Oxfordshire Woodland Group

Cruck Blade No 3 was showing signs of heart rot at the butt.

and once debarked also of a split at the base that ran about 2 feet up the log from the base eminating from the felling hinge.

It was decided to cut off 27" of butt and though this appeared to have removed the split there was still evidence of heart rot.

Another 14" was removed and then 7", 7" & 7" till only half the cross section of the log appeared to be affected with heart rot.

Maybe another 7 - 14" will need to be removed to reach sound timber

In fact another 21" needed to be removed to get out of fungal decay affected wood.

The small affected areas will be treated with preservative to kill off any remaining fungal spores and mycelium. Once the timber dries down then all fungal activity will cease but this will not restore strength to small areas of the juvenille heartwood however since a tenon will be made at the base of the cruck blade then any final remnants of heart rot remaining should be removed.

Ken Hume