Updated 15 Dec 2006

Planting a new oakwood in Dorset

Return to Home Page

MENU

Last

Photo 055

Next

Fallen Tree 2006

On 3rd Dec 2006, a combination of high ground water, high wind and bracket fungus brought down a mature ash in the hedge seperating fields 5 and 4. We contacted Simon and James, who arrived on 7 Dec and in 3 hours turned a big tree into a pile of logs. Measured the dimensions of the fallen ash, the trunk is about 8 meters high, containing perhaps 8 tons of wood. Contracted with Simon of ATS to cut trunk into half-meter discs, which I will move to the Plantation to please the insects. The stump is still part-rooted and may regrow. The bole has swallowed bits of barbed-wire fence, so had to be left, but just might regrow, and can be used to attach new barbed-wire to.

7 Dec 06. Chainsaw at work Simon at work with his big chainsaw (the smaller one burned its bearings out). The beastly machine is incredibly efficient. I counted 115 rings on the thickest part of the tree.

7 Dec 06. James, Rosie and Simon The 115 year old ash tree has been turned into a pile of logs by two young men in under 3 hours. Simon was quite knowledgeable, and said that bracket fungus had sealed its fate.

8 Dec 06. Bonfire of twigs Twigs and branches made quite a pile, but it was a real job to get it burning. Rosie's persistance paid off, and we left it burning. But it was out when we returned 4 hours later.

8 Dec 06. Burning in the night Rosie kept trying, the weather improved, and we got a
big fire going, sparks floating up to the stars, while owls hooted around us. Magic!
Home after midnight, dehydrated and smelling of wood smoke.

9 Dec 06. The stockade of logs The idea was to prevent the logs sailing away in the next flood by building a wall of the biggest logs, to contain the smaller logs inside. Next summer we'll move it into the Plantation to keep the insects happy.

12 Dec 06. A Bridge too Far The ash fell in the hedgerow just to the right of this 'two-plank' bridge, crossing the ditch between two fields. This is the route I take to measure the height of the river Stour.