Crown Reduction & Endoscoping for Bats (for the Forestry Commission) - New Forest, Hampshire
by Daniel Green
CHTS were asked by the Forestry Commission to reduce a series of roadside trees to protect the road users from falling branches.
We arranged for a domestic surveyor to attend the site and record their findings and note any works required to these trees, including any specialist equipment that would be needed to complete this job safely. With this information, they were able to create an appropriate work method statement and risk assessment.
Before work could start we had to check the cavities in the tree for bats and any other wildlife that may have been hiding in the tree. To do this we used an Endoscope, allowing us to put a camera into the cavities and get instant confirmation that the tree was not inhabited.
With the trees cleared to work on, Team leader Lawrence took the climb and systematically worked from tree to tree to reduce the crown from over the road. Arborist Hamish was on hand to act as a groundsman and stop traffic when larger sections of timber were being cut.
All of the small timber was chipped and brought back to our waste management facility in Exbury whilst the larger timber was cut to smaller lengths and stacked on site to create eco-pile habitats for the local wildlife.