Hi everyone. It's been a long time since I posted. I wish it was under better circumstances:
A friend of mine climbed the tallest tree in Scotland, at Reelig Glen Wood last weekend to measure it by tape drop. TO HIS HORROR HE FOUND THAT SOMEONE HAD CLIMBED IT USING SPURS!!! There were deep wounds ALL THE WAY from the lowest branches to a few metres from the top. There were also very bad rope burns on some branches from natural-crotched dDRT descents.
I have reported this to the Forestry Commission and also the Tree Register of the British Isles, who are investigating it.
The tree was climbed a month ago by a film unit and a presenter for the BBC. The program was aired on national TV 2 weeks ago. Is it possible that someone saw the program and decided to 'have a go at climbing it?
We need to come together to condemn such total disregard for any healthy tree, let alone a national champion!
I am so sorry to see this kind of damage done to healthy tree or any tree for that matter.
Spurs should be used only on dead or dying trees that will be removedanyway.
What a shame. Hope they are able to identify the individuals who did this damage and take appropriate action according to your local laws.
Hi Desi! I met you back in 2013 in Atlanta. We will never know who did this, but it was probably related to the tree being climbed on national TV, so it has stopped me from putting up videos of my own climbs of champion trees.