This photo was taken part-way through a job in Kidderminster, so the work is not finished. A tall conifer rises above a lawn with a pair of wooden benches, and a bare pale trunk stands in front of it. A heap of cut branches lies at the bottom of the frame, which shows how much material comes out of even one tree.
Work in progress
The conifer is a narrow, tall tree with dense dark foliage, and beside it a pale stem has already lost its branches. Bare winter trees and a birch stand behind, so this is open ground at the edge of the garden. The foreground pile is made up of cut limbs and foliage, left on the grass until it could be sorted, chipped or taken away.
Planning conifer work
Tall conifers are normally taken down or reduced from the top in stages, working the branches off in pieces. Their lower branches come away first to give access and a clear drop zone. Because conifers do not regrow from bare brown wood, cutting too hard can ruin the shape. Before starting, we check for protection orders, nesting birds and anything under the tree, such as benches or paths.
