Issue 22 by a World of Trees

RLD ofTREES ISSUE22

Arboriculture • Woodland • Forestry

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RLD ofTREES Arboriculture • Woodland • Forestry

ISSUE 22

Contents 4 8 10 12 14 18 20 24 26 30 32 34 36 40 42 46 48 49 50

News – Arboriculture Getting the most from Nature 4 – Wild Foods Profile on Decay Fungi – Part 1 – Meripilus giganteus Conker Canker Decoded Climbing into the Dead Zone Are you First Aid at work Compliant? TrustMark for Arboriculture – Update Deal or No Deal – Where’s Gareth? Rogue Tree Surgeons New Heartwood Forest gets down to Planting Utterly Utility What’s on – Industry Events Forestry & Woodland News Rowan: its natural & un-natural history An Historical Review of Tree Risk Assessment Culturally Modified Trees in Sweeden Galloway Over the moon with Dark Sky Award Subscriptions Snow Kidding! Voles are Booming in Keilder Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy, neither a World of Trees nor its authors can accept any responsibility for errors or omissions. The views expressed in a World of Trees magazine are not necessarily those of a World of Trees.

For Editorial & Advertising contact Dal Parmar: telephone: 0845 388 4228 mobile: 07530 013514 email: dal@eworldoftrees.com a World of Trees, Coppice House, Teddesley, Penkridge, Staffs ST19 5RP

a World of Trees Issue 22

There is no unauthorised reproduction, in any media whatsoever, in whole or in part, permitted without the written consent of a World of Trees. If you feel that your copyright has been infringed in any way you should contact the editor. We undertake to remove from our publication or website any images or written media that have inadvertently infringed copyright or to give appropriate credit(s) where applicable. Unsolicited manuscripts and photographs are welcomed, but no responsibility can be accepted from them, however delivered. a World of Trees magazine is independent of all political parties, private interest groups and government. It has no affiliation to commercial interests other then its own and represents no organisations or associations. Our policy is to provide news and information to our readers in a balanced manner. If you find any error of fact in our pages you should contact the editor by telephone, letter or email. We undertake to correct errors promptly and to issue apologies, where deemed appropriate.

News

Arboriculture & Woodland

Thin kerf recession beaters at Xylexpo The leading manufacturer of narrow blade bandsaws, conscious of the financial constraints still affecting customers, demonstrates appropriate wood processing kit at Xylexpo.

Wood-Mizer shows new mills and ancillary equipment with integral enhancements but without undue price increases. A small-to-medium sawmill demonstrates how it enables operators to promote themselves to a ‘chunkier’ machine without paying for larger, semi-professional versions. Wood-Mizer’s second smallest mill demonstrates a new power feed which requires less manpower. A faster, easier to use, more accurate industrial sharpener which almost halves the time taken to sharpen and reset

bandsaw blades shows its paces. A quick, simple, computerised, automatic blade teeth setter makes its debut. A moulder-planer attachment which can be fitted to the company’s smaller mills and is expected to attract interest amongst log buildings producers is unveiled. Finally, the Wood-Mizer small logs processing system illustrates how small logs of often previously unviable species are converted to profitable lumber and also one of the company’s mid-range mills is exhibited.

UPDATE ON THE ORANGUTANS AND SAWPOD!

Sawpod Ltd in the guise of Tony and Di Darbyshire are continuing to help volunteers working with Orangutans in Borneo. The T Shirt campaign which got such huge support at all Arb related trade fairs last year continues with the remaining T Shirts being available from treeworker.co.uk. This year sees the launch of The Sawpod (the unique pruning saw holder) with Orangutan orange straps and new recycled packaging, with 10p from every sale worldwide going to the Great Orangutan Project. Rob Franklin, an ex-student of Tony’s, who initially got Sawpod involved in the project, is back in the UK working hard to raise the money to get himself out to Borneo for another stint of volunteering. Rob’s latest request was for a set of Spikes for the local tree climbers to get food into the trees to encourage the apes to climb. Tony has been able to furnish Rob with a set to take back with him. So look out for the T Shirts again at this year’s shows and it won’t be long before the new Sawpods with their orange straps start turning up in a tree near you! The Great Orangutan Project (GOP) have been establishing links with organisations to enhance existing Orangutan conservation programmes and are working with local tribal 4

communities to protect wild populations, educating local communities on the plight and importance of conserving Orangutans. They hope to contribute to captive conservation breeding of Orangutans and start the rehabilitation and release of Orangutans into the semi-wild. The GOP also hope to research the success and viability of the rehabilitation and release programme and work in partnership with palm oil companies to reforest wildlife corridors in Borneo. There are also plans afoot to establish education programmes for the general public in the Orangutan home range. For more information on how you can help go to the GOP page on the Sawpod website!

a World of Trees Issue 22

DANequip manufactures of narrow access pedestrian stump grinders At 28” wide this machine will fit through most gateways, however we do supply a set of narrow wheels that will take the width down to 26” should it be necessary. The machine is well balanced & compact. It is fitted with a 27hp Kohler Command Engine the 25SP power plus is our most popular model. Also a dealer for the German built Tunnissen brushwood chipper. The Model 190 is packed with features. This unit is constructed on a heavy duty fully galvanized chassis and powered by a Lombardini four cylinder water cooled diesel engine which comes complete with a 2 year engine manufacturer’s warranty. “Anti-Stress” device as standard and fitted with a large cutting disc weighing over 90kg, all bearings fitted are fully greasable for prolonged life. The large in-feed hopper is fitted with a simple mechanical safety bar system which reduces the need for unnecessary electrical components and fully complies with HSE legislation. As with all machinery, ‘back up is very important’ says Teressa at Advanced Tree Services Ltd of Woking Surrey, the service we receive from DANequip is always reliable, efficient, friendly and nothing is ever too much trouble

IVECO 4X4 PLATFORM LAUNCH

Cumberland Industries Uk have decided to push hard in the access platform off road market and will be launching their new Iveco 4x4 20meter access platform at the upcoming ARB Show. The Iveco will be an ideal solution for working at height off road and will be

advantageous to the Arbour culturist. Cumberland who last year completed an order for Iraq by producing over 90 access platforms have now decided to attack the Uk access platform market by teaming up with Socage, an Italian platform manufacture, to specially design off road vehicle mounted access which will include Land Rover, Unimog and Iveco. There will be 3 Iveco models, the 20m articulated, the 16m telescopic and the 14m articulated. The Land Rover Defender models 110 and 130 wheelbase variants in both 3t and 3.5t will be fitted with the new 13.5 meter telescopic Socage boom. This new boom was specially developed for the Land Rover which gives it many advantages over the other competitor’s.

At this year’s ARB Show Cumberland will be showing their new Iveco 4x4 20m together with the Land Rover 13.5m 110 model that was launched at the Bauma Exhibition last month. Cumberland will also be mounting the complete range of Socage access platforms from their workshops in Kettering Northants. This will give their customers a wide range of both on and off road solutions to help with their working at height needs. Cumberland are also agents for Terex Utilities, which manufacturer insulated access equipment for live line work. You can visit them on stand H4 at the Arb Show or contact them at Kettering on 01536 529 876 or www.cumberlanduk. co.uk.

Silva Cell Goes International at Harrogate Geosynthetics Ltd recently supplied the Deeproot Silva Cell Tree and Stormwater Management System to Harrogate Borough Council for their pavement improvements scheme at Kings Road outside the famous International Conference and Exhibition Centre. The Deeproot Silva Cell is a modular framework that provides a structural void for soil to be housed when planting new trees in hard landscaped areas. Unique in its design and application, the Silva Cell prevents compaction of soils subsequently encouraging healthy and sustained growth of the selected tree species. Harrogate Borough Council specified the Silva Cell System to increase the soil volume that is usually provided for street trees to a much greater capacity. This increased soil availability helps the tree to grow to the specified size at maturity, increasing the amenity value of the tree and also enhancing the aesthetics of the area and helping to make our towns greener and cleaner. Trees play a vital part in our environment and thanks to the Silva Cell System designers can now be encouraged to plant large street trees in all of their developments. The Silva Cell was successfully installed at Harrogate during February and March 2010. a World of Trees Issue 22

News GreenMech Network Grows Greenmech have made a number of changes to their dealer network. The Warwickshire based chipper manufacturer is aiming to provide customers with a comprehensive network of specialist dealers that can supply and service the company’s products. GreenMech sales director Martin Lucas said that, “ the changes reflect a developing market and the need to service a wide range of customers, from landscaping through to major utility contractors.” Lucas also pointed out that the new dealers provided a one stop solution for

customers in their areas; in addition to the support offered by the factory. Dealers who have recently joined the GreenMech network include Vincent Tractors who will cover Cornwall and MST who will be serving the Devon, Somerset (South) and West Dorset areas. Whilst T.H. White will serve Gloucestershire, North Somerset& Wiltshire from their Tetbury branch and Berkshire, Hampshire, East Dorset, West Sussex, Surrey & South London from the Reading branch. In the north of the country Balmers Garden Machinery of Burnley will operate in Greater Manchester, Lancashire and

West Yorkshire. Beddoes Machinery Sales will cover Shropshire and Powys. George Brown Implements Ltd have added Oxfordshire to their existing territory. Chandlers (Farm Equipment) Ltd, will be covering Lincolnshire and Rutland. Full details can be found on the GreenMech website at www. greenmech.co.uk. The site provides contact details and links to the dealer network.

a World of Trees Issue 22

News The Consulting Arborist Society (CAS) The Consulting Arborist Society (CAS), part of the ISA, provides an accessible, structured and affordable route for aspiring consulting arborists to gain skills, experience and profile as they become established consultants. Consultants with years of experience can work to become Chartered and AA Registered Consultants. Those with years of experience in employed roles, seeking to explore freelance work, can benefit from CAS promotion of their venture via the website If you have worked practically and now wish to explore writing tree reports and consultancy work Students wanting to know more, CAS has opportunities. Benefits include: • Website promotion on the CAS site (subject to membership class) • Training and product discounts • Support to attain professional status. For more details, contact Mark Chester at chairman@consultingarboristsociety.com www.consultingarboristsociety.com

custom created websites for the ‘Arboricultural’ industry HostMyWeb Ltd specialise in custom created websites for the ‘Arboricultural’ industry. Recently, with the new start up of the TrustMark for Arboriculture Contractors Scheme, the importance of marketing to the general public has become even more signiﬁcant. HMW work to tailor each site to their clients needs, maintaining high standards of design and customer satisfaction. Whether you are looking to start a new website or revamp your old tired website then please email them direct at enquiries@hostmyweb.co.uk. Tel: 07545 504110

J.TOMS LTD - The Tree Care & Amenity Product Specialists J.Toms Ltd has been established for over 60 years. Often referred to as ‘Toms Tree Ties’, the company have specialised in the support and protection of trees. Toms original rubber tree ties can be seen extensively throughout the United Kingdom and, it is true to say, that over the years almost all local authorities have used the company with great satisfaction. One of the areas that Toms Tree Ties

specialise in is the protection of trees. The company offers a large range of products specifically designed to protect trees from damage caused by weather, animals and even vandals. This is a real problem area in parks, woods, forests and even gardens. In order to protect the trees, Toms Tree Ties produce a range of guards, shelters and grilles. They also stock a large selection of Netting fencing and wind breaks. All of these are designed to care for trees and ensure

that they are able to grow and develop without too many outside pressures. Over the years the company have widened their range to include Tree Anchoring systems, irrigation systems, Rite Edge lawn edging ,Grass seed, Stakes, Rabbit/Deer protection, Underground Barrier systems and much much more. For more information, please call 01233 770066 or visit the website at www.jtoms.co.uk

“Green Plant UK Ltd is the authorised Timberwolf dealer for London and the surrounding counties. We specialise in providing trade professionals with top quality chippers, shredders, stumpgrinders and other Aboricultural and Groundcare machinery from leading manufacturers for both hire or sale. We understand how important it is to keep you working and provide unrivalled back up service and parts support across the region. Our chipper hire fleet is one of the largest in the country and is all under two years old. All machines are maintained to the highest standards to minimise breakdowns and maximise efficiency. Please visit our website www.greenplantuk.com or call us on 0845 2600 119 for more details” a World of Trees Issue 22

Getting the most from

by Mike Jarmain

WILD FOODS This article is all about the plants and trees that can be used for food. Exactly the same plants that our ancestors used for food still surround us today. This is the great thing about looking for wild foods – they have been used by mankind for thousands of years and there’s no reason why you can’t use them today. Even better, they are free, haven’t been covered in pesticides and haven’t had to be transported great distances. All you have to do is to step out of your front door to begin your wild food adventure.

In the beginning

Agriculture as we understand it has only been around for some 10,000 years. Prior to this all wild food was exactly that. People, especially the women, would have spent hours foraging for wild plants whilst the men hunted. This pattern can still be seen in the few hunter gatherer tribes that exist today. The tragedy is that this vast databank of knowledge, that took thousands of years to build up, has mostly been lost today in Britain. Today we have an almost total reliance on shops to provide for all our food needs. There are very, very few people who have even the slightest ability to feed themselves from the wild. The good news is that this is very easy to remedy and in the next two articles I will show you how!

