It's been a good year for conkers and chestnuts (although there doesn't seem to be much demand for either anymore). Unfortunately, that means the ground is littered with the husks as well, which can become a slip hazard on hard surfaces.
The car park was one area that needed clearing whilst the ground was relatively dry. It won't be long before the leaf blowing gets started!
Other tree related hazards that are regularly checked are sloping trees, dead or dying trees or low hanging branches near pathways. We quite often carry out 'crown raising' but sometimes more rigorous measures are needed.
As you can see in the photo opposite, it was necessary to cut back these protruding trunks. This particular tree and a couple of others along St Faiths Road were selected for preventative maintenance.
Care had to be taken due to some sections unavoidably landing onto the edge of the road. This meant waiting for a lull in the traffic.
Matt wielded the chainsaw whilst Tabby, Chris & I safely collected the downed pieces, chopped them into manageable chunks and disposed of them into the nearby undergrowth.
The blackthorn whips that we planted along the wire fence in front of Catton hall in March 2022 have come along nicely, so much so that it was time for its first shaping as a hedge.
Further along, the fence has become overgrown with dog rose and bramble (not that you could even see the fence 😀).
Cutting this lot back to the fence-line would be a mammoth job.
Guess what our next task was?
Nevertheless, Tabby, Chris and I set to work. Armed with loppers, shears and a hedge-trimmer, we chopped and cut our way through. Then raked and loaded up the trailer.
By the end of the day, we had managed at least six heaped trailer loads of cuttings (the incinerator should make light work of this in a few days time).
Not bad hey?
There was more cutting back the following week, mainly brambles, nettles & snowberry by one of the entrances to the west woods. We also removed some small poplar trees that were growing just outside the Victoria pond.
However, I was amazed by the transformation that had occurred by the Humphry Repton sculpture. The city college volunteers had been busy again.
The sycamore that Amy and I coppiced behind the bench in October 2023 was looking like this again, yes, just two years growth!....
....completely blocking the view of the magnificent tree behind.
Nettles and bramble had also started to take over.
Not any more!
November 2025. My first visit of the month was unseasonably warm (17°C)!
We spent the day mulching trees, mainly the apple orchard but some in the picnic area too. That meant relieving the woodchip bay of three trailer loads, still tons left though.
The mild weather continued on my next visit, which involved coppicing laurel in various woodland locations.
The large beech tree which was showing signs of distress has had some tree surgery carried out (previously mentioned in my post 'Summer Branch Drop').
I happened to be passing on Tuesday when the work was underway....
Due to the nature of the work, this was outsourced to a local company.
They managed to save most of the tree for now.
Lets hope that further work will not be necessary.
I can't believe that another year has nearly ended. It will nearly be Christmas by the time my next post is ready for publishing!
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