Never forget the Danger of Deadfalls
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Shame to hear such a thing happening, and we can only sympathise with his friend and his family.
There's a comment in The Scotman that says, "There is a section of the Water of Leith Walkway already closed off in the Dean Village area due to a massive landslide. Sadly this entire area of steep banking now seems to be dangerous due to poor or non-existant forest maintenance over many years. "
Something to be aware of when pitching camp. Look around you and not just for the flattest bit.
M
There's a comment in The Scotman that says, "There is a section of the Water of Leith Walkway already closed off in the Dean Village area due to a massive landslide. Sadly this entire area of steep banking now seems to be dangerous due to poor or non-existant forest maintenance over many years. "
Something to be aware of when pitching camp. Look around you and not just for the flattest bit.
M
Very sad and my thoughts are with the families of the victim.
I do however wonder if the winds ripping through Scotland at the moment have indeed played a big part in this unfortunate and tragic event.
It doesn't say on the article that it was deadfall or widow makers , (not arguing semantics ) but it was a tree!
Is it at all possible that these chaps could have actually been smart and scanned the area for hanging deadfall before choosing a spot ?...and upon not seeing any, decided it was safe?
I often see , here in Savernake forest , mature healthy looking trees completely uprooted , as if they had been pushed over by a giant and/or sometimes snapped and severed at the trunk (!) by what I assume to be some lightning strike or strong winds...
Of course it's still a tragedy regardless, but it's certainly sobering to think, they may well have taken safety precautions when choosing their spot which means this could have happened to any of us...
RIP and stay safe everyone
I do however wonder if the winds ripping through Scotland at the moment have indeed played a big part in this unfortunate and tragic event.
It doesn't say on the article that it was deadfall or widow makers , (not arguing semantics ) but it was a tree!
Is it at all possible that these chaps could have actually been smart and scanned the area for hanging deadfall before choosing a spot ?...and upon not seeing any, decided it was safe?
I often see , here in Savernake forest , mature healthy looking trees completely uprooted , as if they had been pushed over by a giant and/or sometimes snapped and severed at the trunk (!) by what I assume to be some lightning strike or strong winds...
Of course it's still a tragedy regardless, but it's certainly sobering to think, they may well have taken safety precautions when choosing their spot which means this could have happened to any of us...
RIP and stay safe everyone
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The strong winds really only began yesterday afternoon.
Reading the local news on the area the site is prone to landslips and trees simply toppling through gravity when the angle becomes way too much.
M
Reading the local news on the area the site is prone to landslips and trees simply toppling through gravity when the angle becomes way too much.
M
Ah! That would definitely explain how an otherwise healthy tree would come down like that...
Very sad
We warn folks not to camp under beech, to check for flooding (Rough Close has some brilliant photos of exactly why folks like hammocks 
) not to pitch up next to the roots of a fallen tree, but I don't think there's been a thread about landslips….or sinkholes.
It's a shame someone died like that, but it's not something one would expect, even in an area known for landslips.
At his age, he could have been any of thousands of the folks who join the discussions on the forums. Far too young to go. I really do feel for his family and friends.
M
) not to pitch up next to the roots of a fallen tree, but I don't think there's been a thread about landslips….or sinkholes.It's a shame someone died like that, but it's not something one would expect, even in an area known for landslips.
At his age, he could have been any of thousands of the folks who join the discussions on the forums. Far too young to go. I really do feel for his family and friends.
M
Im sorry if it's a silly question, (novice here ) but why is that?
Is beech more prone to go over? Is it because of the chalky soil being looser?
No, beech has a dreadful habit of dropping huge great limbs. They come down totally unexpectedly, and they shatter like wooden grenades, sending wooden shrapnel flying with great force.
Lovely trees, excellently useful trees, just don't camp out under them.
M
Lovely trees, excellently useful trees, just don't camp out under them.
M
Back in the early 1990s we had a pine tree fall over and crush a passing car. I couldn't help but think of the incredible timing involved. Just a second difference in the driver's speed or the traffic congestion and he would have lived (or somebody else would have died)
Here heavy rains can soften the soil and cause most any species to topple. It's more common in species with more lean though.
This tree on Ashley Pierce's site is one of the clearest I can find of the way the branches drop.
http://www.treeblog.co.uk/viewpost.php?id=70
M
http://www.treeblog.co.uk/viewpost.php?id=70
M
Nice article Toddy.
As a tree surgeon who does emergency callouts for local authorities, i frequently get to see, what outwardly appears to be a healthy tree, either shedding limbs or failing completely. Strong winds and wet conditions are often a factor (especially when the trees have more leaves, so more sail). but we often come across what is known as summer branch drop, often Oak. where a limb will be shed for no apparent reason. Beech is obviously well known for this, however, i have been called to many other species over the years.
My advice is; if you are camping in wooded areas, check the area for fallen branches or uprooted trees, as it can give you a gauge as to the health of the woodland. Check any nearby trees for fungal growth or obvious signs of decay. but unless you want to carry around a sonar scanner, you'll never know the true state of a tree so just use common sense and your eyes.
As a tree surgeon who does emergency callouts for local authorities, i frequently get to see, what outwardly appears to be a healthy tree, either shedding limbs or failing completely. Strong winds and wet conditions are often a factor (especially when the trees have more leaves, so more sail). but we often come across what is known as summer branch drop, often Oak. where a limb will be shed for no apparent reason. Beech is obviously well known for this, however, i have been called to many other species over the years.
My advice is; if you are camping in wooded areas, check the area for fallen branches or uprooted trees, as it can give you a gauge as to the health of the woodland. Check any nearby trees for fungal growth or obvious signs of decay. but unless you want to carry around a sonar scanner, you'll never know the true state of a tree so just use common sense and your eyes.
Saturated gley soils and conifers are a bad combo for wind blow.
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