Whilst undertaking tree inspection work at the Brackenhurst Campus (Nottingham Trent University) yesterday, an ‘impromptu’ instructional session with students was delivered by staff from FPCR’s Arboricultural Team member, Tom Bennett and subconsultant, Ben Bennett (BB Trees Ltd) working on behalf of FPCR.
FPCR had been commissioned to undertake assessments of three large, mature oak trees within the grounds of the Campus, by conducting climbed aerial inspections for structural soundness in the interests of safety and checks for the presence of bats. The three trees supported numerous features that would have potential to support roosting bats such as cavities and cracks, branch stubs and rot pockets. Such features have potential to result in structural collapse necessitating detailed examinations. The results from the aerial inspections would determine whether any remedial work to reduce the risk of failure would be needed and to prescribe the method by which this would need to be done.
Students from the Campus benefited from seeing real arboricultural management in action, putting theory into practice which included an introduction to the IML Resi PD Microdrill used for examining the internal condition of trees. They were able to ask questions to aid their understanding and learning.
