tree cut down at kissing gate

Last Tuesday we cut down a dead birch at the kissing gate.  The main trunks are still there on the ground.

This tree died sometime over the winter, and one of the top branches snapped in a recent gale, but did not fall to the ground.  This was dangerous, and the best action was to cut it down while most of the wood was still sound.  No idea why the tree died, though it was on the oldish side.

The broken branch could have fallen anytime onto visitors entering or leaving the reserve, being directly above the kissing gate.

Because the brash has been collected together to form a habitat pile, it would not be immediately obvious that the tree was dead.

Used a two man saw to fell the tree, and earthed the stump so as not to draw attention.  Habitat pile is in the near corner. A smaller birch had to be taken out to make felling safe.

The stumps of the trees are left at roughy 3 foot, as this makes them more obvious and less of a tripping hazard.  They will become useful dead standing wood for insects etc.

We will be doing a bit more work on it next Tuesday to collect some logs for volunteer perks, and probably to make a sitting place of the main trunk.  This will make it safer as people won't tempted to clamber over it.

Thanks to visitors who either braved the kissing gate or went the scenic route of the nearby gate during operations.

Thanks to person who reported the dangerous branch.

Martin