This fantastic sycamore is a particular favourite – a beautiful octopus architecture. Fully and properly protected throughout recent adjacent building refurbishment work by Mulcahy Construction. Wonderful squat old oak (on left); lower stem (trunk) completely hollow. People tend to overexaggerate the age of trees, but at a stem diameter of 1.52m (measured @ 1.5m above ground level), and c. 2 m near ground level, this tree is between 200-300 years old (the house dates from c. 1715).
View during an aerial check from a MEWP before supervising (from the ground!) the recommended pruning works to some marvellous London plane trees at the Institute of Advanced Studies, Dublin.
London planes, Dublin.Overseeing work to an old beech avenue – requiring thoughtful conservation managementOccasionally some clients with collections of uncommon specimen trees – gardens and arboreta – like the species identified and labelled.Defective root system revealed by air spade during an investigation into unnatural failure of 80% of a semi-mature oak avenue in ex-hurricane Ophelia. Nurseries growing seedlings in pots and then (repeatedly) transplanting them out too deep, can lead to horrendous stem girdling roots (SGR’s). The crowns of these were perfectly healthy 20 years after planting; but suddenly, in a storm: snap!Many of our biggest exceptional ‘champion’ trees throughout Ireland can be easily propagated from seed (or cuttings) to provide new trees with the genetic potential to adapt to climate change and be exceptional specimens for future generations.Pseudoinonotus dryadeus (fungal brackets) on an old oak – conserved and monitored.Beech felled for roadside safety (decay most extensive & advanced at c. 2 m)Picture from a road traffic accident ‘forensic’ investigation c. 15 years ago. Yes, this ash collapsed onto a passing car, causing very serious injury. From 2019 I was on the ‘expert’ panel of three tasked by the Tree Council to write the Irish government’s new ‘Managing Roadside Trees’ guidance document – to be published soon.Beech, Co Meath site. Inspected every 2 years for the last 12 – little change, and no failure!
Interesting recent assessment. A 5.9 m girth oak, with an adult treehouse – even had a bar inside!
Assessment of an impressive c. 1 km long avenue this week in Co Kildare. The inner lines of Linden (common lime) were found to represent two principal planting dates: early 19th century and mid 18th century.
Reporting on some ‘Champion’ trees in a Co Wicklow demesne in the summer sunshine, July 2021.
