Tree Options..

Some of our trees are a little on the leaning, perhaps not quite stable end of the scale. Loathe to remove any as in my experience the wind then gets in and disrupts things further.

Looking at tree options:

1. Remove some, don't want to as they host red squirrels and are beautiful, as well as the reason mentioned already.

2. Remove outbuildings that are within reach of the taller ones, and consider the area unusable.

3. Erect a barrier.

We are favouring option number tree, as it also protects the parking area/oil tank/patio/car port 'under' them.

One of our friends is a civil engineer who specialises in bridges, and will be coming to assess the options for some kind of protective erection.

The idea would be to also 'fill in' to create a bank of soil at the base of the near trees to provide a long term solution, but that will take a lot of time as we would have to relocate/remove a lot of flora.

Has anyone else gone to extreme lengths to save some trees?

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Swampy

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No, it's actually quite dry ground, thanks to the slope and the trees.

Heavy pruning not an option? Saves the existing trees but simply gives them a facelift?

Pruning not an option..

Major oak in Sherwood Forest is braced to stop it falling over, I have also seen trees tied to other bigger/stronger trees, I assume to stop them falling over? Of course this could backfire and bring the whole lot down, on the upside, just think of the size of heated pool you could fit into that space

I haven't been to Sherwood. Pity, I have been to most of Britain's woodlands at some point.

My favourite is the New Forest. Thanks to its proximity to some of my favourite places. If I could move to anywhere it would be Dorset or Cornwall, but there would need to be an established wood in the land we moved to. Couldn't live without it.

You could look to see if any of them tree huggers are looking for free wood to build a commune somewhere but make sure they know what they are doing and they are insured.

Yes I know, tree huggers cutting down tree's but I've also never believed vegetarians don't have a quiet bacon roll when they tell the mrs they have gone to B & Q for supplies either.

Personally I like the look of them so if possible and not too expensive I'd opt for option two

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Wouldn't thin them as they have collectively grown with and protected each other for decades. Take some out and they start to get mis-shapen, exposed and more susceptible to failure in high winds. I have similar problem, fewer trees, but way overgrown in current domestic situation, houses nearby etc, mix of spruce and larch and don't want to take them down, but sometimes needs must when pruning/reduction not an option.

Undecided :|

Leaf them to it

If you don't suffer from high winds they are unlikely to be blown over. I'd be more inclined to check the base of the trees looking for severely exposed roots, soil erosion, bark damage, rot and fungus. Putting up a barrier is pretty much a waste of money if the stand was to go it would take some structure to prevent damage and thats what your insurance is there to cover. Get a good tree surgeon to inspect them and go from there they are a well established stand looking about 25-40 years old (from what I can tell from the photo).

PS I have a degree in forestry management