We conducted a crown lift an oak tree last week for a customer in Wolverhampton. The tree had be worked on in the past on the neighbour’s side which had given an unbalanced crown shape. As you can see in the first picture the branches on the right side of the tree are much higher than those on the left. We removed some of the lower branches to try and rebalance the crown and also let some more light into the customer’s garden. We removed as many branches as we could without leaving the tree an unnatural shape and reduced one of the longer branches. After a quick cup of tea and a tidy up we left the customer happy and looking forward to a less shaded summer.

Oak tree before crown lift

Oak tree after crown lift

Well it wasn’t the whole tree, only a limb, but the damage to the car was enough for it to be written off by the insurance company. We we called in to clear up the fallen limb and remove the tree, which was in decline and infected with honey fungus.

The horse chestnut, or conker tree, located in Codsall still had some life in it and was safe to climb, otherwise a MEWP (cherry picker) would have been required to remove the branches which grew between several telephone lines.

The branch fell across the neighbours drive

Tree showing signs of dieback at the tips. The fallen branch occupied the large open space

The trunk showed signs of honey fungus and had missing bark

The tree being dismantled

The tree being dismantled

MIT professor Daniel Nocera claims to have produced an artificial leaf, from stable and inexpensive materials, which mimics natural photosynthesis – the process which plants use to create energy from sunlight.

The artificial leaf is the size of a playing card and when placed in water it uses sunlight the produce hydrogen and oxygen which can be stored in a fuel cell to produce electricity.

More importantly in the fact the artificial leaf can be produced cheaply and easily from readily avalible materials and the artificial leaf is 10 more effective than nature’s leaf.

You may be thinking “Hang on a minute, i have PV solar panels which do the same job, why is this so revolutionary?” Well, PV solar panels have a few problems such as cost, the efficiency isn’t great and they don’t work at night. The technology behind the artificial leaf can use the extra energy produced by solar panels during the day to drive artificial photosynthesis. The hydrogen and oxygen can then be stored and used during the night. In essence each house would become its own power plant.

This would be particularly beneficial in the developing world where a house can provide enough power for itself for a day given an artificial leaf and a gallon of water.

YouTube Video: Daniel Nocera describes new process for storing solar energy

You may think this is all a bit of wishful thinking but Sun Catalytix, the company founded by Nocera to develop the artificial leaf, has already signed a deal with the international giant Tata Group to drive the technology forward.

Further reading

• ACS Press release
• http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2011-03/28/artificial-leaf
• http://www.freeenergytimes.com/2011/03/28/mit-chemist-daniel-nocera-announces-artificial-leaf-goal-to-make-every-home-a-power-station/

For more than 80 years, the giant elm stood its ground, weathering blizzards, winds, countless dogs, Dutch elm disease and perhaps that most menacing element of New York life – a residential building’s co-op board, which had threatened to have it cut down amid claims its roots were causing plumbing problems. But the much-loved and hotly debated tree couldn’t stand up to Tropical Storm Irene, whose winds tore it out of the ground and sent it crashing across a quiet street in Brooklyn Heights at about 4 a.m. Sunday.

Read more here: Irene downs beloved 80-year-old tree in Brooklyn – latimes.com

A tree surgeon, as the name suggests is a person specialised in tree pruning, maintenance and removal. This line of work may sound easy enough. You may think why spend money on tree surgery? The answer is simple. When you hire a tree surgeon, they will ensure the trees in the garden are trimmed in a way that is most suitable for the tree. This will allow the tree to seal the wound correctly. A tree surgeon will also ensure that you tree is cut down in a safe and efficient manner. Proper tree surgeons are certified professional who are highly skilled and adept at all tree surgery related work. As with a many things, it is best to leave something like tree surgery to the professionals.

People tend to think that all that is required for tree trimming is a hand saw and some clippers, and sometimes even a chainsaw. People quickly realise that tree surgery is not as easy as it first seems. Not only that, it can be downright dangerous, if you are not adept at it.

Tree surgery is a lot more dangerous than say, trimming a small plant or bush. Large branches start to fall and people may even get injured, there certainly enough videos on Youtube to prove testament. Looking after trees is not just a one off occasion. Trees require regular maintenance, which is why hiring a tree surgeon is even more important. Caring for a tree or trees for that matter, is not just about hacking off a branch or two every few years. A skilled tree surgeon is similar to a skilled hairdresser. He will be able to make the tree look cared for, make recommendations or prune it in a certain way to help it yield more fruit.

So why is maintenance  important? To start, it will make the garden look a lot more attractive. Nobody wants to have garden over shadowed by a huge conifer or one that looks like an overgrown jungle. Not only that, the trees also like to be taken care of. A well maintained tree will be healthier compared to one that is neglected. Trees have many benefits including environmental and social benefits, they make people feel good and means higher property values. When hiring a tree surgeon, make sure they are insured and have the proper certification (NPTC or LANTRA qualifications in the UK as a minimum) and equipment (Chainsaw boots & trousers are a must so if they start work in jeans I would send them away). You should check their insurance and qualifications before you agree any work with them.

For further information please contact us or drop us a comment below

The debate about the future of our forests continues the BMC reports that
nine organisations, representing a range of people who enjoy the great outdoors, have today (10th May) issued a statement to the Chair of the Independent Panel on Forestry, Bishop of Liverpool James Jones, expressing their concerns and hopes for the future of public access to all our forests and woodland.