Getting Out There

The best way to become adept at finding wild foods is to start slowly. Learning to recognise 10 of the most common edible plants is the way I would recommend to anyone interested in this subject. Once you have got to grips with 10 plants, then you are well on your way. All you then have to do is to keep adding to your knowledge a little at a time and within a couple of years, you will amaze your family and friends with your ability to find all manner of edible plants. Over the course of the next 2 issues, I shall introduce you to 10 easily found and widely available sources of wild food. Just use the following basic rules for gathering wild foods and you shouldn’t go far wrong. Basic Rules of Gathering 1. Don’t pick from areas that are polluted – avoid roadsides, land that has been sprayed or areas where dogs are walked. 2. Be 100% sure you have identified the plant you are picking. If you’re unsure, leave it alone! You can always come back another day. 3. Get permission from the landowner before you go foraging for wild foods. 4. Don’t be greedy. Only take what you need and only take a little from any one plant. Try and 8

gather from a wide area - the effect you have is minimised. 5. Nature Reserves, SSSI’s and other protected areas are just that – Protected. Don’t forage here. 6. When you get home, wash the plants thoroughly and discard anything that’s old or decayed. And finally, consider growing some of these common wild plants in your garden. It makes life much easier for you and will add a lot of biodiversity to your garden. Your children in particular will be fascinated when you bring these plants into the kitchen and prepare them for eating. 1. The Nettle (Urtica Dioica) - gathering time March to June Incredibly widespread and abundant all over Europe, the common stinging nettle is surely known to us all. In fact, I’m sure we all have some childhood memories of being stung. However, the nettle is also one of the most useful edible wild food plants. It has been widely eaten for centuries, can be used to make excellent cordage and has even been used to as a cotton substitute to make clothing. The leaves are best gathered in early spring, when the plant is young. Always pick the youngest, juiciest leaves. I’ve picked young leaves later in the year but they never seem to taste as good once past mid June. Thereafter I’ve normally found that the taste becomes increasingly bitter. Once you have collected your nettle leaves, all they need is a simple wash and then to be boiled for about 5 minutes in the barest amount of water. The sting completely disappears and the nettles taste much like spinach. They are also just as good, being packed with iron, potassium and vitamins A and C. You can also make nettle tea just as easily. Boil a handful of nettle leaves in 1 pint of water until it turns a light green (adjust the boiling time depending on how strong you like it – the longer you boil, the stronger the tea becomes). Simply add a little sugar and perhaps even some lemon. It’s very refreshing and is even a very good natural treatment for those who suffer from Hayfever, as it contains antihistamines. There is an amazing array of recipe ideas for nettles on the Internet. Just type ‘nettle’ into any search engine. nging nettle

The common sti

2. Hazelnut (Corylus avellana) – gathering time mid September onwards Another widely available and incredibly tasty wild food, the hazelnut should be gathered from mid September onwards. They start to ripen at this time but you need to move fast. The squirrels go crazy for them and you can often find them all disappeared within a very short period of time. I’ve known them to almost all vanish within 2 weeks in certain areas. If you can’t see any on the tree, look on the ground. You may be lucky! Once you collect them, keep them dry. They are prone to go mouldy if you don’t. Hazel nuts are packed with protein, carbohydrate and fat and are an incredibly valuable food source in late autumn. Incredibly, pound for pound, they contain twice as much protein, 7 times more fat and 5 times more carbohydrate than an equal weight of hens’ eggs. Just remember that the nut is the seed for a new Hazel tree, so don’t swipe them all! Just how important they were to our ancestors was dramatically brought home in 1995 when the remains of hundreds of thousands of burned hazelnut shells were found in a pit on an island in Scotland. They were carbon dated to 7,000BC and it is thought that the hazelnuts were a major part of the diet of these people, since no large game was thought to have existed on the island. Hazelnuts – packed with energy

and delicious to eat

3. Sweet Chestnut (Castanea sativa) – gathering time mid September onwards Another nut that surely needs little in the way of introduction. Although less common in Scotland, these are common trees all over much of the UK and winter just wouldn’t be winter without these nuts being roasted. They were so highly valued (and in some poorer areas still are) as a source of food that they were a major part of peoples’ diet throughout much of southern Europe. From a mature tree, it is possible to easily fill small sack in a very short space of time. Several of these trees in a close area could easily be responsible for feeding people a large part of their diet for weeks, if not longer. Even better, while some survival food may be a case of ‘grin and bear’ a World of Trees Issue 22

WARNING – ONLY PICK PLANTS THAT YOU HAVE POSITIVELY IDENTIFIED AS SAFE TO EAT. NEVER, EVER PICK A PLANT THAT YOU ARE UNSURE ABOUT. IF YOU ARE UNSURE, LEAVE IT ALONE! SOME PLANTS MAY MAKE YOU ILL BUT SOME PLANTS CAN KILL YOU. rather than enjoyment, the humble sweet chestnut is superlative when roasted. One of my earliest memories of being shown wild foods was roasting these and being amazed at how delicious they were. The Romans thought so highly of them as a food source that they deliberately planted them all over areas that they conquered. The next time somebody asks, “What have the Romans ever done for us?” you know what to say! You can even make the humble chestnut into flour. When dried, finely ground and mixed half and half with normal flour, it adds a very distinct taste to any baking experience. This flour is available in many larger UK supermarkets and whole food shops and is definitely worth a try. One small thing you must remember – ALWAYS prick the skins before roasting the nut. They will explode otherwise!

else is growing, this plant is an absolutely brilliant source of carbohydrate. Just in case you don’t know, carbohydrate is ‘the fuel for your engine’ – well over half your daily diet should be carbohydrates. Carefully lift the roots with your hands, wash off in water and place straight onto a fire. They only take about 10 minutes to cook. To eat them, chew the inner pulp – this releases the starch. Spit out the pulp once sufficiently chewed. The taste is pretty bland but the carbohydrate obtained is well worthwhile. The final part of the plant that can be eaten is when it is about 2-3 feet high. By pulling on the plant, it will normally break clean away from the root. Peel away the outside leaves until you are left with a white part – this is known as ‘Cossack asparagus’. This can be eaten raw but it is much better if cooked. It can be boiled but is much better shallow fried. Simply chop it up, much as you would a carrot, and fry until golden brown.

disturbed areas. When the leaves are crushed they exude a wonderful garlic smell that makes it easy to identify. Even better, there are no poisonous look-alikes, so you can be reasonably sure that you won’t get in trouble identifying this one. I have it growing in my garden (it tastes that good in salads!) and it can even produce a second growth in late August. The first growth is the best one for taste though. The heart shaped leaves can also be added to vegetable dishes, meats, etc – anywhere you’d normally use garlic, you can use this. Experiment with the number of leaves you use to gauge the taste you require. profusely in Garlic Mustard grows woodland paths dy sha and s ow ger hed

rsatile and very tas

– ve Sweet chestnut

4. Cattail (Typha latifolia) – available almost year round Another very wide spread and common plant, cattail is often known as Bulrush, reedmace or corndog grass by the Americans. Strictly speaking calling it Bulrush is incorrect – Bulrush is actually a different plant – but this nomenclature is so common today that biologist have just about given up trying to educate people about correct terminology. The cattail is sometimes called the ‘survival supermarket’ because it is so useful in so many ways. I always tell students on our courses that the best way to recognise the cattail if you’re unsure is to look for the ‘sausage on a stick’. This unmistakeable identification factor helps to tell it apart from other plants that look very similar in the initial growth stages. In particular, one of these similar plants, Yellow Iris (Iris pseudacorus), has a leaf that looks quite similar but is poisonous. If you’re at all unsure, wait for the distinctive ‘sausage’ to appear. These green ‘sausages’ can be boiled as a vegetable in early summer. Very shortly after this, the ‘sausage’ has a fine yellow pollen on its outside. This pollen can be gathered easily by bending the head into a container and brushing it off with the hand. Used as a half and half mixture with normal flour, it is particularly good for pancakes or flat breads, giving these foods a wonderful golden tinge. The root or ‘rhizome’ can be eaten from autumn to early spring and is particularly beneficial at this time, being packed with starch as the plant prepares to send up new shoots in spring. In fact, when little a World of Trees Issue 22

5. Garlic Mustard / Jack-by-the-Hedge (Alliara petiolata) – gathering time March to June Jack-by-the-Hedge is one of those fantastic plants that is widespread, common and numerous. Known by several names, including Garlic Mustard and Hedge Garlic, its range includes all of Europe, western China and northern India. Whilst rightly regarded as one of the best food plants available in spring in Europe, it is not so welcome elsewhere. It has been planted since the 1860’s in America and unfortunately is now classed as an invasive species there. Despite the American problems, it is a ‘must’ for you to identify and use. The leaves have a mild garlic taste that is an excellent addition to any salad. In particular, it adds a delicious garlic taste to trout – this is hard to beat when simply grilled over a fire. Not surprisingly, given its name, it is most commonly found in hedgerows but can also be found in paths in woods or shady

Until you are totally confident in your identification and picking, it is always a good idea to take one of the many excellent plant identification books with you. They really help to eliminate any confusion. Once you are confident and as long as you follow the rules and pick wisely, all this free food will be available to you year after year. You can then look forward to supplementing your meals with nature’s bounty – a truly satisfying experience, both for your stomach, your taste buds and your wallet.

Decay Fungi

Part 1 - Meripilus giganteus David R Rose, Centre for Forestry & Climate Change, Forest Research The fungus Meripilus giganteus is a common cause of failure of large beech trees and is regarded by many working in the field of tree hazard assessment as a very dangerous fungus. But not everyone agrees and there have been some voices raised in recent years claiming that to condemn trees with Meripilus is an over-reaction and many trees could be retained without incurring any undue risk. So, is it always dangerous or can a more relaxed view be taken of its presence. This article attempts to answer that question by highlighting what is known and, more importantly, what is unknown about the behaviour of this fungus. The fungus and is hosts The annual fruit-bodies of this fungus are large and conspicuous (individual fronds 10 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 20 cm wide and collectively 60 cm or more wide) and are found on or close to the base of the affected tree

Meripilus at base of

(Figure 1) from July until late autumn/early winter. Often the first sign of infection is the sudden appearance of fruit-bodies all around the base of the tree but sometimes they occur only on one or two points at the stem base or on the line of a root some distance from the base of the tree. The large overlapping fronds are variable in colour from brownish-yellow to chestnut-brown with a paler margin when fresh. As the fruit-bodies age the colour may change to a pale grey-brown or dull tan. The undersides (pore surface) are whitish, bruising black when handled. The fruit bodies can continue to be produced from the stump for some years (Figure 2) so it is important to be sure that if fruit-bodies appear close to a live tree that there is not an old stump and roots of an infected tree close by. The fungus is found mainly on beech but can occur on Robinia (Figure 3) and more rarely on other broadleaved trees such as oak, London plane and on some conifers such as Monkey puzzle.

live beech (figure 1)

Type and severity of the decay Infection by this fungus is only revealed when the fruit-bodies appear around the base of tree, often in some profusion. However, the quantity and size of the fruit-bodies should not be taken to indicate the likely extent and severity of decay. It will certainly indicate the presence of significant amounts of decay but there is no direct correlation between the abundance of fruit-bodies and the total amount of decay. The fungus causes a simultaneous white-rot that decays both the lignin and cellulose in wood at approximately the same rate. This causes the loss of both stiffness and tensile strength severely weakening the wood and often leading to a fracture across the grain of the wood. In beech, the decay is almost always limited to the roots and may involve only the deeper roots with the upper roots remaining sound. The usual techniques for detecting decay such as probing and ultra-sound are thus ineffective posing a dilemma for anyone attempting to assess

a World of Trees Issue 22

Meripilus on beech stump (figur e 2)

n Robinia

Meripilus o

the safety of the tree. Also it is possible for the tree to appear in excellent health with a full crown even though there is significant severe decay in the major roots. The nature and significance of the decay in other tree species is not documented and no major studies have been undertaken. How dangerous is it? From the limited information available, it appears that trees other

a World of Trees Issue 22

(figure 3)

than beech affected by Meripilus rarely fail. This is certainly true of the cases of infection of Robinia, after beech the most frequently attacked tree, recorded by Forest Research. However, the number of cases on other species is too low to draw any similar conclusions. On beech, this fungus is regarded as dangerous due to the type of decay and the difficulty in detecting it. The fact that severely affected trees often show no crown symptoms, such as poor foliage

or dieback, adds to the danger. It is sometimes claimed that beech infected by Meripilus are not necessarily a danger and cases of trees that have had known infections for decades are cited in support of this. However, from the records maintained by Forest Research, it is by far the commonest cause of failure of beech. Many of the cases handled resulted in the failure of the tree or the discovery of extensive root decay when the affected trees were felled. Not enough data has been collected from infected trees that have been felled to support the hypothesis that some trees may not be a danger. The difficulty here is that in order to assess the extent of root decay the tree may have to be felled, thus defeating the object of retention. Thus a way needs to be found of accurately determining root decay without resorting to felling or carrying out extensive excavation of the root system. The final point to consider is whether, as has been proposed, there are two forms or even two species of Meripilus. The behaviour of the fungus on other species of tree, and the occasional resilience of some infected beech, has been cited as indicating that this might be the case. The available DNA profiles of Meripilus do not show any differences so those assessed to date are all the same species. It is well known that the same fungus can have different effects on different tree species, some being more or less susceptible to attack. Even within the same tree species there can be differences though usually not as great as between species. There is certainly scope for more research into Meripilus and its interactions with different tree species. Until such evidence is available it will be prudent to regard the presence of this fungus on beech as potentially dangerous.

Conker Canker Decoded Scientists from Britain’s Forest Research have played a key role in decoding the genome of a bacterium that is threatening horse chestnut trees, a much loved feature of many of Britain’s historic landscapes. The horse chestnut has become an iconic sight in Britain since its introduction in the 1500s, but in 2002 a new, lethal pathogen appeared. The pathogen is a bacterium called Pseudomonas syringae pathovar aesculi (Pae), which causes cankers, or lesions, which bleed like open sores and in severe cases can kill large, mature horse chestnut trees within one or two seasons. A recent Forestry Commission survey found more than 70 per cent of the trees surveyed in some regions of Britain showed symptoms that indicated or might indicate bleeding canker. Now a partnership of scientists from three research establishments, including Forest Research, has decoded the bacterium’s genome, unlocking information that can help to inform advice on managing the disease. Forest Research, the scientific research arm of the Forestry Commission, isolated and led the sequencing of the main British strain of Pae used in the study. “Detecting the origin of Pae is important from a biosecurity perspective,” said Dr Sarah Green, a tree pathologist with Forest Research. “There has been an unprecedented rise in invasive plant

diseases, possibly linked to the rise in international travel and in the global plant trade. “We now have the first clues to the evolutionary origin of the disease and to its ability to spread so fast. Pae might have been accidentally introduced to Europe through importation in the plant trade. We need to prevent it from being introduced to new geographical areas such as North America.” Dr David Studholme, who led the analyses of the DNA sequences at The Sainsbury Laboratory in Norwich, England, added, “Comparing the genomes of British strains of the bacterium has shown us they are very similar and probably originated from a single introduction into the UK within the past few years.” Before the European epidemic, the only reported case of Pae was in India. A similar strain infects the Indian horse chestnut, but causes only minor lesions in the leaves. The strains that emerged in Europe appear to be more aggressive and attack the woody trunk and branches. “This pathogen spread quickly through Western Europe and Britain, and the information from the sequencing will help us discover how it is dispersed,” said Dr Rob Jackson from England’s University of Reading. “It may be that it can cause precipitation, so it is swept into the

atmosphere before being rained back down in new locations, or it may be carried by some kind of vector such as insects.” The success of the pathogen might be helped by a cluster of genes that help it to acquire iron, an essential nutrient for virulent bacteria. Pae also has an unusual cluster of genes which might be involved in the degradation of cell wall compounds found in the woody parts of the tree. A plant will normally produce nitric oxide as part of its defence mechanism, but Pae might have the ability to inhibit this response via two genes identified by the scientists. The differences between the Indian and British strains give the first clues to its virulence on European horse chestnut. The British strains contain additional genes that enable it to live off the sucrose found in the tree sap. The genome sequence will allow scientists to determine which genes might be necessary for infection of a tree host so they can be targeted to manage the disease. “Emerging human and animal diseases are routinely sequenced, and this research shows the usefulness of doing the same for plant pathogens,” said Dr Studholme. “We can quickly generate large amounts of genetic information on emerging plant diseases that is valuable for combating current and future biosecurity threats.”

a World of Trees Issue 22

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a World of Trees Issue 22

Climbing into the

DEAD Road safety campaigns have become frighteningly effective in recent years. One that made an impact on me was the one that showed the aftermath of an accident with the little girl laying still (and by implication dead), up against a tree. It then graphically showed the difference that would have been likely if the car had hit her at 30mph rather than 40mph. She slides back to the middle of the road (to a point to which the force of an impact of 30 mph would have thrown her), her gasp of breath and cry graphically indicating what the narration (in the child’s voice), confirmed. “Hit a child at 30mph and 80% live. Hit a child at 40 mph and 80% die”. The final message... “It’s 30mph for a reason”. As an arborist, that information got me thinking... . You see, if these ROSPA derived accident statistics hold true for adults, then it is reasonable to expect that a fall from a height that will produce a final velocity of 30 mph will be statistically more likely to result in injury but not death. However, a fall from a height that will produce a final velocity of 40mph would be statistically more likely to cause death rather than injury. Newtonian physics is nice and straightforward and at the velocities at which our bodies break, we don’t even need to factor in drag.

