Fri 23 March 2012, Melbourne

What is Tree Biomechanics? And why should I care?

Tree Biomechanics is the mechanical study of trees. Trees are structures and must obey physical laws just like buildings and bridges. A basic understanding of how physical laws apply to trees and arboricultural practice is critical to improving one’s arboricultural knowledge.

This one-day workshop will review basic physical principles like force, movement, stress, and strain, to see how they apply to cabling, climbing, pruning, rigging, and tree risk assessment.

Dr. Kane has conducted research projects in all of these areas and will present his data to highlight practical considerations for working arborists.

testimonial…

…we had the pleasure of hosting Prof Brian Kane in Singapore in 2011. He spoke at our annual Arboriculture Seminar and also conducted a one-day standalone seminar… What is Tree Biomechanics?.. His workshop was very well received, with lots of practitioners giving a thumbs up …for making a not so easy topic easily understood. He is a fantastic speaker…

Kay, Centre for Urban Greenery and Ecologogy, Singapore

Fri 23 March 2011
Jika International
551 Heidelberg Rd
Fairfield Victoria

To celebrate the United Nations International Year of the Forest, The City of Melbourne invites you to put your creativity to the test and make a powerful visual statement about why trees and green infrastructure is important to you.

With cash prizes of up to $5,000, artists, designers, students and all members of the community can enter. So put pen to paper or graphics to computer and show us what our Urban Forest means to you. Winners and shortlisted entries will be displayed at various high profile public locations across the City for the months of November and December. Competition closes 5pm on 14 October 2011.

Categories

Open (over 18 years old)
Secondary school students (13 years  to 18 years old)
Primary school students ( 5 years  to 12 years old )
Under 5s

Prizes

Winner Open: $5,000
Winner Secondary: $1,000 for your school for sustainability purposes
Winner Primary: $1,000 for your school for sustainability purposes
Winner Under 5’s: $1,000 for your child care centre /kindergarten for sustainability purposes

Visit www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/urbanforest to download entry forms and competition requirements.

Tree Logic headed to Sydney for the recent ISA conference where we ‘officially’ launched the new treelogictools.com.au website. It was a great event to be involved in, buyers were particularly interested in our extensive book range and we made many positive connections with new suppliers who are interested in selling their product in our online shop. So keep an eye online, the shop is sure to expand over the next few months.

In the meantime here are some pics of the display.

Who’s going to be at the 2011 Victorian Tree Climbing Championships?

When: 12 November 2011
Start: 7am (yes, in the morning!)
Where: Commonwealth Reserve
Nelson Place, cnr Syme Street
Williamstown Melway 56 D9

More details will be released on the VTIO website
Book this date into your diary now!

This year the 2011 ISA Annual Conference and Trade Show is on in Sydney and Tree Logic will be displaying and officially launching their new retail store TreeLogic Tools. treelogictools.com.au will be showcasing our latest arboricultural gear with some fantastic local and international brands such as Smart-Shot Tree Injector, Pelican, US Rigging, Mauget, Weaver and Kong, just to name a few.
The ISA Conference and Trade Show provides our industry the rare opportunity to exchange information and network with arboricultural professionals and this year it features a great lineup including:

SHOW DATES AND LOCATION

Saturday 23 July – Wednesday 27 July 2011
Prince Alfred Park in Parramatta, Sydney, Australia

Article written by Jack Balsamo.

I am a climbing arborist with Tree Logic’s newly established tree crew, Logical Tree Management. On October 23rd I was involved in the Victorian Tree Climbing Championships for 2010 (presented by the Victorian Tree Industry Organisation – VTIO).
This fantastic event was located in Burke Road Park, Warrigal and boasted the participation of some of Victoria and Australia’s A-grade climbers. Some of the competitors included Tom Oldmeadow, Joe Harris, Grant Cody, Mark Haywood, Jessica Knott and Kiah Martin.
Some of the events that were held at the competition included: the work climb, speed climb, foot lock, throw line and aerial rescue. I first competed in the work climb event, which involved general skills, speed and basic tree manoeuvres. I later competed in the speed climb, involving a straight belayed climb to the top of the tree. I competed within the student grade and performed reasonably well given the wet conditions and the fact it was my first competition. I am looking forward to competing in all the events next year and learning more from some of our best national tree climbers.
The overall winner this year went to Tom Oldmeadow. Tom will now compete in the Australian climbing championships for a chance to be selected for the World championships. Overall the 2010 Tree Climbing Championships were extremely successful. I would personally like to thank the VTIO and Tree Logic Director Dean Simonsen (Secretary VTIO) for their support in providing me with this opportunity.

Arbor Day Planting Competition

On Wednesday 14 July, the Tree Logic physical services staff had a planting day at Plenty Parklands Primary School after they were successful winners of the Arbor Day Competition ‘Trees for Kids’. Tree Logic spent the morning planting one very large Illawarra Flame Tree and 5 yellow gums alongside existing native trees with an objective to encourage native birdlife and insects.

Together with parent volunteer Rosa Harrison and Principal Claire McInerney we decided to continue the perimeter planting of yellow gums (Eucalpytus leucoxylons), two at the front entrance to the school and three on a corner planting.  The Illawarra Flame Tree (Brachychiton acerifolius) was planted as a feature tree in front of a playground.  In time this tree, along with the shade sails, will provide plenty of shade in the summer months for the kids.

All in all the Arbor Day Planting was a pleasant experience by those doing the planting and very much appreciated by students and staff at Plenty Parklands Primary School. This special event was also captured by the local newspaper- the Whittlesea Leader.

Congratulations to Plenty Parklands Primary School. You are the winner of the free tree planting program as provided by Tree Logic and Mt William Nursery. Thanks to everyone for your nominations. It was a very difficult process to find the winner with so many nominations received.
Plenty Parklands Primary School entered the competition stating:

We desperately need a long term plan for trees in our playground as we have 750 students and only a few healthy trees. We have tried so many strategies in the past 11 years to establish an environment which would encourage native birdlife and insects however our trees don’t seem to survive; we need professional advice. The supply of the trees would of course help financially as we have spent money in the past which has been wasted on the wrong trees.

In celebration of Arbor Week, Tree Logic is offering a free tree planting program called Trees for Kids to support Victorian schools, kindergartens and community based organisations. A customised tree planting plan will be supplied by Tree Logic with trees supplied by Mt William Advanced Tree Nursery. Tree Logic staff will even plant the trees for you!

Entries now closed

Lee Carr Tree Logic’s Office Manager and Wayne Bloxidge Team Leader Outdoor Services from Tree Logic recently attended the 9th National Street Tree Symposium in September joining others passionate about sustainability practices in their industry.
A big thank you to everyone who supported the Tree Logic Stand at the Symposium.

With increased crowding within urban sprawl, the need for greater emphasis on wise use of water and reduced water use.
Street verges becoming the future water catchment areas by directing water runoff into nature strips rather than into the stormwater systems. Use this water for street tree production/improvements before it becomes wasted/lost to our bays and oceans.
Greater emphasis on species selection. Field demonstrations showed an interesting look at root development of elms and native gums that may improve the tree selection process. Fine matted roots to the canopy edge on elms and large far reaching roots on gum trees.
Much broader and improved look at risk assessment of mature trees and trees in general in urban settings. Greater management of targets and tree crown management rather than a narrow focus on tree removals. Especially when considering cavity and hollow defects.