Project overview
We were contacted by a golf course near Grantham regarding a beech tree that had recently fallen. The beech tree had signs of ‘Meripilus Giganteus’. This fungus feeds on dead sections of the host tree, taking advantage of dysfunctional areas of the wood. This can cause trees to become unstable at the root plate. The tree’s failure is likely to have been due to brittle fracture of its roots.
The fallen tree was taking up a huge area next to the golf course, so the customer needed the work to be carried out as soon as possible to clear the area.
Our Approach
Planning
The removal of the beech tree required some careful planning. Because of the scale of the tree needing to be cleared, machinery was deemed the best option for speed, safety and efficiency. Dead trees are notoriously unpredictable, and branches can break and fall much more easily. Therefore, our arborists are much better protected by using the machinery rather than putting themselves directly in the way of a high-risk tree. A manual approach would also take much longer to carry out – our machinery makes light work of the same task in well over half the time. It is by far the most time-efficient and cost-effective method of tree removal, which is good news for us and the customer.
Execution
Result
Ecological considerations
With this occurring in the autumn, there were no nesting birds in the tree. The tree was carefully checked for any signs of wildlife, but none were found by our team which meant that the work could be carried out straight away.
Biosecurity is always a priority for us to protect the environment and minimise our impact, but even more so if a tree is showing signs of disease. ‘Meripilus Giganteus’ produces thousands of tiny spores which are then dispersed by the wind. Any infected wood and debris left behind could pose a future problem, so it was of the utmost importance that we removed all infected material from the site.
Our team have a good knowledge of biosecurity and understands that human activity is a key factor in the spread of pests and diseases. Through undertaking basic practices each day such as cleaning and disinfecting equipment and boots, this risk can be minimised significantly.
