Tragic loss of veteran tree
A news clip from "the world of trees".
Picture: Its last spray of autumn foliage. |  |
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 | The early hours of 10th March 2010 saw the tragic loss of yet another veteran tree. This time it was not due to development pressure or changes in soil levels or water table. The ancient Ginkgo was uprooted during a snowstorm that blew through Kanagawa during the early hours of that day.
Picture: Ginkgo in full leaf |
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In 1955 the tree, which stands in front of the main hall of Tsurugaoka Hachimangu shrine, was been given the status of National Monument of Kanagawa Prefecture. The tree that stood 30metres in height & measured 6.8 meters in circumference is believed to be about 1,000 years old was heard crashing to the ground at 4am by a lone security guard.
Picture: The Venerable Ginkgo |  |
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 | Chikayasu Hamano, a professor at Tokyo University of Agriculture, attributed a blizzard from late Tuesday afternoon as the main cause of the tree's collapse, in addition to heavy rain from February that softened the ground. Hamano also commented that it is impossible to save the tree. Shigeho Yoshida, the chief priest of Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, was too shocked to comment on the matter, whilst other priests made spiritual gestures by offering rice and sake to the collapsed tree.
Picture: Priests erect rope onto shrine |
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The giant ginkgo tree, well known as a symbol of the shrine, was dubbed "Kakure Icho" (hidden ginkgo) since monk Kugyo hid behind the tree when he assassinated Minamoto no Sanetomo, the third shogun of the Kamakura Shogunate, in January 1219.
Picture: Tree with Professor Chikayasu Hamano |  |
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 | Professor Chikayasu Hamano said on Wednesday that it would not be possible to save the tree, however, following further study of the damage on Friday morning, he concluded that " Although it's not for certain, new roots may grow from the trunk if we plant it again". It is also hoped that young trees may grow from the roots still remaining in the ground. According to shrine officials, the trunk will be cut off about four metres above the fracture & planted back into its former site.
Picture: The Fallen Tree |
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Let's hope that the project is successful as it is reminiscent of the Selborne Yew project of 1990 when the ancient tree was blown down in late January. After pruning it was winched back into situ, but sadly did not survive the shock. I believe that the remaining hulk still stands within the church grounds at Selborne, Hampshire.
Picture: Fallen Ginkgo |  |
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 | Owen Williams wins Welsh Open TCC My congratulations go out to Owen Williams who, having competed on & off for a number of years finally showed that being a young pup is not necessarily a prerequisite to being at the top of ones game. He took the crown at the Welsh Open TCC a couple of weekends ago with a climb that could only be described as just another day out at work in the trees. The climb showed a level of calm, poise & planning that to be fair stood him out head & shoulders above the other finalists. It's a pleasure to stand side by side with such talent as a long time member of the Treeworker Posse.
Good on ya Bro!
Best wishes,
Nod |
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New products from the DMM stable Once again I'm pleased to bring to our customers attention the latest in hot forged goodies from DMM Wales. The rigger pulley that never was has turned into the PINTO range of sleek lined softness that will appeal far beyond the realms of the treeworld. At Treeworker we are offering the chance to preorder these beautiful beasts before they are released onto the general market. With an order already in place we will receive a delivery from the first production batch which will be followed by a much larger order in a distinctive Treeworker hue. Don't miss your chance to get your hands on one of the limited stock pulleys. |
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 | New Kit! 2009 brought many new pieces of equipment onto the market place & fortunately Treeworker continue to work alongside quality arbor-ealists to offer first dibs to its customer base on many new products. On that note; we are within weeks of receiving the first batch of the NEW TREEWORKER FRICTION TUBE (pictured) - this is a lowering device that offers degrees of control in rigging scenarios that has only been possible in the past with devices costing twice as many £'s. Since the early part of this year we have been honing the device to make it as user friendly & simple as possible, at the same time producing a product that will exceed the Safe Working Load of it's competitors by no small margin. We thought long & hard in the design stage & decided that what the industry needed was a device that was easy to install, safe in operation & simple in use. We believe the challenge has been met! Please let us know otherwise. |
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Please remember that although our product range does not cover everything that's out there we are more than capable of supplying most items through the extended dealer network that we are a part of.
G'luck |
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NEW Ultro O Locksafe by DMM |  |
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Treeworker are pleased to be the first arborist equipment supplies company to bring to the market place the long awaited DMM Ultra O locksafe. A symmetrical carabiner has been an elusive product in the industry due the inherent difficulties in producing such a carabiner that meets industrial load standards. Those clever people at DMM, having spent many hours in production & testing, have finally made the idea a reality with this product of sheer beauty. The pictures above show the hot forging production process.
Equipment configuration within tree climbing systems has been a topic visited by relative few climbers until recent years. The many misalignments & incompatiblilties of equipment choice regularly witnessed are testament to this often avoided subject. Often at the training level lack of understanding lends itself to climbers becoming set in a certain way from the word 'go', this can lead to misconfiguration being acceptable as 'the way I've always set my system up'. This can be seen from college groups to seasoned climbers throughout our industry.
The NEW DMM Ultra O offers a carabiner that will give centre loading within your personal rope system allowing the flow of load forces to be directed through each side of the carabiner & onto your friction hitch. Quality & continued development of products has firmly put DMM at the top of the hardware tree when it comes to treework systems.
Whatever next!
» Buy online...
» More NEW PRODUCTS... |
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 | Upcoming Products Once again Treeworker are pleased to bring to the UK tree care industry the latest in equipment innovation from the Treemagineers stable. Working together with DMM Wales & Teufelberger Austria the Three Magineers (Chris Cowell, Mark Bridge & Bernd Strasser) have brought us a collection of ropes & rope tools that in time honoured fashion may become staple parts of a tree climbers equipment list. In the thorough manner that epitomises all of the products & projects that these guys get themselves involved with, I'm sure that thanks & praise will be sent in their direction for many moons to come.
» Download Catalogue
Once production times are finalised these new products will be available on the website. In the mean time you will be able to visit us at the Arboricultural Association Trade Fair event on the 26th / 27th June and try these products for yourself. Looking forward to seeing you there!
Nod |
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 | The Summer - Nearly behind us! It seems as if it were just a few moments ago that we were in the midsts of preparing for the Capel Manor Celebration of Trees event & now here we sit with it all behind us, again. Apart from the Irish Tree Climbing Championship all of the years events have also past. Congratulations to all of the climbers who took part, particularly to new & novice visitors to such events. I think that many people believe that climbing comps are just for the 'elite', but seeing & experiencing the joy that many newbie climbers show at giving their all in friendly competition is hard to beat. This coupled with the mass of learning that can be found at TCC's continues to make them premier events in the Treeworker diary. |
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