[daddymatty82]

went down field this morning and part of a willow fell down id say its about 20-30 mtrs maybe even up to 50mtrs so weekend im taking tractor from dads field to my field with the trailer and armed wit a chainsaw now the main trunk is proberly about 3 mtrs thick but this what fell dow is about 18" at thickest part the problem i have is where its landed i can cut all the branches off easy feed the leaves to the pony as she is helping herself its not taken the fence down atm but if i cut the trunk to be cut working from thinest end after i done branches i will come to the point were its being supported on the ground so if i cut any more it will drop so what i was thinking was if i get a chain around the thickest part and cut were it as been torn will it pivit and miss the fence or will it just collapse when being towed with mf35 what is the best way to do it i will get a picture tomorrow when brighter as both times i was there today it rained so you will get a better idea of what i mean and how to do it . and also if chainsaw bar is not long enough how would you cut it as i thought of cutting sections like cut 6" apart then take that section out so it will get through as will take the bits out kind of

[Hermit]

I dont know how to go about the job but all I can advise is DONT DO IT ON YOUR OWN!  you dont know what pressures are in force it could fly up! 

[doganjo]

I'd agree with that, and better still ask advice from a local qualified tree surgeon.  Your nearest agri centre or college will be able to give you a name I should think.

[daddymatty82]

i spoke to a mate who is a tree guy  and he said to cut it from thinnest end  and to just to watch it all the time il have my dad watching me aswell but im going to go have a climb on it tomorrow see if i cant budge it a bit to release tension if not il just let rip with a chain and the mf35 to try and tear it from the trunk abit more before i cut it  looks as if the fence will be a gonner but it could be worse. i also want to maybe drag it around abit to see how much  pressure there is  il try to get a pic tomorrow

[hexhammeasure]

if the fence is a wire fence loosen all the staples for about 5 or 6 posts either side first, that way the wires will stretch a little bit but still be sound to put it back up after, worst you could lose is a post or two

[daddymatty82]

this is my problem i got how would you tackle this?

[doganjo]

Hey, I recognise the phone! Nokia N95!

[daddymatty82]

Hey, I recognise the phone! Nokia N95!

thought i best get an object to compare size but that and a 100mm pip is all i had so that was the easiest option

[Norfolk Newby]

I'm not an expert so this is not guaranteed!

I would trim off the small branches from the upper side of the main trunk. These can be dragged away quite easily to be cut up for logs or just burnt.

You may be able to lift the trunk at the 'top' end a little. If so, put a small log under the trunk to keep it off the ground and then cut off the raised end. Again, it can be cut into logs or dragged away and burnt.

You can repeat this, keeping a small log under the main trunk to lift it slightly and cutting through it just over the log where the upper surface is in tension. That way it doesn't jam the saw before the trunk is cut through.

If you have a length of chain or a tow rope, you may be able to pull the remains of the trunk - at the smaller free end - using your tractor and the chain/rope. If so, you can try to break the trunk from its root end.
Obviously, be careful. Also, you can damage the grass and finish up with it looking like the left overs after the Battle of the Somme!

By the way, I got my local tractor workshop to make me a 5m length of chain with a small hook on each end. I use this to loop around bit of tree and hooking the chain onto itself. The other end goes round the tow bar on my 4X4 or the hitch on the tractor. Then I tow the timber to a central point where I can cut it into logs and leave the small bits to pile into a bonfire for disposal.

Good luck

NN