The BMC reports that the Group is calling on the Independent Panel to ensure that ‘access is at the heart’ of its discussions concerning the future of our forests, an assurance made by the Secretary of State Caroline Spelman in response to a question posed by David Rutley MP (Conservative, Macclesfield) in the House of Commons on 17 February 2011. After presenting the statement to the Chair the Group expects to meet all members of the Panel to express firsthand the value of our woods and forests for public enjoyment.

The organisations which make up the Forest Access User Group represent over 8 million people who use woodlands regularly and have a broad recreational, conservation and management interest in our forests and woodlands. The Group includes:

• The British Horse Society
• Open Spaces Society
• The Ramblers
• Sport and Recreation Alliance
• CTC
• IMBA-UK
• British Orienteering
• The Kennel Club
• and the BMC

Justin Cooke, Ramblers Senior Policy Officer, said: “We call on the Panel to find ways to protect, maintain and increase access to all our nation’s woodlands and ensure that access is at the heart of its work. We look forward to engaging with them to ensure that public access to our forests is protected now and always.”

You can read the full article on the BMC website

Forest Access User Group’s joint statement to the Bishop of Liverpool James Jones:

The Forest Access User Group believes that protecting and enhancing public access to our woodland and forests must be at the heart of the Panel’s work. Following the huge public outcry which resulted in the consultation on the future management of the Public Forest Estate being “put on hold”, and the temporary suspension of Forestry Commission land-sales, we believe that the Panel now has the opportunity fully to realise the multi-purpose function of our woodland and forest estates.

As the Secretary of State made clear to the House of Commons when announcing the establishment of the Independent Panel in the House of Commons on 17 February 2011,

“It is important that the panel looks at all forms of access, including access for walkers, riders and cyclists,” and “We want to expand access to our forests and woodlands because it is in everyone’s interests that we do so.”

The Public Forest Estate makes up only 18% of England’s woodland and forests but accounts for 44% of our accessible woodlands. With the public making over 40 million visits a year to the Forestry Commission Estate, the Commission is the single, largest provider of countryside recreation opportunities and provides some of the best examples of welcoming, well-managed public access in England, which any private landowner would be hard pressed to match.

This cherished national asset therefore needs to be protected for public access in all forms, be it on foot, bike, horseback, horse-drawn carriage or with a dog, helping to strengthen the public’s understanding of the natural environment. Woods and forests must also continue to bring clear physical and mental benefits to the public by remaining fully accessible.

The Forest Access User Group looks forward to giving further evidence to the Independent Panel on the value of our woodland and forests for public access and urges the Panel to take the opportunity fully to develop appropriate forestry and woodland policy in England which delivers benefits to both public access and wildlife.

Sign up to support the Forest Access User Group’s statement that:

This cherished national asset needs to be protected for public access in all forms, be it on foot, bike, horseback, horse-drawn carriage or with a dog, helping to strengthen the public’s understanding of the natural environment. Woods and forests must also continue to bring clear physical and mental benefits to the public by remaining fully accessible.

To support the above statement visit the Ramblers website

Today, in between the rain showers, we had chance to enjoy Victoria Park in Smethwick. Initially it seemed like any other urban park, and indeed it is in many respects. It has a great outdoor gym and has been much improved since the 80′s.

The park also has a fair few trees and amongst the usual trees such as beech, london plane, sycamore and oak, for example, there are a few less seen (less seen in Sandwell that is) trees. There are a few silver maples, different varieties of cherry and laburnum to name a few. There are also some lovely old silver birch which tower over a path by the play ground.

All in all it is worth having a wonder around if you are in the area to see what you can spot. There is also the Smethwick Heritage Center which is free to enter and have a look around.

Realm of the Deer by Alex Saberi

Forest like a Dream by Silviu Vlasceanu

Foggy Forest by Roeselien Raimond

Into the winter forest by Kiyo Murakami

The Magician by Ronen Goldman

The Eerie Forest by Dave Lally

Rainforest by Aulia Rahman

boii taietorului de lemne (woodcutter’s oxen) by Vlad Dumitrescu

Magical forest II by Agustin Rueda

Fire in National Park of Cilento (SA) – Italy by Antonio Grambone

After The Rain by Gary McParland

If you have been out and about the last few weeks you may have noticed some of the plants are starting to bloom, spring is nearly with us and to celebrate we bring you 10 images of budding trees

104.365 Tree Buds by barilynn8

04.23.09 – Maple Tree Bud by SherryH80

tree buds by rn.interrupted

Tree buds with yellow flowers in spring sun

Peach tree buds by Electric Arc

Tree buds by Ghazghul

Red Bud Tree Buds……..3-12-08 by I’mMurphy’sLaw

Buds in Utero by rapt_in_roses

Tree Bud by ‘SomewhereinAK’

Tree Bud 2 by robinparmar

As today is Friday, and it has been a week of hard work after the wind and storms last weekend, I thought I would bring you some funny pictures which have made there way into my inbox. Most of them are watermarked www.engrish.com, which is a good site full of images on the same theme, so i hope they don’t mind me showing the images here.