So, the calculations (for which I have to thank Mike Farnworth), define from what height you have to fall in order to achieve a falling velocity of 30 and 40 mph respectively, due to the effects of Gavity Falling From Height Terminal Velocities “u” is initial velocity, “v” is final velocity, “f” is acceleration due to gravity and “s” is distance... v²=u²+2fs However u is usually 0 so the equation can be simplified to... v²=2fs Finally make s (the distance of the fall) the subject of the equation... s= v²/2f So we start with v in miles per hour 20 30 40 Convert to feet per second 29.33 44 58.67 Square it 860.44

1936

3441.78

Divide by twice the acceleration due to gravity 13.44 30.25 53.78 Round to the nearest number of feet of fall 13 30 54

Stills from the Road Safety TV ad campaign...

a World of Trees Issue 22

ZONE

Hit H at a 40mph 3 There is an 80%* chance I’ll die.

T 8 I’l

It So if you fall from 30 feet, you will hit the ground at 30 mph and if you fall from 54 feet, you will hit the ground at 40 mph. Now I bet that these figures meet with what most intuitively expected and assuming that:• Adult bodies perform the same as children’s bodies in impacts • Collisions with cars are very similar in effect with impacts against the ground • Nothing (hitting branches, soft ground or rope drag) slows the decent • Nothing increases the severity of the impact like sharp objects, equipment or concrete... ... then it is likely that, just as in the road safety advert, the relative ﬁnal speeds at impact will according to the statistics, predictably result in increasingly serious injuries or death and that ﬁnal velocity, in the case of Arborists, depends on the height from which they fall. That means that the relative height at which arborists work correlates in certain ways to the risks that they are exposed to and a fall from around 30 feet is likely to be survivable (albeit very painful) whereas a fall from 50 feet is likely to cause death. This new information might (for example) lead insurers to decide to limit the work height at which trainee and inexperienced arborists are insured to work at.

a World of Trees Issue 22

Imagine if, for example, trainee arborists were only insured in their first year to work at heights that could produce a fall of no more than 30 feet. That restriction would limit their usefulness but would give them a period within which they could develop their skills with the likelyhood that a mistake and fall (possibly more likely at that point in their career) would be statistically likely not to be fatal. From my experience I would guess that a 30’ working height restriction would mean that trainee arborists would not be able to work on approximately 50% of the trees that I am asked to quote for. I don’t make any real differentiation between the risks of working at 50 feet or 150 feet. They both represent a working height that could accurately be described as “The Dead Zone”. That is, a working height that would produce a free fall that would statistically be likely to cause death to the faller. I must admit that I am personally sensitised to this because when I started in 1985 I had completed just 4 weeks of a 6 week Phase 2 City and Guilds Arboriculture course and then, with absolutely no other experience whatsoever, I started Cheshire Tree Surgeons. The pictures on the next page are of a large Beech that I estimate was over 100 feet tall (and a Turkey Oak to the right which was actually taller than the Beech (before I started on it).

At the point that the picture was taken, (that shows me, looking for all the world like a “Nit”), I was on the home stretch having sectionally dismantled and removed all of the really difficult extended side branches from the Beech. I will not embarrass myself by revealing 11202_DFT skull job A3_420x297 Size: 420x297 how many manFile:days this consumed, Path: STUDIO>CLIENTS>COI>11202 but arrogantly Client: andCOIstupidly I had taken Operator: Debs Page: 1on the job of sectionally dismantling these two Date: 16/12/04 Spell Check: Y/N Job No. 11202 Publication: monstrous trees within a month of setting up my company. Now bear in mind that this sectional takedown into a small garden, was one of the first half dozen tree jobs I ever undertook. As the trunks were both approx 45 feet to the first branch almost all of the work was in “The Dead Zone”. I will happily admit, what I did in even attempting that job at that point in my career, was ridiculous. It was a baptism of fire and looking back on it, I was inadequately trained and totally inadequately experienced to tackle such a demanding and dangerous job. After that job so early in my career and because I discovered that I like feeling my heart beating out of my chest, I specialised in technically difficult takedowns from then on. I have done nothing since that challenged me both physically and mentally like these trees did. To this day, I don’t know how I did it. *80% is an approximate figure.

Proof

t Hit t at h 30mph

n e e.

There is an 80%* chance I’ll live.

It’s 30 for a reason.

You will find more about the risks and accidents in Arboriculture at the new Health & Safety Executive website www.hse.gov.uk/ treework/express.htm

A novice Tree Surgeon at work in

My point... Modern Arboriculture is all about managing risk. Quantifying the likely results of falling from various heights removes any defence of ignorance on the reader. So the question each Arb contractor reading this must ask themselves is, “will restricting the work height that you allow inexperienced arborists to work at, make their training safer”? Then from that, should there be an actual advanced climbing qualification that licenses people to operate in “The Dead Zone” fully aware of the increasing risks that they automatically accept in climbing above 30 feet and then over 50 feet. The picture on the next page has prompted some adverse reactions and even criticism, from those who in my opinion do not have their safety culture priorities quite right. I have assessed the risks and consider climbing in trees without a helmet (when

1985

doing simple aerial inspections or a photo shoot) to be “relatively” safe and there may even be sensory benefits. I have decided that I need some risk to live which is why Arboriculture suits me fine however, the risk of falling from the Dead Zone is the main risk that I concern myself with. I believe that I know what risk is. I’m prepared to take measured risks that I have assessed myself and calculated that they are acceptable to me. Further to that, I believe that what I have done in the last 25 years qualifies me to make such decisions with my own life. However, with the benefit of the hindsight gained through 25 years as a tree contractor, to allow people to gain their own experiences incrementally and ensure that they live to learn from them would prevent idiots like me from accepting challenges beyond them. I believe that we should define risks including describing the

a World of Trees Issue 22

full consequences of those risks, then spoon feed trainees those risks early in their careers. Then they will be able to learn to safely come to terms with those risks while also overcoming their (entirely rational) fear of those risks. That is all so that they will learn to be able to acclimatise gradually to accepting and managing those same risks, day in and day out because that is the most immediate and continuous life threatening risk, that Arborists have to live with. Falling just a small distance can kill you, but all Arborists and especially people engaging Arborists should fully understand that if working in a tree, in a position from which somebody could fall just 30 feet, will kill one in five fallers. Then a fall from just over 50 feet will kill four out of five. That alone should encourage clients to place their work exclusively with people that they have determined are professionally qualified, licensed and fully insured. When the real life ending risks that exist for all Arborists are fully understood, accepted and appreciated then the training requirements, licensing, Loler inspections and ever more elaborate working techniques coming from climbing competitions and constant product development, seem to be entirely justified. Arboriculture is a skilled and dangerous job that should only be attempted by trained and qualified professionals for some very good reasons. David Lloyd-Jones David@TreeAdvice.com 01565 621234 TrustMark for Arboriculture Director www.TreeCareApproved.org

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a World of Trees Issue 22

Are you First Aid at work compliant? Mark Bennett Many in the industry may not be aware of the changes that took place on the 1st October 2009 to the First Aid at Work regulations and how it may affect them. Mark Bennett explains whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new, with over 21 years experience in the emergency services and dealing with a variety of traumatic incidents on a daily basis, Mark has a wealth of experience in training newly qualified fire fighters and feels he is able to say what really works within an industry which is rated as one of the top hazardous profe ssions within civilian life.

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new:

Introduction of the emergency First Aid Aider A person with basic first aid training operating within a working environment with a low risk potential. Limited first aid knowledge and practical skills for basic life support. New emergency first aid at work one day course A 1 day HSE approved course of between 6 to 8 hours of training. Covering the old appointed person syllabus and additional first aid training of a limited nature, the course is non assessable, but is required to be retaken every three years, with recommended annual 3 hr refreshers. Current three risk groups reduced to two hazard groups The old 3 risk groups have been replaced by 2 hazard groups, a high and low hazard. For example low hazards are seen as libraries, offices and shops. High hazards are light engineering and assembly work, food processing, warehousing, extensive work with dangerous machinery or sharp instruments, construction and chemical manufacturing. First aid at work course shortened to a three day course Moved from a 4 day syllabus to a 3 day which is still HSE approved and assessable. The qualification requires requalifying within three years. This will lead to the condensing and removal of some subjects such as the transportation of patients. Introduction of an annual basic skills refresher (3hrs) A recommendation by the HSE for basic skills refreshing. A useful introduction to help maintain skills if not regularly practised can have great negative consequences on the out come of patient survival.

Below I have outline for you the basic syllabusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s for both courses,

Emergency First Aid at Work (HSE approved course)

This course is ideal for smaller workplaces that present few health and safety risks. What you will learn? Basic life saving first aid and workplace health and safety regulations. Course content Health and safety (first aid) regulations Managing an incident The priorities of first aid Treatment of an unconscious casualty Resuscitation Shock Bleeding Common workplace injuries. Course duration One day.

First aid at work (HSE approved course)

This course covers the practical skills needed by a first aider in the modern workplace. The course will give you the confidence and knowledge to deal with first aid emergencies. What you will learn The course will give you the knowledge and confidence to deal with a first aid emergency in the workplace. Course content Accidents and illness Using a first aid kit Simple record keeping Treatment of an unconscious casualty Heart attacks Resuscitation Shock Choking Bleeding Burns and scalds Poisoning Fractures Seizures Asthma Severe allergic reaction Eye injuries Low blood sugar Fainting. Course duration Three days. The course is usually offered as three consecutive days.

Assessment and certification After completing a final assessment, successful candidates receive a HSE approved certificate valid for three years. This course is legally compliant with the current Health and Safety (first aid) Regulations 1981. Upon successful completion of this three day course, first aiders receive certification to allow them to practise for three years after which a re-qualification course becomes necessary. It is strongly recommended that you update your skills by taking an annual refresher From the two syllabuses above, in my opinion it would suggest that a minimum qualification for the Arboricultural working environment would be a full first aid at work. However with the nature of the possible injuries likely to be sustained, I feel that a slightly higher qualification or set of skills be obtained. A qualification such as FPO (first person on the scene) who would be able to implement simple life saving skills and set the scene for the emergency services, buying valuable time for the patient before infinite care can be established. The following table offers guidance to minimum levels of first aid cover in a workplace but is no replacement for a thorough risk assessment.

Degree of hazard

Number employed at each location

Suggested minimum number of first aid personnel

Less than 25

1 appointed person

25 to 50

1 first aider trained in Emergency first aid at work

More than 50

1 first aider trained in First aid at work per 100 employed (or part thereof)

Less than 5

1 appointed person

5 to 50

1 first aider trained in Emergency first aid at work or First aid at work depending on the type of injuries that may occur

More than 50

1 first aider trained in First aid at work for every 50 employed (or part thereof)

Low hazard

eg. shops, offices, libraries

Higher hazard

eg. light engineering and assembly work, food processing, warehousing, extensive work with dangerous machinery or sharp instruments, construction, chemical manufacturing

a World of Trees Issue 22

Again in looking at the table, it will come as no surprise to discover that despite the industries diligent attempts to make it a safer occupation, it is still classed as a high hazard industry. The figures covering numbers of employees are only a guide in trying to assess the potential for first aid being required. As stated at the beginning of the table it does not replace the appropriate risk assessment taking place and findings being implemented. In my opinion with the industry being rated as one of the highest hazardous professions, covering 25 employees with a emergency first aid at work would not be seen as appropriate cover legally or morally after completing the appropriate risk assessment and deciding the level of first aid you provide. The Health and Safety Executive recommend that the first aid and emergency procedures should be considered.

Risk Assessing First aid and emergency procedures

Planning for an emergency helps you to: • Minimise the time taken for the emergency services to reach you • Minimise the risk to operators if there is an emergency • Include environmental and other emergencies in your plan Employers and the self-employed need to assess the first aid requirements of their work. Making sure there are enough trained first aiders and facilities to help casualties of illness or injury immediately, and that an ambulance or other professional help can be summoned without delay. You should also identify which items need to be in the worksite first aid kit. Your first aid assessment Your first aid assessment should take account of: • The nature of the work • The history and consequences of injuries • The nature and distribution of the workforce • The remoteness of the site from the emergency services, including location, terrain and weather conditions • Working on shared or multi-occupied sites • Holidays and other absences of ﬁrst aiders • The presence of trainees and the public • The possibility of medical conditions or allergies Having carried out the risk assessment and considered the above points, which you will score quite highly on, the minimum qualification you should be considering, is the first aid at work certiﬁcate. We are not just looking at the nature of the injury but also the working environment and how that my cause time delays for effective rescues and appropriate care being given to the patient. In the holistic approach it’s looking at the skills to manage an incident which is likely to be severe in nature. For any emergency procedures to work well, all operators and managers must be aware of the procedures and have the opportunity to test them. You should test, evaluate and modify your procedures to ensure they are working. Ensure you know your location and be able to provide OS grid references or GPS coordinates and access points from the main road into the forest or woodland.

a World of Trees Issue 22

You should also anticipate problems that will exist in getting to a casualty, e.g. the need for aerial tree rescue, or releasing a casualty who is trapped below a tree or heavy equipment. Identify the personnel and equipment that need to be on site and set up how to quickly contact other people you need.

First aid kit

You should carry a personal first aid kit on you while at work. It should contain at least a large wound dressing, a pair of plastic gloves and a Resusciade (or similar device). Keep a worksite first aid kit at a central location. The above paragraph is part of the risk assessment and tells you what first aid equipment you need to carry. It would therefore be of an opinion that each individual requires the skills and training to use it. These basic skills would be covered during an emergency first aid at work course thus making all employees subject to this.

What does this mean to the industry?

In the so called environment of ‘ticks in boxes’ the appointed person is no longer appropriate for the industry. An appointed person is only responsible for contacting the emergency services, checking contents of first aid boxes and filling in the accident at work book. They have no training or authority to administer first aid. The emergency first aider would be seen as the minimum qualification. However, following your risk assessment you would be expected to provide an adequate and appropriate level of first aid to cover the circumstances, covered earlier in your risk assessment. In the present climate of litigation I would recommend that a full first aid at work qualification, which is now only three days (18 contract teaching hours) be obtained. This I feel would be seen as providing the appropriate training to individuals who may be required to treat those unfortunate work colleagues involved in life threatening accidents. In my opinion I would recommend that all employees in the industry obtain that minimum qualiﬁcation of Emergency First Aid at Work and that all teams have at least one person with them trained to a minimum first aid at work level. I feel the appropriate cover would be FPO ‘First Person on the Scene,’ someone with practised skills and training to handle such incidents which have made the industry ranked as one of the highest hazardous occupations. Think about the worse case scenario and ask yourself, • Could you cope? • Have you got the life saving skills to help that person? • Have the people around you got those skills to help you if it were you? You also have a moral obligation to you and your employees to provide the level of care within an industry renowned for it’s potential traumatic injuries. For further information and courses available through B.A.S.E UK please call on 01543 500505

All images within this article were staged & courtesy of BASE UK

The TrustMark

Set up to counteract cowboys giving your profession a bad name

TrustMark is the Government backed initiative to guide consumers to reliable and trustworthy tradesmen. We help consumers see through potential scams and be confident that the work carried out inside and outside their homes is done to acceptable standards.

