Elliot & Barry could have done this.

Earlier this week the landscape gardeners "Tschugg" from Ottobeuren came by to inspect our electricity lines on behalf of the electricity company. They have the 3 year contract (for the second time) to cut back any trees/branches growing close to the lines. I don't think one is obliged to agree to this except if there is immediate danger. In our case this was not the case but I did ask if the poplar (furthest away) could be removed. While I love trees, we do have probably around 100 on the property plus a whole forest along the longest boundary and this poplar was directly next to buildings: Poplar apart from having an awful lot of leaves, breaks very easily. The birch in the foreground, while growing vertically at the top, had a very bent base, leaning towards the lines and was likely to become a danger at some time or if we had a bad storm. The firs on the right were no real danger but it was thought one could trim them a little without endangering the group of 10 or so trees through being weakened by clearing away too much. The weather side is from the left (west). They said they would be back sometime in the next few weeks and decide what should be done.

Today at an hours notice, they (he) turned up and set to work. Quite amazing watching him at work. Every single branch and the main stem of both trees down to about 5m, he cut with one hand, holding with the other and then, controlled, let it fall. I later had difficulty moving some of the main stem logs he had cut while up on the crane and I had two feet planted on solid ground!

We left the birch with about 4m which I can do myself sometime. The last 5m or so of the poplar we pulled down in one piece. It had a diameter of about 70cm (widest part 80cm). After he left, tried to pull this log to the side with the jeep and discovered how heavy polar can be despite being a light wood. Think I will ask MrB if he is using his tractor at the weekend and could move the log to a more suitable place before I saw/split it into usable firewood.

Included in the price (well the whole operation is actually at no cost!) is removing all the branches and wood but I had opted to do it myself as we could do with the firewood, even if poplar has such an appaling reputation - simply means you need twice as much volume as say spruce and probably three times as much as beech or oak. Oh well at least cutting, stacking etc keeps one warm too.

The before & after photographs (left upper & lower) make the view look horribly bare and one begins to regret doing it. However at ground level it is much lighter. When Kate & Barry are here again, they may have an idea what we could plant to make the outlook from their bedroom somewhat less bleak. Barry, Elliot & Charlotte had one of these cranes at their house recently and went up on it. I get dizzy at heights over 50cm.

Angie & I then cleared the poplar for two hours. We now have various piles of logs and have shredded all the small branches. Tomorrow if if doesn't rain too much, will attack the birch.

Nice to Blip a controlled event rather than facing the sight Dave had a few weeks ago! Thanks to Tschugg brother #2 for a great job, done with incredible care.