Advice please-woodpeckers & squirrels

Duncan Heenan

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Dec 21, 2005, 8:59:33 AM12/21/05

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I have not posted here before, but hope someone can help. In a couple of
weeks time I am going to have to fell a large ash tree, which is dead and a
danger to a nearby public path, as well as my garage. In the tree there
lives both a green woodpecker, and a red squirrel. I hate to make them
homeless but I have no choice. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I
can minimise the impact on these creatures, or help them find somewhere else
to live?
The habitat is in an area of mixed deciduous woodland (mainly ash, beech and
oak), on the south of the Isle of Wight, UK [approx. 51 deg. North, 1 deg
west]. There is a small village nearby, but it is mainly mixed farmland and
coastal cliffs and beach around about. We have a mild micro-climate with
only moderate occasional frosts.
I look forward to your suggestions.
Duncan Heenan

Richard Corbett

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Dec 21, 2005, 9:49:33 AM12/21/05

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"Duncan Heenan" <duncan...@tiscali.co.uk> wrote in message
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On the undercliff Duncan?

Can you not trim all the arms and legs off the tree - and top it down to
above the woodpeckers hole?

Richard Corbett

Al Johnston

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Dec 21, 2005, 11:18:56 AM12/21/05

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Duncan, your concern for the wild creatures is commendable but safety takes
priority here. I assume the woodpecker is not nesting right now. I'd put up
a suitable nest box for the woodpecker on a neighbouring tree and proceed to
fell the dead ash --- with great care I must add!!!
Good luck, Al
"Richard Corbett" <corbett...@virgin.net> wrote in message
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Duncan Heenan

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Dec 21, 2005, 12:08:46 PM12/21/05

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"Richard Corbett" <corbett...@virgin.net> wrote in message
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>

At the top end of the undercliff.
No I'm afraid the whole thing has to come down, and in any case the
inhabitants' holes are right at the top anyway.

geoff

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Dec 21, 2005, 4:16:11 PM12/21/05

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Ditto what Al said.

Al Johnston

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Dec 21, 2005, 7:59:52 PM12/21/05

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Thanks for the vote of confidence, Geoff,
Al
"geoff" <ge...@timberlineforestry.com> wrote in message
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Cyli

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Dec 22, 2005, 2:28:05 AM12/22/05

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On Wed, 21 Dec 2005 13:59:33 -0000, "Duncan Heenan"
<duncan...@tiscali.co.uk> wrote:

>I have not posted here before, but hope someone can help. In a couple of
>weeks time I am going to have to fell a large ash tree, which is dead and a
>danger to a nearby public path, as well as my garage. In the tree there
>lives both a green woodpecker, and a red squirrel. I hate to make them
>homeless but I have no choice. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I
>can minimise the impact on these creatures, or help them find somewhere else
>to live?

Should you be unable to help them find homes, remember that dead trees
are apt to fall at any time in nature because they are dead. Animals
that live in dead trees tend to be able to adapt to this.

If you can remove it when they're not raising young, it will be much
easier on them and on your conscience. Both species probably know the
surrounding area well enough to find homes on their own, if no one has
any helpful suggestions about them.

Cyli
r.bc: vixen. Minnow goddess. Speaker to squirrels.
Often taunted by trout. Almost entirely harmless.

http://www.visi.com/~cyli
email: cyl...@gmail.com.invalid (strip the .invalid to email)

symplastless

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Apr 5, 2007, 7:51:01 PM4/5/07

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Here is an idea
http://www.treedictionary.com/DICT2003/hardtoget/ntb182/

Sincerely,
John A. Keslick, Jr.
Arborist
http://home.ccil.org/~treeman
and www.treedictionary.com
Beware of so-called tree experts who do not understand tree biology.
Storms, fires, floods, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions keep reminding us
that we are not the boss.

"Duncan Heenan" <duncan...@tiscali.co.uk> wrote in message
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