I have a big beech tree which will require one very large branch to be
removed from the upper part of the tree. Can I glean any information from
the removed branch as to an approximate age of this tree.
As an alternative is there anywhere that gives approximate growth ring rates
for beech . I know this method would not give a particularly accurate answer
but it would be better than all the wild guesses made by the local
neighbours.
The circumference of the tree is 16 feet (taken at 4.5feet from the ground).
Any scientific methods or even guesses please?

Rupert wrote:

I have a big beech tree which will require one very large branch to be
removed from the upper part of the tree. Can I glean any information from
the removed branch as to an approximate age of this tree.
As an alternative is there anywhere that gives approximate growth ring rates
for beech . I know this method would not give a particularly accurate answer
but it would be better than all the wild guesses made by the local
neighbours.
The circumference of the tree is 16 feet (taken at 4.5feet from the ground).
Any scientific methods or even guesses please?

Each ring is a year. The closer the rings the slower the tree has grown.

In message , Rupert
writes
I have a big beech tree which will require one very large branch to be
removed from the upper part of the tree. Can I glean any information from
the removed branch as to an approximate age of this tree.
As an alternative is there anywhere that gives approximate growth ring rates
for beech . I know this method would not give a particularly accurate answer
but it would be better than all the wild guesses made by the local
neighbours.
The circumference of the tree is 16 feet (taken at 4.5feet from the ground).
Any scientific methods or even guesses please?


You can count rings on the branch, which will give you a minimum age for
the tree.
--
Stewart Robert Hinsley

The message
from "Rupert" contains these words:

I have a big beech tree which will require one very large branch to be
removed from the upper part of the tree. Can I glean any information from
the removed branch as to an approximate age of this tree.

No. Only the age of the branch.

That being said, you can safely assume that the tree is older than the
branch...

As an alternative is there anywhere that gives approximate growth ring
rates
for beech . I know this method would not give a particularly accurate
answer
but it would be better than all the wild guesses made by the local
neighbours.

It depends on so many things, location and altitude, drainage, aspect,
fertility of the soil, genetic make-up of the tree.

So, not really.

The circumference of the tree is 16 feet (taken at 4.5feet from the ground).
Any scientific methods or even guesses please?

Get some slim glass nails over 2½ feet long and hammer them into the
tree with a rubber mallet.

Shine a torch into the shaft of the nail and count the rings?

--
Rusty
Direct reply to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co period uk
Separator in search of a sig

Rusty Hinge 2 wrote:
Get some slim glass nails over 2½ feet long and hammer them into the
tree with a rubber mallet.
Shine a torch into the shaft of the nail and count the rings?

Just ask the bloody neighbours!!

"Rusty Hinge 2" wrote in message
k...
The message
from "Rupert" contains these words:

I have a big beech tree which will require one very large branch to be
removed from the upper part of the tree. Can I glean any information from
the removed branch as to an approximate age of this tree.

No. Only the age of the branch.

That being said, you can safely assume that the tree is older than the
branch...

As an alternative is there anywhere that gives approximate growth ring
rates
for beech . I know this method would not give a particularly accurate
answer
but it would be better than all the wild guesses made by the local
neighbours.

It depends on so many things, location and altitude, drainage, aspect,
fertility of the soil, genetic make-up of the tree.

So, not really.

The circumference of the tree is 16 feet (taken at 4.5feet from the
ground).
Any scientific methods or even guesses please?

Get some slim glass nails over 2½ feet long and hammer them into the
tree with a rubber mallet.

Shine a torch into the shaft of the nail and count the rings?

How much bigger than 2.5 feet ? Every inch counts. Wouldn't it be better to
get a 5 foot glass nail and go right through the tree :-)


--
Rusty
Direct reply to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co period uk
Separator in search of a sig

The message
from "Rupert" contains these words:

How much bigger than 2.5 feet ? Every inch counts. Wouldn't it be better to
get a 5 foot glass nail and go right through the tree :-)


No, you would never know where to stop counting, unless the rings are
handily numbered, which I doubt.

You have to assume that the centre of the rings is the centre of the
tree (which it almost certainly won't be) and be very careful to aim the
nail at where you believe the centre to be.

Of course, the latest ones have a 'nail' with a sheathed and bundled
fibre-optic construction, with the ends turned through 90°, and a screen
to view the image, and the point of the 'nail' is guided by a GPS
system, and a rubber hydraulic ram is employed instead of the old
Forester's Glass Nail Mallet.

You can still pick the old ones up at country auctions, but like the
Skyhook, they are fast disappearing, to reappear screwed to the fake
beams in theme pubs.

Why, only last week at The Scrobbler's Apprentice they were using a
job-lot of No3 spirit level bubbles in some cocktail or other. Entre
deux Lunes, I think they called it.

--
Rusty
Direct reply to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co period uk
Separator in search of a sig

"Rupert" wrote in message
...
I have a big beech tree which will require one very large branch to be
removed from the upper part of the tree. Can I glean any information from
the removed branch as to an approximate age of this tree.
As an alternative is there anywhere that gives approximate growth ring
rates
for beech . I know this method would not give a particularly accurate
answer
but it would be better than all the wild guesses made by the local
neighbours.
The circumference of the tree is 16 feet (taken at 4.5feet from the
ground).
Any scientific methods or even guesses please?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The branch will have been growing in the same conditions as the bole
and the average number of rings per inch, from the branch, mutiplied by 30
[the radius of the tree in inches] will give a reasoned age.
Best Wishes Brian.

"Brian" --- 'flayb' to respond wrote in message
...

"Rupert" wrote in message
...
I have a big beech tree which will require one very large branch to be
removed from the upper part of the tree. Can I glean any information from
the removed branch as to an approximate age of this tree.
As an alternative is there anywhere that gives approximate growth ring
rates
for beech . I know this method would not give a particularly accurate
answer
but it would be better than all the wild guesses made by the local
neighbours.
The circumference of the tree is 16 feet (taken at 4.5feet from the
ground).
Any scientific methods or even guesses please?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The branch will have been growing in the same conditions as the bole
and the average number of rings per inch, from the branch, mutiplied by 30
[the radius of the tree in inches] will give a reasoned age.
Best Wishes Brian.



Thanks Brian. I will be fascinated to see how this formula and some of the
others work when the branch is finally taken down.

Rupert wrote:
[...]

Thanks Brian. I will be fascinated to see how this formula and some
of the others work when the branch is finally taken down.

By the way, a slice of tree photocopies very well. It makes a delightful
activity to do with childer. You let them handle the actual bit of wood,
of course, and dish out a copy for each child, or pair if you want
pair-work; explain the principles, and get them to label rings with
significant dates in their own lives. (I tried this out when
volunteering one afternoon a week in the village primary school, and it
went down a treat along with other treeish activities over a few weeks.
It's one of those things which actually does work smoothly with a
mixed-ability group, as children can match what they do to their own
abilities. You have extra things available for the fast workers, of
course.)

--
Mike.