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Happy Valentine’s Day 
It felt great to be out today in the beautiful uninterrupted sunshine despite the subzero temperature. When it came to my turn to climb I used the Bluetooth headset to listen my music and get myself in a focused flow state. We feel lucky to still be working and we’re enjoying the unique experience of being able to carry on despite the weather. This tree was inoculated with Honey Fungus (or Bootlace Fungus) which decays the roots and lower stem until the tree falls over. It is known as the meadow maker as it slowly works its way through woodlands, feeding on its hosts and turning them back into earth over time. In an urban environment it can cause serious risk to life and damage to property if it remains undiscovered. Understanding how nature works helps to understand the truth of life. Life is short and today we felt truly alive. 
Two questions that people ask are: -What equipment does a tree surgeon need? -How dangerous is it being a tree surgeon? Our job requires us to work at height in positions where, without the right equipment, we just couldn’t gain access. It has to be reliable, safe and comfortable. It takes a lot of faith to trust your kit to the point where you can be tied into a tree with both hands free to operate a chainsaw. Getting into the correct working position requires climbing high with a rope and harness. Here you can see the climbing rope running through a mechanical friction device called a “zigzag” by #petzl which allows the line to run freely but locks in place when weight is applied. The device is attached to a ring on the bridge of the climbing harness with a karabiner. All this equipment has to be checked and maintained to ensure safe operation. Do you have any questions about how we carry out our work? Id be happy to answer them. 
We specialise in tree work for domestic clients, working in their gardens. But how do we remove a large tree in a confined space? We use rigging ropes to carry out what is called sectional dismantling. The climbing Arborist ties a strop onto the branch and connects it to a rope with a karabiner. The rope goes through a pulley that is tied to the top of the tree and then down into a device that eliminates weight and friction allowing one person on the ground to control a large branch that would be too heavy otherwise. They can skilfully control the speed and direction of the descent of these sections to enable large trees to be safely felled in a small space. This tree had shed a large branch onto a children’s playground below and the home owners became very distressed that it posed a risk to their safety. 
Where’s Wally? Send your answer on a stamped, self addressed envelope (pronounced onvelope) to: Tree Wise Tree Surgeons Blue Peter Competition Up A Tree TR33ZZ