Country diary: Securing the trees before the autumn storms hit | Kate Blincoe

Caistor St Edmund, Norfolk: Part of our job on the farm is to make sure falling branches, or indeed whole trees, are not a danger to the public My dad and brother are having a discussion, while Dad is halfway up a ladder that is propped on a mature oak tree. The debate is this: the forecast gale is coming from a different direction to normal and Dad says we need a second rope to secure the tree (it is already permanently tied to prevent it falling into stables). Meanwhile, my brother says that if it is likely to come down, it's better that it goes the other way.On a farm with public land, managing this kind of risk is part of the job, and trees near buildings, roads and paths must be checked carefully. We have just received a notice from the council that a large limb overhanging the road must be removed. It is being attacked by fungus. Continue reading...