Oh Dear…. Today’s tricky one all done safely by Antony, Jamie, Garry and Len.
Here was a fallen willow tree across a remote footbridge over a watercourse. We dismantled the tree by climbing with rope and harness. There was no way of getting anything else to the site as it was across several wet fields. 04 Feb 2020
This was the start of a 2-week stint on the A338 at Cholderton for WCC Highways. Our task was to remove and cut back 40 ash trees which had grown to 100 feet and which were all dying with Ash Dieback. Because of this disease, the trees were dangerous and had to be removed.
Here our task was to remove a large group of mature leylandii close to main high voltage lines. This needed a power shutdown to be able to work safely. The work had taken three months’ planning due to a nursing home being on the same powerline and for which a generator was needed to maintain power to the home.
We spent a week dismantling decaying beech trees in Bath. They were leaning over a footpath and, having recently been surveyed, there was no choice but to dismantle and remove them and plant replacements. The timber will be used for firewood. We needed a team of 2 climbers, a groundsman with tractor and a 30-ton winch on the last day to fell the stems.
But, as you’ll see from the last three pictures below, the weather wasn’t always kind to us during the week!
A recent tree survey showed that a large conifer growing close to a substantial property was too near for safety. We therefore dismantled it and removed all the timber to be reprocessed for biomass to feed a power station.
Here’s a 60-second video of one of a pair of time trees coming down in Bishops Cannings at the beginning of November. The trees were healthy in themselves but had grown to a height of 100 feet. The roots were undermining the buildings which were planned for a change of use in the near future so needed to be removed.
Lime trees are one of the most iconic British trees forming lined avenues on grand houses and estates. There is even a circle of trees planted in Pewsey, Wiltshire that are still alive and healthy today, designed so that duellers could get some privacy from onlookers when in action!
A few more pics of the roadside tree works in the north of the county We’ve been cutting back the roadside willows in Marston Meysey – clearing the willow trees that have become too large and are hanging onto the roadway
Marston Meysey is 3 miles (5 km) northeast of Cricklade on the county boundary with Gloucestershire.
Following recent call-outs due to high winds, we were back to work at Drew’s Pond – just south of Devizes – for health and safety works to the trees near and overhanging footpaths.
Drew’s Pond is a small community broadleaved coppiced managed woodland with plenty of paths and good bird and butterfly habitats.