Martin Brown wrote:

I saw some cowboys cut down or rather try to since they gave up after a
while a largish messy sycamore tree in my parents neighbours garden. It
made fascinating watching with one guy high in the tree randomly cutting
off bits that fell on the other and at one point cartoon style sat on
the branch he was sawing through.

A neighbour of mine, after having been ripped off by itinerants
(they had invented a story that there had been complaints, and he
had to let them do the work) who left him with unbelievably
mangled eyesores of trees, plus all the trimmings for him to
dispose of, apparently went with a garden landscape firm to clear
the lot, and give the plot a bit of a makeover.

They had the remains of a reasonably large conifer to bring down,
without room to drop it in one. I saw no goggles, ear defenders,
or safety clothing in evidence whilst using a chain saw. An
extended sectional ladder rested against the tree, but wasn't
secured to it. There was some form of primitive personal safety
loop, but it was only clipped to the ladder, the top rung of
which rested insecurely against the curve of the trunk.

As they worked down from the top, the chain saw was deployed at
about head height but, having no goggles, the operator was
showered with sawdust and had to look away from the cut.
Meanwhile the second man had to leave his position footing the
ladder to heave on the rope hoping (but not succeeding) to
persuade the section to fall the right way.

To my surprise they survived, but that is simply not the way to
do it. At almost every stage they progressed in such a tentative
way, that it seemed to me that they were way out of their depth.

Chris
--
Chris J Dixon Nottingham UK


Plant amazing Acers.