wets it swells causing the foundations to lift.

If you have concerns about subsidence or heave then please call for advice. We regularly work in and around Bath and the BANES area.

A Willow tree had fallen into the River Avon several years ago and had become lodged on the weir at the mill in Limpley Stoke. At the beginning of this year we were asked if it was possible to remove it, apparently several other companies over the years had been asked but after looking at the job they were never heard from again. Well, we like a challenge and anything out of the ordinary we’re always interested. There was no direct access to the tree from the car park, it was either through the building, down 4 flights of stairs, or over it.  A 100 tonne crane was the only answer to have enough height to reach the tree on the other side of the building lifting the tree round the building and lowering it into the carpark. All was agreed and we planned on programming the work in for a weekend in the summer when the river level should be at its lowest! Well more fool us I don’t think the river was out of spate for more than a week all year with the wettest summer on record.

At last the weather let up for a week the water level subsided and we had our window, on the Wednesday I checked the forecast, which said maximum 0.1mm of rain and booked the crane – all systems go! Typically it started to rain heavily that evening and carried on into Thursday, we checked the river level again on Friday it was in full flow again but where the tree sat the water would have to come up another foot to make the job to dangerous to do, so we crossed our fingers! Saturday came and the crane arrived and set up in the car park while we readied ourselves on the other side of the building. The trunk of the tree was led on top of the end stone pier at the end of the weir and the branches in the water, there was little room to stand with a chainsaw by the trunk making this job extremely dangerous, if the tree rolled one way or the other then we would be pushed into the fast flowing mill race or the river.

Jon was suspended from the crane using his rope and harness and dismantle a couple of the larger branches attaching them to the crane to be lifted round the building. Bearing in mind the crane can lift 100 tonnes close in by the time the hook was over the tree it could only lift 4 tonnes! After taking off a few of the branches we estimated the trees’ weight and hooked it on. Jon came back on to the safe side and it was all up to the crane operator. Success! The section weighed 3 tonnes and was lifted carfully

into the car park to be cut up and taken away. After a few more lifts of smaller branches all was done and the site left spotlessly clean. On the Sunday it rained and rained- there would have been no chance have doing it then!