Helping you stand out from the crowd Passing the TrustMark for arboriculture, TreeCareApproved criteria gives tree care providers a widely recognised government backed endorsement of the services that you offer. TrustMark is a very strong brand and shows why your company is different, letting your customers both new and old know you are an independently vetted and approved contractor

Already widely supported by consumer protection organisations, with 17,627 approved trades, it now includes for the first time in the UK a government endorsed ‘Tree for a LobyokingLooking vered bycovered Surgeon/Arborist’ listing coon ices Services foran a Some ServSome How do I Ho find... d ve pro Ap w do I finus Approved Tree Care Tree SomeCare pucotaveble tradesm .. arkTrustMark rees Serv Tr d.tM d...www.TreeCareApproved.org. ic TrustMark do IAfin

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firms carry an App card and can be Tree Careidentity an tity card and y iden firms carr can be registered verified on-line. be fied on-line. can veri identity card and verified on-line.

ices our approved register ed firm rgs offer, including a roved.O exp eApp lana full eCar tion .Tre of thos www Care www.Tree Approved.Org Visit our website e serv ices visit our web on Visit our website -line help r site….. consume our consumer help-line on ourcontact Or contact Or a localfind a local find Visit 2 to our 0845 409 4552 webto site 0845 409 455 www.TreeCareApp firm stered registered regicont roved.Org Or Approve CaredApproved firm act our consume Tree CareTree r help-line on 0845 409 4552 to find a local Tree Care Approve d registered firm

to work on your TREES?

Why consumers choose TrustMark? • The scheme is fully supported by Government, the building industry and consumer protection groups. • Technical skills have been independently checked, and are re-checked through ongoing on-site inspections as well as initial checks on your trading records, references and your financial status. • Successful applicants have signed up to a consumer code of practice that includes having the correct insurances, good health and safety practices and are focused on customer satisfaction. • They are able to offer deposit insurance protection in the event of registered firms ceasing to trade. • Should customer have a problem or disagreement with a TrustMark firm, they have access to a clear user-friendly complaints procedure to help resolve the issue. • Displaying the TreeCareApproved TrustMark logo will show that they have been inspected and approved to the required Government endorsed standards. • All the above points give customers enhanced Peace of Mind!

www.Tree Care Approved.org www. Tr g pr0845 .orAp edre ovCa Telephone pree oved.org4094552 www.TreeCareAp

enquiries@treecareapproved.org www.treecareapproved.org

a World of Trees Issue 22

for Arboriculture

e t a d Up

How TrustMark works for service providers

Developing Brand Awareness & Your Business

TrustMark approved contractors will be listed on both the official TrustMark site and your scheme operators site TreeCareApproved.org both designed to point the consumer to you and the services that you provide. Website Success Consumer traffic through the TrustMark website doubled at launch and is continuing to increase.

We understand the importance of getting strong messages across. TrustMark for TreeCareApproved registered firms will have access to a members section of this site where products to improve and develop your business will be available.

Members have reported a significant increase in enquiries from householders which is the best, indeed the only reason to subscribe.

We will also send out brochures to local authorities in support of the UK’s first Government Endorsed Standards for Arboriculture. Accredited firms will be given a unique identity card, this adds piece of mind when first introducing your company to a new customer. Registered firms are available for customers to check and validate online this will further enhance your credibility and your customers confidence.

What’s in it for Service Providers? • Use of the TrustMark logo which is recognized by homeowners nationally. • Largest marketing campaign to date, which spans outdoor, online, radio and newspaper coverage worth £7 million pounds. • Tradesmen’s details are listed on the TrustMark Scheme Operators website for homeowners to search and select. • Homeowners are already asking ‘are you a TrustMark tradesman?’ Ensuring you win more business. • Stand out from the crowd.

“Your listing on the and TreeCare ApproTrustMark websites will likely ved adverts you will evebe the best r place”

a World of Trees Issue 22

Complementary skills to make a BIG difference Arboricultural Association For four decades the Arboricultural Association has operated its AA Approved Contractor scheme. The scheme has grown slowly but steadily over the decades and regulates businesses providing a quality-assured arboricultural service to a range of client-types across the country. Following national consultation late 2009 the scheme is under review and a number of positive changes are proposed (see www.trees.org.uk and go to ‘News’).

it is highly likely that revisions to the AA Approved Contractor scheme will include a link-up with TrustMark status. Whilst at the time of writing nothing has been formally agreed, both the AA and TreeCareApproved recognise the strengths that each can bring to the table:

As well as simplifying the entry requirements for businesses of the 1-4 employee size the proposals include the possibility of joint working with TreeCareApproved, the body that assesses and accredits firms wishing to become TrustMark approved arboricultural contractors. The discussions that have ensued are wholly positive and

TreeCareApproved: marketing and promotion including ‘Government endorsed standards’

The AA: industry credibility, customer credibility, exacting standards and a track record

“In spite of the fact that the AA Approved Contractor scheme has existed for four decades, most UK tree work is currently undertaken by unregulated contractors. If we can firm up a beneficial

relationship with TreeCareApproved then we have an exciting opportunity to change this and link customers to regulated contractors through a powerful national marketing mechanism”, says Nick Eden, Director of the Arboricultural Association. “The AA fully supports raising customer awareness and being able to satisfy a newly informed customer demand with a national network of regulated arboricultural contractors – AA, TrustMark, or preferably both. This should significantly improve the quality of UK tree work and the remuneration of regulated contractors. This could be a major step towards sidelining the rogues and rolling out the ‘level playing field’ we all want and our industry needs”. Nick Eden, Director Arboricultural Association nick@trees.org.uk

TrustMark for Arboriculture….. Tree Care Approved One key in getting the recognition Since the launch in September last year our industry deserves and has long the scheme has moved on at speed….. needed has to involve councils and Enquiries are increasing monthly. We tree officers, accepting we now have initiated talks with the AA and other a Government backed initiative. professional bodies in pursuit of devising There are too many self developed common goals, aligning standards and accreditation schemes that do not how to best promote and market our carry the basic criteria. The TrustMark sector. We see the need for accreditation logo offers the reassurances and for many schemes coming together, one protection the consumer truly needs audit offering numerous badges such and deserves. This issue is high on as CHAS and Construction-line, making our agenda and was one of the very the process of getting in front of those reasons why the TrustMark initiative you wish to sell your services to which is Telephone 0845 4094552was instigated. more cost and time effective. 22

enquiries@treecareapproved.org www.treecareapproved.org

We will continue to strive towards our goals, continue to work with others and invite you to communicate with us if you have questions or concerns. Andy Burgess, Managing Director Tree Care Approved Government Endorsed Standards for Arboriculture andy@treecareapproved.org

a World of Trees Issue 22

Why I’ve joined… Here are a few comments from some who have passed the criteria of becoming a TrustMark Approved Contractor of mind when dealing with us. If all legitimate contractors joined TrustMark for Arboriculture it would make it progressively harder for rogue companies to continue to trade”. Dave Gristwood, Gristwood & Toms “We decided to go for the TrustMark accreditation for our company as it is recognised by the domestic market, we were putting into place the requirements for becoming an Arboricultural Association Approved Contractor so figured it would be beneficial to do the extra preparations in order to gain accreditation for both. I feel that now we have become TrustMark and AAAC’s we will be perceived by both the commercial and domestic market’s as being a professional company”. Simon Rotheram ND.TM & Arb, Tech. Arbor.A, Beechwood Trees & Landscapes

“We joined TrustMark to help provide additional confidence to our domestic clients, many of whom are aware of schemes such as ‘corgi’ and the benefits that can be gained. We have found, very few domestic clients appear to be aware of our industry specific trade bodies, many of which we are either members of or registered by. We felt that domestic clients may feel more confident finding us via TrustMark, when looking for independent advice on treecare or tree management”. “As the scheme progresses we feel that both contractors and consultants are likely to benefit, with the scheme providing a stepping stone for other approvals, whilst demonstrating professionalism to help improve consumer confidence”. Barnes & Associates Independent Arboricultural Consultants

Nationwide tree management firm Gristwood & Toms have successfully attained the TrustMark and are keen to endorse its value. Director Dave Gristwood says “To enable us to tender for government contracts it’s imperative that we have a wide range of up to date certificates and accreditations but in the private sector things are slightly different. All too often work is awarded to unqualified and uninsured tree contractors because clients don’t know what certification they should have. We think that TrustMark can change that. As the TrustMark sign is becoming widely recognised by the public as a sign of quality assurance we think that it will give our customers added peace a World of Trees Issue 22

“Tree Maintenance Ltd have been Arboricultural Association approved contractors for 25 years, and this remains by far the highest benchmark for arb companies. However unfortunately it remains the case that, for local customers at least, this can often mean little. Provided Trustmark maintain a scrupulously high standard of entry (although I appreciate this will not reach the AA level) then it has a good chance of being a useful accreditation. As a reasonable proportion of our contract work is local/domestic work, we have therefore recently taken the opportunity to become the first in our immediate area to take this step. As this has only recently happened, it is too soon to see how effective it is, however I am optimistic that it can help displace the poor quality local operators”. Geoff March Dip.Arb. (RFS) F. Arbor.A, Tree Maintenance Ltd

“Branch Walkers Tree Services joined the Trust Mark scheme to attract new business. The scheme gives customers/client the reassurance that we can provide an excellent professional & skilled service at a glance. This is one of many accreditations we hold, all of which we hope will help promote our business”. Richard – Branch Walkers Tree Services Ltd “Suffolk Tree Services Ltd became TrustMark Approved Contractors in March of this year. For us, the one main benefit has to be that the scheme offers Government Endorsed Standards for tradesmen which I hope will give people wishing to employ a tree surgeon the confidence that they will be getting a competent and professional company who are fully insured. TrustMark also have a large marketing and publicity campaign and we are listed on their website which receives many enquiries for qualified and reputable tradesmen. This means we will be getting more enquiries and potential customers have the peace of mind that they will be dealing with a professional firm. Suffolk Tree Services Ltd are also Arboricultural Association Approved Contractors and this coupled with being

a TrustMark Approved contractor will I am sure enable us to stand out from the crowd. Unfortunately like many other trades this industry has had its fair share of unprofessional and incompetent firms, there have been accidents and poor work carried out which has not done Arboriculture any favours. Hopefully schemes like the TrustMark Approved contractors and the AA Approved contractor scheme will make people realise that there are professional companies out there who can do a good professional job at a competitive price”. Andy Gentle, Director, Suffolk Tree Services Ltd

Why I’m joining… “Having been an arborist for over ten years I decided to set up my own company, it has gone well but I’m always aware of un-insured, ill-qualified “cowboys” doing our job, that is, at the best of times a dangerous one. I need a way for my company to stick out from the competition and so began to look at ways to do this. (There are a few “approved contractor” schemes out there but) I decided to call “Tree care approved” about their training and mentoring to become a “TrustMark approved contractor”, which appealed to me because of its government backing. Andy Burgess followed up my email enquiry form with a phone call, and from that moment I knew that I had made the right decision. All businesses have gaps or holes where they need to be pointed in the right direction. My fears of being “not suitable” because of these holes were quickly allayed as it was explained to me the “the intention is to attract companies like mine to their scheme and to help and advise throughout the whole process.” “After all we are all meant to be pulling in the same direction, towards a more professional trade where our clients can use us safe in the knowledge that they are in safe hands. Ultimately to run the cowboys out of town!” “Running your own business sometimes means you become a bit protective of it and any possible short fallings that you or it may have, these fears that I had were laid to rest and I found it to be a very positive, and enlightening conversation. There are no time limits involved so I’m hoping to progress in my own pace, this allows me to keep an eye on the running of ‘about...trees’ whilst working towards becoming approved. I will be sitting down to fill out the application form and look forward to the journey. Wayne Elwell, about.. trees 23

There’s just one question…

Deal or No Deal by Dal Parmar, a World of Trees

‘Remarkable Television, an Endemol Company’

where. He tried all the methods he could to get the money for his courses – the Government, bank loan, family and friends but no one could help him. With his parents’ help he learnt to drive, but this was only a small step towards the career he had now decided was right for him. Then one day the phone rang, it was the producers of ‘Deal or No Deal’. Gareth had applied for the show a year ago and heard nothing and so thought his application had been rejected. This was his only hope, they asked him how much he was aiming to win and how much would be the very minimum. Gareth told them he NEEDED to come away with enough money for his training and some basic gear approx £5k. Of course, ideally he wanted a lot more so he could put some money towards other passions in his life like a free recording studio/ rehearsal space/music venue, but all that would require serious amounts of cash and above all else he just wanted enough money to train for the job he loved and provide for his family. So the show came along and what an experience, it was like being back at school for Gareth, hanging out with his friends all day and being carefree … not worrying about taxes or money. Gareth befriended everybody, without this experience he would never have normally met these people and few of which have since become a huge part of his life. By the time he started filming Gareth and Ayeshah were blessed with their gorgeous daughter Amii, the most precious and incredible being in his life. With a new family and no job, the pressure to do well on the show was upon him. A couple of shows a day were being filmed and started with Gareth in makeup, a lot of makeup. Standing around with Noel Edmonds being filmed in front of an audience for some reason felt normal … Gareth never really felt nervous up until a few shows before his big

chance. The lights flashing over the contestants’ heads made his heart race and made him feel sick with the possibility of it being his game and this time it was. Gareth did very well, he won £26k which was enough to pay some bills, buy a new and desperately needed car, put Ayeshah through her driving lessons, put some money away for their baby and most importantly pay for his training. I was watching this episode of ‘Deal or no Deal’ and approached the Director of BASE UK who very generously agreed to put Gareth through his training free of charge. I then set about finding Gareth, however the time scales of filming to airing on the TV is approximately 3 months and when I eventually found Gareth he had already booked and paid for his training. Gareth was trained at Pencoed College in South Wales, near Bridgend and this was the most amazing time for him. He passed his CS30/31, CS32, CS38 and is booked in to do his CS39 this month. So whats Gareth doing now? ……… well he’s planning his wedding to Ayeshah which is on 2nd July and most importantly he’s still looking for work! Ultimately, Gareth wants to set up his own Tree Surgery Company in the Vale of Glamorgan, but he understands the importance to get ‘on the job’ experience a newly qualified tree surgeon needs in order to do the job correct and be safe. Gareth has the ambition and drive to make his new career a success and if you are looking to employ a young highly ambitious go-getter then Gareth is your man ……… let’s help Gareth achieve his ambition and show him what a great industry ‘Arboriculture’ really is. I look forward to meeting Gareth at the Arb Show in June and wish him all the best for his future. If you can help Gareth please contact us at ‘a World of Trees’ on 01543 500255 and we will be happy to put you in touch with him.

