It dropped a large primary limb on the public road. With this history of failure our client was keen to have the tree removed. We notified the council of tree work within the Conservation Area. We had to gain a Road Occupation Permit from Edinburgh Council, arrange formal traffic management with Contraflow Ltd and bring in the crane and the MEWP. Thankfully everything went to plan and all of the arisings were removed off site for recycling.
25.06.2015
Sycamore removal at Comiston Road
Here are some photos of Frontier removing a large Sycamore below Comiston Road. The tree had Kretzschmaria deusta (an aggressive wood-decay fungus) around the buttresses so an 80' work platform was used as the tree was unsafe to climb. Traffic management (4-way traffic signals) was undertaken by Contraflow Ltd and we had to obtain a time-consuming Road Occupation Permit. We were allowed on the road between 0930 and 1530 however with half an hour at either end to set-up and take-down the traffic management that only allowed us 5 hours to do the job and remove all brash and timber off site for recycling. 7 operatives were on site and we used the tractor crane winch to pull rope-lowered brash and timber up the bank for lifting onto the road for processing. An interesting job!
05.01.2015
Trench Mounding
Christmas 2014: An excavator preparing a restock site for planting this season. Trench mounting or 'ditch and dolloping' is when the excavator moves up the brash-mat left over from the harvesting operation, digs a narrow trench and with this soil creates spaced mounds to the required stocking density on which to plant the new trees. The brash mat is pushed and compressed into the trench where it rots down fairly quickly. The site looks neater afterwards. There are microsite benefits to mound-planted trees including; reduction of competition by weeds thereby lowering overall establishment costs, increased root temperature (bare soil absorbs more daytime heat) resulting in good root growth and better drainage. All time-consuming work but the increased quality and value of the timber in the end makes it worthwhile.
22.12.2014
Merry Christmas from all at Frontier!
Cold storm-damage work aloft in an Atlantic Cedar near Harburn, West Lothian. Merry Christmas and I hope it is as white as this!
12.12.2014
Decay assessment by the Picus
This gives an idea on the accuracy of our Picus Sonic Tomograph ultrasound machine after removal of a large Beech on the south side of Edinburgh. It is a good tool in the hazard evaluation of trees.
11.12.2014
Tylosis staining
This is a branch cut from a Wych Elm infected by the Dutch Elm Disease fungus which is spread by the Scolytus Beetle. The tylosis staining is the dark brown ring in the xylem as shown. The tree basically lays down tyloses (balls of gum) in the xylem (water tubes) in an effort to stop the fungus from spreading; however in doing so the tree dehydrates and dies. Frontier is often asked to remove dying Elm branches to beyond the last sign of tylosis staining in an effort to save the tree and sometimes this works - which is good because it is cheaper than felling the whole tree!
11.12.2014
Pruning Beech tree
December 2014 - Two of our climbers high in crown undertaking a careful reduction of a Beech in Morningside during the 'weather bomb'!