Oxfordshire Woodland Group

After walking the wood this malformed young (50 yrs+) beech tree was found with a very prononced lean and so it was decided to remove same as this was hanging over the new log storage area rather than risk it falling on top of woodland operatives or the public.

The tree was showing signs of bark healing low down consistent with typical squirrel bark stripping damage and although the bark was apparently healed this will not necessarily be the case inside the tree trunk.

The tree feller first removes any root buttresses and then makes a small gob cut on the same side of the tree that the tree will fall. A plunge cut is then made through the tree at right angles to the direction of fall leaving a hinge and then working the saw backwards till all restraining timber has been cut thru.

Once the tree is down it becomes obvious the the core is seriously damaged

The stump is cleaned across with the saw to reveal a series of squirrel bark stripping attacks every 7 - 10 years followed by bark healing over to cover the (by then) dried out timber. The tree is also suffering from rot and internal spalting barriers can be seen.

This tree is a self seeded tree that was growing under the shade cast by a 150 year old beech tree above. This was probably the principal reason for the younger beech tree developing a lean in the first place. The older beech trees were planted and grew at a time when there were no grey squirrels in the woodland and so these are most likely to contain an undamaged timber core.

Ken Hume - OWG