Deal Or No Deal, Sunday - Friday, 4:10pm, Channel 4

a World of Trees Issue 22

Gareth had wanted to be a teacher from a very young age, he took a job working with children will special needs (autism and down syndrome etc), as much as he loved working with children some horrible experiences working in mainstream schools changed his mind on this career path. Teachers were being held at knifepoint and being spat at. He found himself drifting through jobs that didn’t mean much to him and found himself morbidly working for a bank department that dealt with dead people which was exactly the type of work he had no interest in. An Arborist friend of his put him in touch with a local firm called ‘All Trees’, who employed Gareth on a voluntary basis. He gained valuable experience over the course of 4 to 5 months. Learning first hand what tree surgery was all about and the equipment and techniques used. He was instantly drawn in, he loved it, it was so different to anything he had done in the past and more importantly he enjoyed it. After 5 months Gareth had to leave, he was moving to Edinburgh with his partner Ayeshah they had only met a few weeks before and although it was all very fast she had changed his whole world. Within 6 weeks of being in Edinburgh the couple were pregnant and making arrangements to move back to Wales, on their return Gareth had no hesitation in getting back in touch with his colleagues at ‘All Trees’, however someone had taken his place and the boys he worked with had since moved to a different company so he had no contacts and was a bit stumped (no pun intended). Throughout the following year, Gareth was unable to find work, he wanted desperately to become a qualified Tree Surgeon but needed the money in order to book his courses, every time he managed to save a little money, something would come up and so the course money was spent else 24

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S N O E G SUR

COURT FINES RUSTINGTON COUP L E £1,000 FOR BURNING TREE

On 14th October 20 09 Chichester Magistrates’ Court fined Robert Webster and his wi fe Angela Webster of Allangate House, Station Road, Rustington £500 ea ch for setting fire to a Monterey Pine tree protected by a Tree Preservation Order. The defendants did no t attend Court but the case was found proved in their absence. Reading statements fro m Planning Officers to the Court, Delwyn Jones prosecuting for Arun Dis trict Council explained that the Tre e Preservation Order legislation enab led owners to seek consent from the Coun cil if they wanted to do any works to an y tree protected by 26

a Tree Preservation Or der. In this case the defendants had not so ught any consent despite admitting to Pla nning Officers who attended the scene in April 2009 that they were aware of the Tre e Preservation Order. The incident came to light on 1st April 2009 when Ian Brews ter, Tree Officer for the Council saw sm oke and flames coming from the groun ds of Allengate House in the vicinity of the tree. When he and Rosemarie Da nnatt, Planning Enforcement Officer, att ended the scene the owners, Mr . & Mrs. Webster, explained that they we re aware of a Tree Preservation Order bu t that they wanted to start the fire to remov e undergrowth and damaging ivy on the tre e.

The evidence heard by the Court further explained that ivy does not in fact damage trees and ser ious damaged had been caused to the tre e by the fire. The Chairman of the Be nch stated that, in his opinion, the evidence showed that the Webster’s had acted wilfully in damaging the tree and that the Bench viewed the offence as serious. Both defendants were fined £500. The Court awarded Arun Dis trict Council prosecutor’s costs of £218. This amount does not include Coun cil Officers time with site visits, written reports and compiling evidence, the cost of which will be added to the fine in future Court cases. a World of Trees Issue 22

DEVELOPERS COUNT COST OF DAMAGING PROTECTED TREES Two developers were fined at Woking Magistrates’ Court for Orders breaching Tree Preservation . Os) (TP ded Developer, Shanly Homes, plea l wilfu the g ittin perm or guilty to causing eld esfi Dan the at s tree two of damage y site on Grange Road, Horsell. The rt cou pay to were fined and ordered gate Mill y, ilarl Sim 87. £1,8 costs totaling sing cau to ty guil ded plea Ltd, Homes cutting or permitting the unauthorised l wilfu the down of five trees and by d ecte prot s tree damage of nine Lane, ank Firb in Hill y owa Jan TPOs, at red orde St Johns. They were fined and . ,077 £10 ling to pay court costs tota it by Both developers were given cred ty guil y earl r thei for te istra the Mag their pleas and the fact that this was first offence.

Shanly Homes l Following a complaint from a loca the at s tree that resident in April 2009, d, Danesfield site were being damage ltural ricu Arbo s ncil’ Cou ugh Boro Woking a that d Officer investigated and foun ar trench had been dug beside a Ced n take also had ks wor tree. Excavation two of area ing root the in place with a World of Trees Issue 22

n English Oak trees and soil had bee a of area ing root the in ted pac com all of Lime and Sweet Chestnut tree of the 14 n ditio Con d which contravene n. issio perm ning plan t’s men develop Building works were immediately ss stopped, enabling Officers to asse ure ens to and , age dam the extent of the ce redu to e plac to in put e wer s that step s sure Mea further damage to the trees. impact were implemented to reduce the s. tree the to of the damage Millgate Homes Ltd During May 2009, the Council’s tip-off Arboricultural Officer received a Millgate that ent, resid l loca ther from ano rised utho una Homes Ltd was conducting of ber num a felling and pruning of d that protected trees. The Officer foun Silver one ch, Bee one s, tree el two Haz n bee all Birch and a Maple tree had s, four tree el Haz two illegally felled. While tree Yew a and s tree Oak Holly trees, two e wer ks wor All ed. prun vily hea n had bee in breach of TPO legislation. The development site was to immediately closed to allow Officers to and age dam the of nt exte the assess was eme sch ensure a suitable replanting carried out.

Woking Borough Council’s Portfolio , Cllr Holder for Planning Implementation of one is king “Wo : said dy, Cun Graham ntry cou the greenest boroughs in the That’s and we want to keep it that way. tion erva Pres Tree 800 r ove why there are to ugh Boro the ss acro e plac in Orders protect our most valuable trees. “Both developers were in flagrant ers breach of the Tree Preservation Ord s case two se The e. plac in e that wer to should send out a clear warning or ing, prun g, others that damagin felling protected trees has serious ncil will consequences, and that the Cou them.” inst aga not hesitate to take action to ks wor ring Anyone conside ing protected trees should contact Wok re ultu oric Arb s ncil’ Cou h Boroug Services on 01483 755855 or one visit www.woking.gov.uk. Any is TPO a ther whe ck wishing to che so do can , erty prop r thei on e in plac ils deta ress online by typing their add area ’ ices serv l into the ‘Your loca on the Council’s homepage. This l part of the website provides vita , plus erty prop information on residents’ ses refu and ices neighbourhood serv collections.

Successful Prosecu tion

SURGEONS ed n ﬁ n o e g Tree surost £4,000 alm ng i k a e r b for ws a l g n i n plan

Two Elmbridge were found guilt residents y out unlawful wo of carrying rk on a tree protected by a tree preservation or der property in Chur at their ch Lane, Thames Ditton at Staines Magistrates Co urt hearing on The work resulted Thursday 16 Ju ly 2009. in an ov era ll red by at least half. Th uction in the size e of the trees crown carried out on the Council had not given permission for any work to be tree. Mr Lascelles was fined £300 and Mr was ordered to pa s Lowe was fined y half of the Coun £200 and each cil’s Councillor John Butcher, Portfolio costs and a £15 victim surcharge. “This successful Ho lde r for Regulatory Affairs, prosecution highli said: gh prevent protecte d trees being harm ts our continued commitment to ed throughout the are reminded to employ only reputa Borough. Residen ts ble ‘cold calling’ contr actors, as they are tree surgeons and to be wary of adequately expe un lik ely to be insured, quali rienced.” fied, or The Council wish es to advise reside • Always check wi nts of the following th the Council to : see if trees are pr working on them. otected before • Always engage a reputable tree contr experience, and insurance (the Co actor and check qualiﬁcations, uncil has a list of on the website or tree surgeons ca Preservation Servi n send out a list if the public call the Tree ce on 01372 4747 • Never engage co 92). ld calling contrac tors. • The Council wi ll always conside r prosecution wh worked on illega ere trees have be lly. en • It is a criminal off ence to work on protected trees wi that will lead to a thout permission cri • There is an unlim minal record. ited ﬁne. For more informa tion on tree pres Planning Division ervation orders ple , telephone 0137 ase contact Town 2 47 www.elmbridge .gov.uk/planning 4787 or visit our web pages /trees

been eon has rg u s e e A tr secuted fully pro success ry Vale District g bu g plannin by Ayles breachin r fo il c Coun ons. er, of regulati s Chann ersham, h Nic ola A , m ins Lane ered to Copperk and ord 0 0 ,8 2 bury £ d by Ayles was fine £1,000 f o ly u ts J s 1 o pay c urt on 2 ates’ Co uilty to felling Magistr g d e plead tion after he onserva c a in s e e . e tr c n ti seve g no out givin prosecuted h it w a are ner was Mr Chan cil received u o c n was after the thorised work in u a n h is with that u urt, whic st 2007 o u g C u A rs a residents tion in s at Fri ation informa shmoor’s u t to tree rv R u e . s o a n d o re c ie rr inded not hin a ation a il being ca being rem t counc conserv trees wit n ic re ry to a tr u is b rk s d o the on trees o gw the Ayle mmencin ust be given to e no such start work ithout first o to c re fo m Be erty w cation this cas their prop or notifi ority. In ncil. u area, pri l planning auth o c y e it da ortun ca e to th were fine Council. the opp as the lo een mad council r Borough arnborough couple tect the o n had b e o ro o p ti m th h a s s c to e u fi ) giv gR PO noti raF contactin fication Order (T rovides mes, afte d tree. protected The noti ervation proposed and p minder co s re a protecte re a re n e P s h w T o O e officially d P s re g a T s T w in ork t. rk a tt h n o u g e e c w u boro 9 for e, arry out w comm to serv to the tal of £68 ant valu ents to Road, Farn ence to c to objects ff y rt id o o s le it n p h re s a if l A im it s a e in cil. tre king r loc ve an a tree The tree, Order ma ugh Coun rtunity fo il feels trees ha t work to such servation moor Boro ldershot an oppo h c u re s P n o u u e y R o re rr g c T n a cti fA the by a or c first conta Judge Gillebrand o y £600 in legal ncil. issued if e to fell the cou it without y, n offenc pa d out n a a m o o to ie M is fr rr le in t a it p g c n u d n o e n the tree an e heari d the c t team l cons in a n th a re e t e d A rm e m rd to cut dow charges. o e lt fo d u o t rc s te ls c fo a re u n rt tr h e u s o d ic g withou in C h ’s ere carrie olute dis plannin nce, w Magistrate e surgeons who w l and abs who had a AVDC’s the offe n r, io e to onment it n in d n e n a tr n r the Envir Mr Ch ts. The tigatio given co s fo s n d o r e o c n e v a b d in d e m e te n rv a se the green inet M convic nd the s being critical to ibbs, Cab D re lanted a were also a p d s n ted. n e la e e summon rk. o re e T R th b r e for gran said: “ ince s and wo Councillo we all tak s have s tect those tree h Council t ee g e a u e tr out the th s ro tr e o g t k B n in r ta me to pro shmoo someth ouncil u C n O R e e P t ft g a Replace th T o t a a re a ed der th g or fellin t and lanned has serv site. be a remin considering prunin vironmen er for P n e b ld e u m th o e council h n s M o e . n t t” nc ne ecutio g trees Cabine ouncil firs and anyo tough sta t This pros remainin lor Sue Polhill, seriously with the c e take a il before rs k ry c c fi W e n e “ v t u h il : u o n c c C o o id s n h ti y h a u c Co prote uld alwa r Boroug AVDC, s t tree works wit es in a o o t h o s a m servation s t h n e s n o e u e m or in a c tected tr k with R ing ou ed. Tre a c d y ro e ir p te re rr h Develop u c c a a q te c n to re ro o e e is be p le trained rvati ion is anyon The advic tree may e conse al y a suitab e permiss e against lo th th r d p y e s m b a to e th d e s d rk y h o gw tecte alwa ny w rmine checkin starting a olders should also a are pro es, we are dete it tion are h v a e s ro rv u p Orders, vis e o s e H n . . s co area servation rules.” vailable urgeon. this ca re a s e P s e a th is e e , tr k re o rk l T a s a t o n re bou ew status e who b professio rmation a .gov.uk/ rding tre ith thos rther info ryvaledc les rega fu u ru r b o s . e F firmly w o le p th y /t n uk eo ww.a moor.gov. 58. Guidanc ’s website at w www.rush 96 5858 2 1 ncil 0 u o g c in e on th y phon ent or b environm

h g u o r r o e b t f n r a d Fa e t u ec s o r p e l p e e r cou t a n w cutting do

a World of Trees Issue 22

New Heartwood Forest gets down to planting Woodland Trust promises ‘WOW’ factor for its biggest site in England

Planting has begun in earnest at a new 850-acre accessible forest in Hertfordshire with 90,000 native saplings already in the ground at Heartwood Forest – each one planted by a volunteer. Owners the Woodland Trust moved swiftly to start autumn planting on their huge site near St Albans after Forestry Commission consent to a detailed application examining archaeology, wildlife, impact on the local population, access, education and involvement of people.

Heartwood’s purchase was announced by the Woodland Trust, the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity, in July 2008 – prompting an ongoing £10.5m fund-raising campaign to buy, plant and manage the site. Trust proposals paint a picture of a forest with real ‘wow’ factor, inspiring, surprising and engaging the thousands expected to visit. The charity wants to closely involve local communities and promises to have every one of the 650K native trees planted by a volunteer as it moves through a ten year planting programme. The site, on the edge of Sandridge

village, lies in the heart of London’s greenbelt. It contains pockets of ancient woodland – the UK’s equivalent of rainforest – resplendent with bluebells in spring. Heartwood will provide publicly accessible greenspace for more than 250K people living within 10 kilometres, links with schools and colleges (with 1,011 primary and 400 secondary schools within 15 miles) and huge tree planting opportunities for children and community groups. The Trust has listed a number of bird species of conservation interest in its in depth audit of flora and fauna, and details how other species

a World of Trees Issue 22

will colonise Heartwood’s rolling acres – once wooded but claimed for agriculture as the centuries passed. Its archaeology report, from desk based research, magnetic susceptibility and trial trenching, has provided insight into the site’s rich history from prehistoric times through Neolithic and Iron Ages and onto Roman occupation. Key areas of archaeological signiﬁcance will undergo further investigation and will be avoided in tree planting plans drawn up with the help of a chartered landscape specialist, conﬁrmed Alistair Crosby, Heartwood project manager. “We propose to retain views at key points, with most planting scheduled for the main ridge and site plateau, glades creating a wood pasture effect on lower slopes and graded woodland edges lessening the impact from roads and for those living nearby.” “It is just brilliant news that we can now get on with this amazing project.”

Flora and Fauna

The site already supports highly valuable wildlife habitats including 17 hectares (43 acres) of ancient woodland, enjoying Hertfordshire County Wildlife status. There are 16.8 km of hedgerows, including older species-rich sections offering valuable habitat and wildlife linkages and the site is adjacent to Nomansland Common, a Local Nature Reserve. Future beneficiaries will include butterflies, such as the silver-washed fritillary, white admiral, white-letter hairstreak and purple emperor, and woodland birds such as the blue tit, bullfinch, chiff chaff, song thrush and woodpecker. Open ground amidst the trees will be important for existing species, such as skylarks, which nest in ground vegetation. No fewer than 36 different birds have been recorded in the area, including the threatened species of skylark, yellowhammer,

a World of Trees Issue 22

song thrush, linnet and bullﬁnch. Important species of bat are known to be close by on Nomansland Common and within surrounding woodlands.

