<a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/tree-lift-feb21.jpg"><img class="alignright  wp-image-6684" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/tree-lift-feb21-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="229" height="172" /></a>At the end of last week the tree surgeons came and removed the diseased ash tree from the back garden. They also trimmed back the lime trees and the ash at the front. It's always great entertainment for the neighbours however it is extremely disruptive and somewhat destructive of the area around the trees.

They use a mobile hoist to get them as far up the tree as possible but in the end they had to climb the last few metres to get to the very top. This is very much a top down exercise.

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Over two days they worked away, slowly, carefully removing the highest branches - at times they were literally out on a limb. In most cases they lowered the larger branches on ropes but at times they were just dropping slices of tree. The ground shuddered on occasion as the heavy pieces pounded into the ground.

<a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/tree-removal-6-feb21.jpg"><img class="alignleft  wp-image-6678" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/tree-removal-6-feb21-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="243" height="182" /></a>They cleared up as much as possible but inevitably there's a lot of tidying up to be done particularly around the base of the tree where there are large logs that need to be moved. There is also a large pile of wood chippings that I've started to spread on the path that runs between the trees.

The chippings are already decomposing and as I dig into it there is steam coming rising from it.

As the hoist manoeuvred around it must have broken the wire that runs around the lawn to guide piglet. I spent some time finding the broken cable and once found it didn't take long to repair because I bought some connectors some time ago.