Abernethy Trust, Nethybridge

On-going inspection, assessment, monitoring and internal decay testing of a mature Noble Fir tree used for abseiling and one of the zip-line platforms used for aerial runway activities on the site.

The initial visual tree assessment and testing was undertaken in 2018 where the client was concerned about the safety of the tree and decay was identified by the site’s structural engineer on the wooden structural supports of the zip-line platform. The initial assessments were carried out and although decay was present this was within the acceptable limits where overall safety of the tree was not compromised. The follow-up inspection and testing was to monitor the progress of the decay and carry out a basic Static Integrated Assessment (SIA) to compliment the visual tree assessment. This also allowed an assessment of the pruning work previously undertaken and its impact on increasing the safety factor of the tree.

The initial assessment and follow-up decay testing of the zip-line platform provided valuable information, feeding into the decision support process and allowing a detailed analysis of the structural integrity of the support struts to be made by the structural engineer.