Population & Access

Heartwood has been designed to offer access to all. Pedestrians will be provided with both surfaced and unsurfaced routes for walkers – with an all-ability route. Cyclists will enjoy permissive surfaced and unsurfaced paths, and horse riders can use existing routes, with the possibility of other routes provided. A car park will act as a focal point for information.

Archaeology

The Roman town Verulamium (now St Albans), the nearby Devil’s Dyke and the Wars of the Roses have all contributed to Heartwood’s colourful history. Trenches were excavated and plough soil sieved to retrieve artefacts such as Neo-Bronze Age artefacts, flints and pottery shards. Past finds have included Roman coins and metal, with evidence of an Iron Age settlement and Roman buildings. A post medieval workhouse and wells, shop, malthouse, pest house, school, windmills and brick kilns have also been confirmed.

Hear tw in En ood wil wood gland, jo l be the T in ru s acr oss t ing 1,00 st’s larg 0-plu he U e K s ac st site a T n prote rust’s ke d encap cessible s y c crea ting anc aims of ulating t ting he ient n and spre ew nati woodlan bene ading aw ve wood d, land ﬁts o aren f wo ods ess of th and trees e

Why do we need new woodland? • England is one of the least wooded countries in Europe, with just 5.8% native woodland • Flora and fauna are increasingly under threat • Woods and trees help reduce pollution, encourage exercise and clean our air

Landscape

Trees will include a glorious mix of oak, ash and hornbeam ﬁeld maple, wild cherry, silver birth, mountain ash, small leaved lime and goat willow. The Trust also plans hazel, hawthorn, blackthorn, guelder rose, dog rose, spindle, holly and crab apple, acting as graded shrub edges to the new forest to prevent a ‘wall effect’ for when the forest matures. Planting will incorporate roundels and small copses and grass sown will include wildﬂowers.

UtterlyUtility Keep informed about ‘Utility Arb’ in our new section which will be twice yearly and commencing in the next edition.

The UAG – Utility Arboriculture Group has existed for some time now and I would like to think that most of you reading this article have heard of us at some stage or other. I might even go as far to hope that some of you may even be Virtual Group or Full Members. But that may not be the case, and that is why having been approached by ‘a World of Trees’ team to pen an article in support of their ‘Utterly Utility’ initiative I am happy to do so. This new section will appear in ‘a World of Trees’ from the August/September edition and then twice yearly (Autumn/Winter & Spring/Summer) and I hope that it will encourage a few more of you to sit up and take notice not only of the UAG but of Utility Arb in general. As in life, communication is everything and the UAG is happy to support any publication that will assist in improving dialogue amongst all stakeholders with interest in Utility Arb. This needs to be a two way process and I hope that in the months to come the articles set to appear in the Utterly Utility section will prompt you to sharpen your pencils and scratch out your comments in return. This is too big an industry for us not to be talking to each other on all issues. I look forward to clearer lines of communication in the future and perhaps even meeting you at the UAG Conference, Market Bosworth on July 12th and 13th full details at : www.trees.org.uk

“City & Guilds NPTC is delighted to support this new initiative of a regular feature on Utility Arboriculture. When the original City & Guilds NPTC qualification in Utility Arboriculture was launched in 1999 there was no defined industry sector that represented the businesses and operators undertaking this work. However, over the last 11 years Utility Arboriculture has emerged as a distinct industry sector which is hungry for information as well as recognition. City & Guilds NPTC regards this sector as very important and has been pleased to redevelop the Utility Arb certificates of competence qualifications several times to ensure that it remains up to date and compliant with the changing requirements within this industry. We look forward to following these “Utterly Utility” articles and contributing ourselves from time to time!” Steve Hewitt Senior Manager Product Development City & Guilds NPTC

The AA always supports stakeholder involvement. Communicating with its members and the wider industry is a key component of the AA’s objectives of setting standards, promoting standards and enabling compliance. Utterly Utility has the potential to improve communication with the utility sector and reach hundreds if not thousands of stakeholders – from sharp end operators to trainers, the standard setters and the suits. The Utility Arboriculture sector is vast. The AA’s Utility Arboriculture Group has its roots in those contracting to the electricity distribution network operators but has expanded to include telecommunications, gas and water services, highways, rail, water and other transportation chartered A5.indd 1 networks. The AA isgethere for you and if you are not already a member you can join the Virtual UAG for FREE! Simply email HYPERLINK “mailto:uag@trees.org.uk” \o “blocked::mailto:uag@trees.org.uk” uag@ trees.org.uk and we will keep in touch and provide you with information that may be useful to you. As the Chairman for the UAG says, communication is a two way process: why not write for Utterly Utility and contribute to this great industry we call our vocation? Nick Eden Director of the Arboricultural Association

Paul Hornby Core Group Chairman UAG The HSE supports the introduction of the new Utterly Utility section in World of Trees as a means of promoting discussion on good (and bad!) practice, and keeping the industry up-to-date on key issues which may affect the health and safety of people working in utility arboriculture. Frances Hirst HSE Agriculture and Food Sector

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a World of Trees Issue 22

Reach for the Sky APF 2010 and Husqvarna are delighted to announce that the World 80ft poleclimbing championships will take place during APF 2010, The UK’s largest forestry, woodland and arboricultural show 23-25th September. Exhibition Secretary Ian Millward said “We are delighted to be staging this major world championship during the exhibition and thank Husqvarna for their sponsorship. It is a major attraction for visitors and the fact it is a World championship is already attracting a lot of interest from international competitors.”

The Husqvarna World Poleclimbing Championships, APF 2010 – 23-25th September, Cannock Chase, Staffordshire

New Douglas fir poles are being used for the event and have been sourced from Longleat Estate in Wiltshire. There will be opportunities for those who have not tried this great sport before to have a go, with classes for expert, novice, ladies and veterans, with some great prizes on offer as well as the world crown. There will be qualifying heats on Thursday and Friday with the finals being staged on Saturday. Full details and entry forms can be found on the APF website or by contacting the Exhibition office on Tel: 01737 245081 or email: info@apfexhibition.co.uk

Woodfest Wales 2010 Woodfest Wales has been running since 2001 and has grown from a small festival showcasing the timber Industry in Wales to becoming a huge success and a major event in the Timber Industry in the UK. Organised by a family whose work and lives revolve around “trees and wood”, it is a professional Festival with a wonderful atmosphere, that now attracts participants from all over the world! Woodfest brings together timber professionals, organisations and enthusiasts that educate, entertain and supply the public with every aspect of forest industries, crafts and wood related activities. Our main attractions are our competition arenas : Timbersports – Axe racing, cross cut sawing, tree climbing, pole climbing, chainsaw demonstrations and logging. Extreme Mountain biking – Top riders will be tackling a hugely challenging custom built timber course Chain saw carving – 20 of the top chain saw carvers

will be creating huge sculptures over four days, culminating with the Public Auction on Sunday 2p.m. Countryside arena – Bird of Prey displays, owls ferrets, rescue dogs. Horse Logging – Displays of traditional timber extraction using heavy horses. Timber Framing – The arena will be demonstrating the art of green timber framed construction .Buildings will be constructed and erected in the arena over the weekend. Logging - The UK logging team will be competing in forest skills – tree felling, de-limbing branches, chain saw cross cutting and chain saw maintenance. Along with our arenas the festival is packed with Marquees full of woodturning, furniture, woodcrafts – traditional and modern.Tool sales, garden furniture,over 100 trade stands of the more unusual items all made in this country. A large food hall selling local produce and cookery demonstrations by celebrity Welsh Chefs.

A huge display and sales of forestry equipment, log splitters, wood chippers, mobile saw mills (operating) Chain saws and tools. Along with all of this there is plenty for the children: • Play areas, archery, climbing walls, pyrography and art workshops & • A range of free activities • Educational stands • Fairground rides With so many activities going on over the weekend, please have a look at our website, you will be sure to find something at Woodfest to interest you.

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PUT THE DATE IN YOUR DIARY:

The Arb Show: 11th & 12th June 2010 Calling all Arborists : The Arboricultural Association’s annual Arb Show takes place on 11th and 12th June this year at the Bathurst Estate, Cirencester. And with around 80 trade stands expected, plus a busy programme of demonstrations and competitions planned, this is definitely an event not to be missed. With over 2,000 visitors attending last year, and around 80 trade stands expected this June, The Arb Show is by far the largest dedicated arborists’ event in the country. Visitors this year will see a wide range of products at the Show, many of which they have the chance to try, and the Arb Show has become established as ‘the’ place to bag a good buy. From chippers to access platforms, power tools to air spades, rigging equipment to PPE, the major brands are all represented. Visitors can also meet a wide range of service providers including training companies, insurers, recruitment agencies and more. Busy programme of demonstrations and workshops Another key benefit of visiting the Arb Show is the opportunity to join one of the free workshops planned, and to gain some useful practical advice from the busy programme of demonstrations and inter-active sessions taking place around the showground. Demonstrations include ‘A day in the life of a construction site’, where a replica work site is set up and the team talk through some of the issues and techniques that might been countered. In the STIHL

woodland edge area, Canopy Access demonstrations promise a fascinating and thought-provoking insight into the giants of the rainforest, and share some of the approaches and techniques used in tackling them. New this year, Fletcher Stewart are presenting an air spade and rigging equipment demonstration adjacent to their stand on the site. There will also be inter-active sessions and advice to be gleaned from the Tree Climbers’ Forum. Test skills in the 3ATC competition If bagging a potential bargain and getting your skills up to date is not enough of an incentive to visit the Arb Show, why not take part in the 3ATC challenge for your chance to win great prizes from some of the industry’s leading retailers. Sponsored by arbjobs.com, the 3ATC challenge (Arboricultural Association Arborist Tree Challenge) has been made easier this year encouraging more competitors to join in and offering more chances to win. Replicating a straightforward Work Climb, competitors simply need to successfully complete a set of target zone tasks, and this year’s competition is open to four categories of individual climber: Novice, Expert, Senior and Premier. With prizes in all categories, and varying levels of skill required, the Competition will run through the two days of the Show. Visit the 3ATC website for full details and an entry form: www.3atc.com. Entry costs just £10 and is recommended in advance as places will be allocated on a first-served basis.

Small price, big value With plenty to see and genuine value to be taken away, The Arb Show is a real must-do for anyone interested or working in the professional tree care sector. It is also a great place to meet, relax and network with industry colleagues. Entry costs just £8 per adult or £5 for students/unwaged (subject to SU card/ UB40). A two-day ticket is also available for £10.00. Entry is free to members of the Arboricultural Association showing their current membership card; join the Association at the Trade Fair and your entry fee will be refunded. For more details on The Arb Show, or to find out about more about the Association’s work and benefits of joining, visit: www.trees.org.uk or Tel. 01242 522152.

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Engineered Solutions

All images are Crown copyright credited to the Forestry Commission.

News

Forestry

Funding high for the woodlands of Wales Forestry Commission Wales’s grant schemes for planting new trees and managing woodlands gave out a record amount of funding to woodland owners during the 2009-2010 financial year. Over £3.5 million was paid out by the Better Woodlands for Wales grant scheme and its predecessor, the Woodland Grant Scheme. This is the highest level of grant funding issued since Better Woodlands for Wales was launched in 2006. March was a particularly busy month with 40% of the claims, to the value of £1,231,299, being processed during the final few weeks of the financial year. This peak in claims was partly caused by the extension to the deadline that Forestry Commission Wales gave woodland owners to allow them more time to complete work delayed by the extreme winter weather. Designed to support the Woodlands for Wales strategy, the Better Woodlands for Wales scheme offers grants specially designed for Welsh woodlands. Grant aid is available to all woodland owners with a suitable area of more than 0.25 hectares. For more information on how to apply for a grant, please see the grants and regulations section of www.forestry.gov.uk/wales

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News Forestry

Screen grabs from the latest video footage showing Kielder’s female osprey sat on three eggs. The video can be viewed and downloaded use at http://vimeo.com:80/11637200

Three More Eggs For Historic Osprey Couple! Kielder Partnership can reveal that the record breaking osprey couple reunited in Kielder Water and Forest Park last month have produced three eggs. The news has delighted conservationists who are hoping for a repeat of last year’s historic event when the birds become the first to raise three osprey chicks in the north east for at least 200 years. Forestry Commission rangers have kept an eagle eye on the pair by viewing CCTV footage beamed directly to Kielder Castle Visitor Centre. The three eggs were laid over a six day period – a survival strategy adopted by many birds, where the last born is sometimes sacrificed in lean years. Since then mum has been seen turning over the eggs and ensuring they are kept nice and warm. Meanwhile, the expectant father is busy keeping her well fed, bringing back tasty fresh trout plucked from Northumbrian Water’s Kielder Water. He’s also been giving mum a break from her maternal duties by sitting on the eggs while she goes off for a fly. Amanda Miller, RSPB conservation manager for the North East, Yorkshire and Humber, said: a World of Trees Issue 22

“Having another clutch of three eggs is fabulous news and we have our fingers crossed that they produce healthy chicks. Every young osprey reared in Kielder Water & Forest Park strengthens the prospects for the return of this once extinct bird to former haunts. This nest is only the second in England where ospreys have re-colonised naturally, so it really is critical for the future.” The eggs should begin to hatch by the end of the May and then the male will have his work cut out with potentially three youngsters to feed, in addition to the female. Fortunately, he appears to be a skilled hunter and with the reservoir – the largest man-made lake in northern Europe - a few minutes flight time away there’s no shortage of food. The weather has also been good so far this breeding season, being relatively dry and warm. Kielder Partnership can also reveal that the popular osprey viewing area at the Mounces Car Park, just west of Leaplish Waterside Park off the C200, will re-open and will be staffed on weekends between 29 May to 25 July, 10am to 5pm Duncan Hutt, from the Northumberland Wildlife Trust, said: “Last year we had nature lovers coming to Kielder from as far afield as

Hong Kong. It was incredible how news about the ospreys travelled. We’ll use powerful telescopes to pick out the distant nest and explain more about osprey family life.” The ospreys have made their nest on an artificial platform erected by tree climbing rangers from the Forestry Commission. Two similar platforms has been built elsewhere in the 155,000 acre forest, offering any other ospreys tempted by the magical combination of wood and water a ready made home. Indeed, another osprey is in the area and even paid a call on the occupied nest. Kielder Osprey Watch 2010 is organised by the Kielder Partnership, the RSPB and Northumberland Wildlife Trust. The partners are working hard to ensure that the ospreys are here to stay by maintaining a high quality habitat in Kielder Water & Forest Park and safeguarding and monitoring the nest site. To find out more go to www. visitkielder.com Kielder Water & Forest Park was recently voted the most tranquil place in England by the Campaign to Protect Rural England.

News

Forestry

Forestry scientists celebrate 40 years of world-leading research One of the forestry world’s leading scientific research establishments celebrates its 40th anniversary next Friday, 7 May. It’s the Northern Research Station of Forest Research at the Bush Estate in Midlothian, near Edinburgh. Forest Research is the scientific research and technical development arm of the Forestry Commission. Since its opening in 1970, NRS, as it is popularly known, has acquired an international reputation as a centre of excellence in scientific research and technical development in support of the sustainable management of trees, woods and forests. The anniversary will be marked by a buffet lunch at the station next Friday, May 7, followed by a special seminar in the afternoon to which past and present staff have been invited. Expert speakers will consider the challenges for forestry science in the 21st century. Dr James Pendlebury, Forest Research’s Chief Executive Officer, said, “This anniversary is an appropriate time to pause and reflect on our achievements over the past 40 years, and to look forward to the challenges that the next 40 years might hold for us. “Some of the great discoveries and breakthroughs in forest science and technical development have been made by NRS people, and the results are benefiting forests and woods and the people who own them, work in them, live with them and use their products.

