Large sycamore tree in garden

[yorky]

Just a suggestion but you might be able to offset some of the cost by offering the sycamore to a timber merchant.
I do a lot of wood turning and whilst I am aware that many turners regard sycamore timber as plain and uninteresting, I have some beautiful bowls, platters and candle sticks in sycamore that take on the subtle appearance of marble as they age.
If I was fit (severe heart problems) and I lived within reasonable distance, I would gladly do the work for you if I could have the timber.
Just a thought. There's often more than one way to skin a cat (but any way to skin a cat will do for me!!)

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by yorky

Just a suggestion but you might be able to offset some of the cost by offering the sycamore to a timber merchant.
I do a lot of wood turning and whilst I am aware that many turners regard sycamore timber as plain and uninteresting, I have some beautiful bowls, platters and candle sticks in sycamore that take on the subtle appearance of marble as they age.
If I was fit (severe heart problems) and I lived within reasonable distance, I would gladly do the work for you if I could have the timber.
Just a thought. There's often more than one way to skin a cat (but any way to skin a cat will do for me!!)

theres no way a timber merchant will do one tree for the wood - particularly not a common one like a sycamore as it just wouldnt be cost effective.

You probably could get a turner who happens to have a chainsaw to do it for the wood , but i'd be wary of that - if its big (especially if its big and near the house) it needs a pro to take it down in a safe and controlled manner (and who will be insured), not some geezer who has bought his chainsaw for 50 notes in B&Q and has only ever used it for cutting up logs. (by the way this isnt intended to be derogatory to all turners - i turn myself and am also a countryside pro - all i am saying is watch who you get as dropping big trees safely is an art If i lived closer I'd do it for a couple of hundred notes plus the wood but sadly i'm too far away)

that said unless its in a very tricky position 800 sounds high, most of the contractors we use at work would charge about 500 for dropping and disposing of one tree - less if you were happy for brash to be burnt and logs left stacked.

[Phil Dye]

Hello Eeyore,

You can't quote for a job until you've seen it in the flesh (bark).

£800 may be a very reasonable price for a big tree to take down and remove from site. If the job runs into 2 days then £800 is a day and a half for 3 men and a chipper here in Gloucestershire.

Regards

Phil

[Fuzzy-felt bloke]

most of the contractors we use at work would charge about 500 for dropping and disposing of one tree

Very rarely you can 'drop' a tree in a garden, you need to take it down in sections without damaging building or the lawn (any damage to both will be repaired or replaced), that’s why it can cost upwards of £800, each job is different + insurance, also you may have to grind the stump away more cost, in a woodland or open area it may cost £500

[thebeard]

where's hamadryad when you need him eh?

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Phil Dye

Hello Eeyore,

You can't quote for a job until you've seen it in the flesh (bark).

£800 may be a very reasonable price for a big tree to take down and remove from site. If the job runs into 2 days then £800 is a day and a half for 3 men and a chipper here in Gloucestershire.

Regards

Phil

as i both do this work freelance, and manage a project that hires contractors too i'm aware that you cant give an exact quote without seeing the job but you can give a ballpark figure , and it would have to be a very big tree to take three men a day and a half to dispose of it.

our contractors generally charge between 90 and 150 pound per man day depending on the skill level involved , and i wouldnt expect the removal of one sycamore to take more than half a day , and certainly no more than a day

I would expect two men for one day to be no more than 300 notes even if both are chainsaw operators, and chipper "hire" is about £100 pd - ergo about 400 notes - so like i said imo 800 is distinctly high unless it is either very big or in a tricky position.

If it requires climbing and taking down in sections then thats a different kettle of fish as those qualified to work aloft cost a lot more and in my experience that would put the price closer to the 800 mark, or possibly above it

[Dogghound]

Abit off subject but Sycamores are actually very good for wildlife, they have a large number on insect that live on them this then makes them very good for birds like tits.

[fir]

Thanks for your reply - think I will go ahead with crown lift

[Cowgirl]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

Abit off subject but Sycamores are actually very good for wildlife, they have a large number on insect that live on them this then makes them very good for birds like tits.

On a random note, we used live near a sycamore that had jumping things in the leaves that dropped off (the leaves that is) can't remember the name, some type of sawfly larvae maybe but it had something to do with jumping in the title I'm sure? Very spooky as you walked past, thought I was seeing things at first.

[treewee]

As an arb contracter our rate is £400 per day for two men and machinery. A sectional fell and removal of arisings can easily take two days....big tree, rear garden and dragging brash to the front of the property.

If you want it felled why not get a quote to leave a big stump in situ coronet/natural fracture pruned. It also means you're not paying to remove a large section of the tree. This simulates storm damage and the ecological benefits are great. Also inoculate with oyster mushroom plugs for a culinary delight as well.

Be careful who you choose to do the work as arborists proficient in natural fracture pruning are thin on the ground.