Tree Work Case Study – Overgrown Willow

Introduction

Overtime, the internal banks of two large reservoirs had become overgrown with self-set Willow trees. These Willow trees were partly submerged in the water when the reservoir was full and only accessible when the reservoir was low with water.

Our Client’s Aim

To remove all of the self-set Willow trees on the internal banks of the reservoir only and treat the stumps to help prevent any re-growth.

Our Proposal

  • We would undertake the works when the reservoir was low, which gave us a 4week opportunity in October, prior to the reservoir being re-filled from November onwards in preparation for next year.
  • We accessed the internal banks with a 4×4 and tracked chipper, due to the steepness of the banks and the wet and boggy ground conditions. This enabled us to get right up to the self-set Willow trees.
  • The self-set Willows were felled at ground level with the arisings fed through our wood chipper and the chip blown into our 4×4 vehicle with a boxed rear body. This allowed us to remove the arisings from the internal banks and tip the wood chip at another location to be used by the farmer at a later date.
  • The cut stumps were treated to help prevent re-growth.
  • Some of the self-set Willows, located towards the bottom of the internal banks of the reservoir, were still submerged in water. Our operatives wore waders over the top of their chainsaw PPE to allow access into the waters edge and cut the Willows just above the water level.

Result

Both reservoirs had all of the self-set Willow trees removed from the internal banks to leave them clear of any vegetation. This allowed for the reservoirs to be filled to full capacity with out any obstruction around the internal banks.

On the ground photo of work

Aerial photo of partly cleared reservoir

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