“Looking ahead, there’s no doubt that the threats posed by climate change will be dominating much of the work we do in the next 40 years. NRS scientists will be at the forefront of efforts to ensure that Britain’s woods and forests are able to cope with the changes that are coming, and continue to provide for society’s needs.” Some of key achievements by NRS scientists are: • The ﬁrst, and still world-leading, computer based model (ForestGALES) of the probability of windthrow damage to forests; • Research on the tree species and provenances most suited to current and future climates in Britain, and codifying this knowledge in the Ecological Site Classification (ESC) system; • Research into the biodiversity of British forests, and speciﬁc guidance on the management of such forests for birds of prey and other endangered species; • Developing methods for the cost-effective and environmentally sensitive control of major forest pests and diseases such as butt rot (Heterobasidion annosum), pine beauty moth, and the large pine weevil (Hylobius abietis); • Developing tools for improving forest design processes and linking forests into wider rural habitat networks.

Northern Research Station-based Dr Bruce Nicoll, who is a specialist in the effects of wind on trees, is pictured at work in the forest - Forestry Commission

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News Forestry

Planting programme completed in the nick of time It was a close call but they made it - Forestry Commission Wales’s tree planters have got all their new trees in the ground just in time for Spring. This year’s tree planting programme was delayed by the coldest winter for over thirty years. Many forests were inaccessible from mid December and the frozen ground was unsuitable for planting. Once conditions improved, staff and planting contractors began to race against the clock before the young trees came out of dormancy and became unsuitable for

planting out in the forest. Three million trees have now been planted in the woodlands managed by Forestry Commission Wales on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government. As well as 2.5 million conifers, 600,000 broadleaf trees, including oak, birch, rowan and ash, have been planted to increase the diversity of trees in Wales’s forests. Increasing the diversity of tree species will make woodlands more resilient to the effects of climate change. David Cross, Forest Management Officer, Wales, said, “This has been the

most challenging planting season I can remember. “It is the first time we have had to carry on planting this late and all hands were on deck to get the trees into the ground before their buds burst.” The newly planted trees will have an important role to play in reducing Wales’s carbon footprint. They will provide a low carbon energy source for future generations while the coniferous forests will produce construction grade timber as a substitute for concrete or steel.

Burnham Beeches biodiversity facing climate change threat Woodland and wildlife at Burnham Beeches could become more susceptible to periods of drought, according to a new study on climate change published by the City of London Corporation. Experts from the Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford, working closely with nature reserve staff at Burnham Beeches, have warned that although the ancient woodland’s famous beech trees may still be able to grow in future they could become increasingly threatened by reduced levels of rainfall (up to a 50% decrease in mean summer rainfall). The research also shows that under a 3.2°C increase in global mean temperature, projected for 2080, a number of beech woodland species could lose all or over 90% of their suitable climate space in the region. This could lead to Burnham Beeches (which is owned and managed by the City of London Corporation) becoming dominated by smaller, scrubby species of tree that are better suited to the changed climate. The ground vegetation in the Beeches is also projected to change from heathland to have much more grass. These changes may have detrimental a World of Trees Issue 22

consequences for insects and animals that depend on these habitats. The Director of Open Spaces at the City of London, Sue Ireland, said: “We are delighted to have had the opportunity to use the best available information to predict in detail what the future might have in store for Burnham Beeches. In this time of change we need to be prepared, as custodians of such precious sites, to do what we can to protect them for wildlife and for the public for many years to come.” The results were presented to a workshop featuring representatives from the City of London Corporation, managers of nature reserves local to Burnham Beeches and staff from key Government agencies and environmental charities. Participants also discussed how to manage projected changes by, for example, replicating the type of wood decay conditions in old trees that are favourable for existing biodiversity if beech trees decline in future. Dr. Pam Berry, the researcher who led the project, said: “It was very exciting being able to talk about the results of our work with people working on the nature reserves where the consequences of climate change will have a direct impact. It gave us an

insight into the problems that will be faced and how some of them may be overcome.” The scientists used computer modelling techniques to look at the responses of the key plant and animal species found at Burnham Beeches today and how they are likely to respond to the changes projected in the future.

A wind-b lown row heather m an on oorland a t about 1500 feet (457m) in the northern Peak Dis trict

A rowan full of berries beside junction 35 of the M1 motorway

A multi-stemmed rowan in an old coppice wood

Rowan: its natural & NATURAL HISTORY Rowan or mountain ash (Sorbus aucuparia) has – or had – an amazing number of local names: in Cornwall it was the care; in the south and south-west quickbeam; in the West Midlands and the west of England the whitty-tree; from as far apart as Kent and Northumberland quicken; from Devon in the south-west to Cumberland in the north wicken, witchen or wiggin; in Cumberland the roan; in Scotland roddin; and in Ireland caorthann. These are just ten of the nearly thirty known regional names. In official sales notices for the Duke of Norfolk’s South Yorkshire coppice woods in the nineteenth century the tree is invariably referred to as wiggin not rowan. Rowan is a common tree in the upland parts of Britain, including Wales and is found throughout Ireland. It grows at altitudes of over 3,000 feet (c.1000 m), higher than any other British tree apart from juniper and some dwarf willows. It is a common tree in ancient woods throughout upland Britain and Ireland, and in the Highlands of Scotland there are some pure rowan woods. It is also the characteristic tree of upland farm landscapes, growing beside walls along field boundaries and is often the lone tree clinging to rock ledges or in sheltered steep-sided moorland cloughs. In lowland Britain it is much more localised, occurring predominantly in areas of poor acid soils. As it is a widely planted tree along streets and in gardens, at least some of the wild rowans in the lowland parts of Britain are

believed to be naturalised. Rowan is an easily recognised tree: in winter from its distinctive bark; in spring and summer from its leaf structure; in late spring and early summer from its inflorescences and in summer and autumn from its leaf colour and its berries. Its bark is shiny and varies in colour from bluish-grey to light brown and is punctuated by raised horizontal bands of lenticels (aeration-pores). Its leaves are ‘pinnate’, i.e. compound with serrated leaflets on either side of a midrib. In June the tree is covered in bunches of creamy white flowers which produce in July clusters of green berries that suddenly turn orange and then red in late July and August. In some years in autumn the remains of the clusters of berries are accompanied by orange or scarlet foliage. The rowan is not a large tree, rarely exceeding 65 feet (20 metres) in height, thus making an attractive garden and street tree. The wood of the rowan is tough and has been traditionally used for tool handles, for components of cart wheels and if the tree is large enough the timber was used for beams, planks, and boards. If yew were not available it was used for making bows and, as we shall see, it is a favourite material for making walking sticks. ROWAN AS A FOOD SOURCE Rowan berries make a delicious jelly that is not regularly found for sale even in specialist shops. When collecting the berries it is easiest simply to cut them off in bunches. The stalks should be trimmed

and the berries simmered in a saucepan, strained through a cloth, and a pound of sugar added to every pint of juice (450g of sugar to 568ml of juice). Chopped crab apple should then be added to provide the pectin and the mixture boiled until it begins to set. The jelly should then be left for a few weeks to mature. It is a delicious accompaniment to game and lamb and some people like it with cheese. If John Evelyn, the first English tree guru writing in the 1670s, is to be believed, beer brewed with rowan berries is ‘an incomparable Drink’ and rowan berry juice, rich in vitamin C, he said makes ‘an excellent Drink against the Spleen and Scurvy’. If the berries are a good woodland and hedgerow fruit for humans, they are a vital late summer, autumn and winter food for some birds. In their pioneering book Birds and Berries (T. & A.D. Poyser, 1988), Barbara and John Snow describe the systematic observations they carried out in Buckinghamshire and adjacent parts of Hertfordshire between 1980 and 1985. They reported that in their study area, what they called seed-dispersers (i.e. birds that ate the berries whole and ejected the seed elsewhere, in their faeces or by regurgitation) were predominantly Blackbirds, with Song Thrushes, Mistle Thrushes and Starlings taking comparatively few berries, preferring instead elder and yew. The major seed-predator (i.e. a bird that does not disperse the seed but eats and digests it or only eats the flesh and leaves the seed in situ) in their study area was the Bullfinch. The main month of feeding on rowan berries by seed-dispersers

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A butter churn decorated with a sprig of rowan

Rowan berr

ture and Leaf struc

ite flowers

creamy wh

ies

un-natural history Melvyn Jones

and seed-predators in the Snows’ study area was August. Elsewhere it has been recorded in Scotland that Redwings migrating south in autumn feed mainly on rowan berries, and the size of the rowan berry crop is known to have a marked effect on the migration behaviour of Fieldfares and Waxwings, in good years many birds remaining in Norway, Sweden and Finland throughout the winter. The importance of rowan berries to wintering bird populations is reflected in its German name Vogelbeer (bird-berry). The foliage, twigs and small branches of rowan are also greedily browsed by deer and farm livestock.

ROWAN-RELATED FOLK TRADITIONS Rowan has a special place in folk tradition, not only in this country but in Germany and Scandinavia. This is because of its long-thought-of magical properties, stemming from the long-held belief that Thor, the Norse god, was saved from an attempt by a sorceress to drown him in an over-flowing river by holding onto the branch of a rowan tree. Hence it is said to offer protection against evil spirits, the devil and witches, giving rise to its regional name witchen and variants on that name. In Wales rowans were planted in graveyards to protect the dead and in Scotland there was usually one planted by the door of a croft. It was reported in 1888 in Bradfield, a Pennine village to the west of Sheffield, that people still nailed sprigs of rowan to their ‘leaven-kits’ (vessels for leavening oat-cakes) ‘to keep out the witch’ and the same correspondent said that fifty years earlier the people of the

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same village would have no cups or bowls made from any other wood than rowan for the same reason. The tradition of nailing up or fixing in some other way a sprig of rowan for protection against evil was also once widespread throughout the country. In Lancashire, for example, rowan twigs fixed over a bed were said to ensure a peaceful sleep free of nightmares. As the vast majority of the population lived in rural areas and were engaged in farming the land in the early medieval period when the traditions began it is not surprising that most of the folk beliefs associated with rowan are connected with farming and rural life. Rowan twigs were, for example, nailed over cowsheds to keep the cows safe and ensure trouble-free calving. In Ireland on May Day, when witches and fairies were believed to be about, not only were sprigs of rowan nailed over doors, they were also fastened to milk churns and put in milk pails to prevent the milk from being stolen. In many regions the churn-staff was made of rowan to ensure successful butter-making, the shafts of forks used in the cowshed and stable to spread hay for the animals were also made of rowan as were yokes used on oxen, carters’ whips and pegs used to tether animals. Evelyn said that rowan was used for ‘Walking-Staves’ and the wood is still the usual one for walking sticks used by countryside walkers in Scandinavia, a throwback to the protection afforded to Thor as he journeyed through the wilderness. At Narberth in Pembrokeshire the village well was dressed with rowan to keep the witch away from those drawing

water from the well. In both Lancashire and Yorkshire rowan was also used to make witch posts that protected cottage interiors from witches. These were posts that in Yorkshire had X-shaped patterns carved in them, and which stood at the end of a partition protecting the hearth. The only way into a cottage was either through the door or down the chimney, and a witch would have to pass the witch post whichever way she came. They were still being constructed in cottages in some parts of rural Yorkshire in the 1920s. The most amusing story told about the magical properties of rowan was told by William Rollinson in The Cumberland Dictionary (Smith Settle, 1997). Legend in Cumberland has it that a miraculous revival occurred when a coffin of a woman being carried to the burial site bumped into a rowan tree at Boot in Eskdale. The woman amazingly recovered and survived, but only for a short time. Then, as the funeral procession on her second journey to the burial site neared the rowan tree, her husband, having become quickly suited to widowhood, shouted to his son Mind! Tek heed o’ yon rowan! Melvyn Jones is Visiting Professor in Landscape History, with the Geography, Tourism & Environment Research Unit at Sheffield Hallam University. His best-selling book, Sheffield’s Woodland Heritage, which was used as the basis of a successful £1.6m Heritage Lottery bid to restore 35 South Yorkshire ancient woodlands, is now in its fourth edition (Wildtrack Publishing, 2009).

An Historical Review of Tree Risk Assessment

Philip van Wassenaer1 and Michael Richardson2

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a World of Trees Issue 22

Arboriculture is defined as the care and maintenance of trees, and by extension arborists are those who care for trees. Many tree services are still populated by tree removal specialists and tree preservation takes a back seat. While there is a new and developing body of knowledge concerning the assessment of defects and the determination of failure potential, trees with even minor defects are often deemed hazardous, condemned and removed. Significant trees and their associated wildlife habitats are being lost due to negligence and irrational fears. In a series of three articles we will trace the evolution of tree risk assessment, and examine how the latest technologies can be combined with engineering-based computer modeling to develop quantitative risk assessments and effective prescriptions for tree risk mitigation. Through two case studies and a review of methods, we present alternative ways for arborists to quantify the risk of stem failure and uprooting of trees, and therefore derive accurate assessments of risk with minimal damage to the subject tree. The advanced assessment techniques we review are of particular importance for urban arboricultural applications, where the need to reduce risk to acceptable levels may frequently be at odds with the importance of maintaining

large, mature trees. Consider the two trees we have provided as examples (Figures 1 and 2). At first glance it would be easy to conclude that both trees had defects that were significant enough to warrant full tree removal. Considering only the potential for structural failure, what are removal decisions based upon other than our previous experience and a cursory glance? What techniques provide a realistic presentation of the defect, and how does this relate to risk? Prior to the early 1970s tree risk assessment was almost unheard of, even in arboricultural circles. Trees were deemed hazardous, or not, through very simple evaluation processes. The assessor, often not an arborist, simply looked at a tree and quickly decided if it required removal. Decisions were based primarily on “a feeling” and on predetermined biases. FIGURE 1. White willow (Salix alba) condemned by the local municipality without a risk assessment. Inset photo shows location of a large old pruning wound in the main stem. FIGURE 2. Sugar maple (Acer saccharum) of concern as a potential risk after the tree was condemned by an “arborist” using a cursory visual assessment.

More often than not, the decision to remove or retain a tree was based on concerns about the target as opposed to an assessment of the defects in the tree. Trees near roads, structures, and people, particularly children, were often removed without an examination, as it was considered that a tree near such a target was sure to fail. This still occurs today, judging by the discussions found on various internet arborist forums. While the target is of utmost importance, it should not be used to forgo a thorough assessment of the tree. Over time, better techniques and methods have been developed to assess trees and quantify the results of the assessments. Furthermore, it was increasingly expected that arborists would learn about structurally compromised trees and tree risk assessment. Traditionally, in many jurisdictions, little effort was expended on the examination of structurally compromised trees and efforts to maintain them. With the addition of knowledge from other fields, the rise of environmentalism and the influence of the legal profession, a more thorough analysis of tree risk became desirable. Tree preservation by-laws and ordinances have added another layer of bureaucratic requirements to tree removal and in many cases demand higher standards of examination by the arborist to justify the removal or injury of a tree. Evaluation of trees to determine if

FIGURE

FIGURE 1.

a World of Trees Issue 22

they would fail was initially called hazard assessment, but over time the term tree risk assessment has been adopted as a more realistic description of the process of evaluating a tree that is not necessarily dangerous. By calling an assessment a hazard tree evaluation, the fate of the tree was often predetermined - the very word hazardous frequently meant that the execution order had been written, and the assessor had only to sign it. The first tree risk assessments were typically quick visual inspections undertaken in a non-standardized manner. This subjective type of inspection often involved little more than seeing a single defect and declaring the tree as “hazardous”. The extent of the defect and how it related to the safety of a tree as a whole or in part was not often considered. In the end, the assessment was not repeatable and not comparable to other assessments. Furthermore, the assessor’s prior risk assessment experience greatly influenced the reliability of the assessment. Few people had ever studied trees and fewer still had extensive experience with the examination of old and structurally compromised trees, since those trees were routinely removed. Invariably these removals occurred before trees entered the reiterative or rejuvenation phases. Tree risk assessment is often concerned with trees in a compromised state. Two of the most common whole-tree failure types are tipping (uprooting) and fracture (breaking of stem or branches). Fractures are often associated with decay or hollows, while tipping is often associated with severed or decayed roots or the failure of the soil – root interface. The visual and qualitative methods did not adequately assess these defects, nor did they allow for calculations of risk or strength loss. An improvement in methodology came about with standardized methods of hazard evaluation. These were based on qualitative visual inspections and the rating, on a non-linear scale, of the failure potential, the size of the part suspected of potential failure, and the value of the potential target. These methods allowed for comparison and standardization. Qualitative assessment has been supplanted as a number of methods

have been developed that allow for the quantification of information. This has allowed for better determinations of risk, improved decision making, the ability to defend recommendations, and in some cases, the quantification of remediation methods to reduce the risks associated with a tree. The first quantitative methods used to make decisions relied heavily on sounding of the tree (for hollows) and measuring residual wall thicknesses around hollows or decay with some form of drilling. Drilling instruments such as the resistograph were introduced to arboriculture as a more sensitive method of drilling that also provided a paper copy of the information found. Measuring residual wall thickness, combined with simplified strength loss calculations which compared the thickness of the residual wall to the trees radius at that point assessed strength in a very limited area (Figure 3) and did not account for the size and shape of the tree, wood strength, and other factors crucial to the determination of the safety of a tree. These tests tended to over-simplify the decision to remove a tree and set a low threshold for removal. Drilling methods also allowed for the introduction of decay organisms into the structurally important regions of the tree that were being assessed. FIGURE 3. Schematic illustrating potential for inaccurate strength loss assessment using drilling methods. Left image shows idealized shapes and locations of decay columns and the right image shows more realistic tree shapes and decay locations. Drilling at the red line would give the same information for each point even though the strength loss is different. Tree risk analysis has evolved from a qualitative to a quantitative approach. Utilizing standard procedures and measuring residual wall thickness has allowed arborists to make more informed decisions about trees. Unfortunately, these methods are often limited in their scope of examination, do not account for the load applied to the tree, and often only provide information about specific areas

of the tree. In the second article of the series we will investigate the use of sonic tomography to give a clearer picture of the cross section of a tree, and how engineering methods have enabled examinations of whole tree uprooting stability and wood strength. Some suggested background reading: BOND, J. (20006) Foundations of Risk Analysis: Use of the t/R ratio to Evaluate Trunk Failure Potential. Arborist News, 15 (5), 31-34. DEL TREDICI, P. (2000) Ageing and Rejuvenation in Trees. Arnoldia, 1999-2000, Winter. GRUBER, F. (2008) Untenable Failure Criteria for Trees: 1. The Residual Wall Thickness Rule. Arboricultural Journal, 31, 5-18. KANE, B., RYAN, H.D.P. & BLONIARZ, D.V. (2001) Comparing formulae that assess strength loss due to decay in trees. Journal of Arboriculture, 27 (2), 78-87. KERSTEN, W. & SCHWARZE, F.W.M.R. (2005) Development of decay in the sapwood of trees wounded by the use of decay detecting devices. Arboricultural Journal, 28, 165–181. MATHENY, N.P. and CLARK, J.R. (1994) A Photographic Guide to the Evaluation of Hazard Trees in Urban Areas. 2nd Edition. International Society of Arboriculture. Champaign, IL. REINARTZ and SCHLAG. (1997) Integrierte Baumkontrolle (IBA). Tagungsband zu den Westdeutschen Baumplegetagen 1996, Köln. SMILEY, E.T. & FRAEDRICH, B. (1992) Determining strength loss from decay. Journal of Arboriculture, 18 (4), 201-204.

An Historical Review of Tree Risk Assessment FIGURE 3.

a World of Trees Issue 22

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Culturally modified trees in Sweden Rikard Andersson

Introduction The term “culturally modified trees”, CMTs, has been coined to describe cut marks, carvings and inscriptions on trees and originating from a traditional use of a wood or forest. The marks or carvings were either created during direct extraction of bark or wood, or as symbols and landmarks in a traditional landscape. This is a largely unknown and unrecognised aspect of some ancient forested landscapes. However, recent research is helping to raise awareness and set in place positive conservation and protection. One of the great remaining CMT archives is the boreal Scandinavian forests where there are thousands of CMTs preserved. These are mainly from the eighteenth and first half of the nineteenth century but dating back to the fifteenth century. This article introduces two types of CMTs in Sweden; marks from bark extraction and carvings in a landscape of livestock herding. Bark peeling scars The Sami people of northern Sweden had a tradition of peeling and preparing Scots Pine inner bark for various purposes, and this is described in written sources dating back to the seventeenth century. By making two cuts with a knife of steel or bone at the top and the bottom a bark strip

was peeled off from part of the tree using a broad bladed scraper with a handle. A strip of undamaged cambium was always left so the tree could survive. Larger sheets of inner bark were dried and ground into flour, roasted or eaten fresh. The flour was mixed with reindeer milk, fat, blood or soup. Smaller sheets were used as wrappings for sinews to keep them soft and fresh. Peeled trees are mainly preserved in national parks and reserves. Tree carvings Closely related to traditional livestock herding, it was a customary to carve text and symbols on Scots Pine trees and use them as ‘notice boards’ or ‘signs’ in the landscape. To create these carvings a small axe always carried around by the herder was used. First of all bark from part of the trunk was removed and the wood surface was smoothed. Then notches in the form of letters or signs were cut into the wood. To be able to do finer notches a knife could also be used, using the axe to hammer on the back of it. The carved trees marked daily routes to suitable grazing areas and were probably also important as demarcations between different herding groups. The inscriptions included names, years, length of stay, end of stay, evaluation of grazing conditions and sometimes whole

sentences, such as ‘We have lost three cows!’. Tree carvings are now preserved in some managed forest landscapes generally alongside streams and close to, sometimes on, wetlands. Culturally Modified Trees or Working Trees – so what’s the difference? A parallel to CMTs is the term promoted by Ted Green and Ian Rotherham of ‘Working Trees’ or ‘Worked Trees’. The term working trees refers to those that have been managed to more efficiently generate wood, tree fodder, bark, material for charcoal making, firewood or building materials. This seems similar in some ways to CMTs. However, whilst CMTs were never actually managed but only to a degree slightly ‘harvested’ or ‘marked’ as they were growing wild in the woods, working trees were often totally reshaped to maximize generation of a valuable product. This was possible in broadleaved woodlands, with tree species that could stand partial or total branch removal (as in pollarding), or willing to send up new shoots or suckers after the main stem had been cut (as in coppicing). So, the answer to the question whether ‘Working Trees’ and CMTs are the same must be both ‘yes’ and ‘no’. Working trees are culturally modified, only more; it is a matter of degree.

a World of Trees Issue 22

Culturally modified trees in Sweden

“

The term “culturally modified trees”, CMTs, has been coined to describe cut marks, carvings and inscriptions on trees and originating from a traditional use of a wood or forest

”

The future Marked trees have been found in North America, northern Europe and elsewhere. It is now hoped to address other forms of culturally marked trees across parts of Great Britain, including ancient graffiti and other carvings. If you are interested then do contact World of Trees Magazine to find out more about the project. Some suggested background reading: Andersson, R. (2005) Historical land-use information from culturally modified trees. Dept. of Forest Vegetation Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. Acta Universitatis agriculturae Suecia 2005, 61, Umeå. Andersson, R, Östlund, L. & Lundqvist, R. (2005) Carved trees in grazed forests in boreal Sweden - analysis of remaining trees, interpretation of past land-use and implications for conservation. Vegetation History and Archaeobotany, 14, 149-158. Rotherham, I., Jones, M., Smith, L. & Handley, C. (Eds.) (2008) The Woodland Heritage Manual - A Guide to Investigating Wooded Landscapes. Wildtrack Publishing, Sheffield. Zackrisson, O., Östlund, L., Korhonen, O. & Bergman, I. (2000) The ancient use of Pinus sylvestris L. (Scots pine) inner bark by Sami people in northern Sweden, related to cultural and ecological factors. Vegetation History and Archaeobotany, 9, 99-109.

a World of Trees Issue 22

Galloway Forest Park is now officially the first Dark Sky Park in the United Kingdom. The prestigious award, announced by the International Dark Sky Association (IDA), confirms Galloway as being one of the best places for stargazing in the world. To achieve the award, Forestry Commission Scotland has worked hard with the local Wigtownshire Astronomical Society, lighting experts and the surrounding community to ensure Galloway’s skies remain pitch black - the best condition for viewing distant galaxies. Welcoming the announcement, Scottish Government Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham said: “Understandably, all those involved in this innovative project are over the moon and I’m thrilled for them and for Scotland. “The interest in this initiative has been world-wide. The award is great news for putting Galloway Forest Park firmly in the spotlight and for attracting more tourists to the area. “ The award marks the culmination of efforts to celebrate the International Year of Astronomy 2009. Work on achieving Dark Sky Park status began back in September 2008, with a formal application being submitted to the IDA six weeks ago. The final awards were decided at the Association’s AGM being held in Phoenix, Arizona, over the weekend. Martin Morgan-Taylor, UK board member for the International Dark Sky Association said: “Galloway Forest Park is a fantastic asset in the now international network of Dark Sky Parks. “A core aim in creating such a park is to identify and honour protected public lands with exceptional commitment to, and success in implementing, the ideals of dark sky restoration and preservation. Galloway has shown exceptional commitment here in the UK, and the team deserves the highest commendation and recognition. “Its location is ideally situated for access from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Belfast and northern England meaning that many people, including children, may have access to a quality night sky, both now and in

generations to come. Such skies are rapidly disappearing and less than 10% of people in the UK can now see the Milky Way from where they live.” Part of the selection process involved giving a rating via a sky quality meter, which measures the darkness of the sky overhead. The higher the sky quality meter reading the better, with the darkest reading, such as would be recorded in a photographer’s dark room, of 24. In major cities like Glasgow or Edinburgh, a likely reading would be around 15 or 16 on the scale. Galloway Forest Park was rated 23 on the scale, giving it a gold tier Dark Sky Park award status - the highest achievable Keith Muir, Forestry Commission Scotland’s head of Tourism and Recreation in Galloway has been involved in the project from the very beginning. Ecstatic with the award he said, “We have boldly gone where no-one in the UK has gone before!” “I’m so pleased that everyone’s support and hard work has paid off. The award is a massive feather in Galloway’s cap.” He added: “Tourism is the single largest economic development opportunity for South West Scotland. Currently, the Galloway Forest Park welcomes around 850,000 visitors each year and we have big plans to double this over time. This award, the first of its kind in the United Kingdom, should be seen as a universal achievement.” Until now, there have been only three other Dark Sky Parks in the world - the Natural Bridges National Monument in Utah, the Cherry Springs State Park in Pennsylvania and the Geauga Park in Ohio - and Galloway Forest Park has now been added to that prestigious list. Galloway Forest Park is the largest of its kind in the United Kingdom. Hidden away in the South West of Scotland, it was established in 1947. The forest park covers 300 square miles (185,329 acres), that’s about six times the size of Glasgow, and is managed by Forestry Commission Scotland. With limited numbers of buildings within the forest park’s boundary, light pollution can be kept to a minimum. This in turn helps make Galloway Dark Sky Park the most amazing astronomical place to visit.

Photos: Cygnus Cullendoch copyright James Hilder. Clatteringshaws - copyright International Year of Astronomy 2009.

a World of Trees Issue 22

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SNOW KIDDING! VOLES ARE BOOMING IN KIELDER Tawny owl numbers in Kielder Forest are soaring as the UK’s longest running research project on the bird enters its 30th year. Despite the harsh winter tawnies are benefiting from a remarkable recovery in the vole population locally. The diminutive mammals are a favourite food for birds of prey, but over recent years their numbers have declined in the 155,000-acre Northumberland wilderness. Now Forestry Commission experts believe that the artic weather with months of snow cover has given the voles a break from high levels of predation, as owls and other birds struggled to hunt successfully. The biggest beneficiary – apart from the voles themselves - have been tawnies as they are one of the hardiest, most durable and longest lived of all owls species and have made it through the grim weather with a relatively low level of fatalities, unlike Barn owls. Now after the famine they can they can enjoy a vole feast.

Experts checking the 200 nest boxes erected by project chiefs have recorded 105 nesting pairs this spring, with three broods of five chicks found (two to four is more common). Tom Dearnley, Forestry Commission Ecologist, said: “Voles are critical for forest wildlife as they are an important food for many animals. But mild winters in recent years have hit them hard as they haven’t had a rest from being hunted. But the artic weather has changed all that. We have been working with Aberdeen University on vole population cycles in Kielder and we use a vole index to measure how plentiful they are. That has shot through the roof this year. The tawnies are taking full advantage, with 49 dead voles removed from just one owl box.”

It was thanks to the Kielder tawny owl project that experts were able to keep tabs on a remarkable female who at the age of 21 gave birth to three healthy chicks – the oldest breeding tawny in the world. The amazing creature was ringed in 1987 in Kershope Forest, part of the western bloc of Kielder, but last year failed to return to her nesting box, leaving open the possibility that she has succumbed to old age. Her longevity was a feather in the cap for the Forestry Commission-backed project, which has seen nesting boxes erected in Kielder to makeup for a lack of suitable natural nesting sites. Tawnies in the wild have an average life expectancy of around six years. Nature fans can find out more and also join experts as they ring tawny owl chicks by joining two owl nights on 12 and 21 May. These unique events based around Kielder Castle and Sidwood, near Greenhaugh, are being staged by the Forestry Commission as part of the Kielder Partnership’s Wild about Kielder season. They start at 7pm and booking is required on 01434 220242. The cost is £8 per person. Kielder Water & Forest Park was recently voted the most tranquil place in England by the Campaign to Protect Rural England.

“Martin Davison, Forestry Commission ornithologist, ringing 21 day old chicks in Kielder Forest as part of the UK’s longest running research project of its kind - now in its 30th year.”

a World of Trees Issue 22

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