Trees identified for removal in development projects are typically felled and mulched with the woodchips spread in public areas.

However, felled trees have a range of uses beyond simply mulching. This Better Best Practice Note presents a hierarchy of options and discusses each approach to give guidance on the best options to select.

Importantly, all trees identified for removal as part of any works project can be repurposed.

a) Retain the tree/sb) Prune the tree/sc) Transplant the tree/s, ord) Create habitat tree/s.

Transplanting is a possibility for many trees small or large however it is dependent on community connection, budgets, species of tree and time of year.

Habitat trees are critically important and are created when dead trees are left standing to offer both shelter and food to many wildlife species. Dead limbs and trees are a natural and desirable part of wildlife habitat. The existence of numerous species depends on the presence of dead trees. Ecologists believe dead wood is one of the greatest resources for animal species in the forest.

Better Best Practice NoteRepurposing Felled Trees

1. Habitat logs

2. Milling

3. Commercial wood chipping

4. Arborist woodchip

5. Sawdust (for stables or composting)

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Once the decision is made that a tree needs to be felled, the following hierarchy is recommended for their future highest and best use:

Prior to the identification of trees for removal it’s a good idea to consider the following range of options for a tree:

Source: Sustainable Gardening Australia

If the purpose of the tree is to provide shade for park users, consideration should be given to the size of the mulched area.

Mulch should not come into contact with timber fences or any other infrastructure as it will shorten the life of it.

Sawdust

Sawdust (once a timber by-product only destined for landfill) is now used extensively by farmers and wholesale nurseries.

Sawdust is very popular and economical for use as animal bedding as it readily absorbs and / or clumps liquid and solid matter so that it can easily be separated from the bedding.

Other beneficial uses of sawdust include:

• Garden mulch

• Blender for potting mix

• Absorbing oil spills

• structural timber• furniture• veneer• art• pulp logs

These categories form a hierarchy of uses where defects are increasingly tolerated and diameters are less.

To help determine how to mill the log, there are a number of things to assess:

1. the species (and where you can use it, inside or out)

2. whether the tree has a hollow in it (to find out you cando a bore cut with a chainsaw at the base of the treeand see what colour the sawdust is)

3. straightness of grain (which you can generally tell bylooking at whether the bark spirals up the tree)

4. if the timber is to be used inside, there will be timeconstraints as it needs to be kiln dried. It is best to airdry softwoods (minimum of 6 months) and hardwoods(at least 2 summers) before it is kiln dried. Thisreduces the possibility of the timber splitting.

Commercial Woodchip

Wood chips carefully placed over the surface of soil are beneficial for a number of reasons:

• Improve health of tree

• Reduce water loss from soil

• Minimize weed competition

• Improve soil structure

• Reduces compaction

When spreading woodchips, or mulch, around the base of a tree it is essential that it doesn’t touch the trunk. This is because the moist bark can invite rot, insects and vermin which will shorten the life of the tree.

In addition, woodchips or mulch should never be deeper than two inches as overly deep will prevent rainwater from reaching the roots.

Arborist woodchip is one of the better mulch choices for trees and shrubs. Studies have found arborist woodchip to be one of the best performers in terms of water infiltration, moisture retention, temperature moderation, inhibiting weed growth and stimulating microorganism activity.

Unlike uniformly textured sawdust and bark mulches, arborist woodchip usually includes bark, wood, and leaves. The woodchip materials vary in their size and decomposition rate; creating a more diverse environment that supports a greater diversity of microbes, insects and other beneficial organisms.

Mulching out to the dripline of the trees’ canopy lowers the risk rating of the tree as it deters people from walking under it. It also reduces park users bringing foreign pathogens into the rootzone of the tree.

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Habitat logs

A good habitat log is determined by the species of tree. In Australia, most species of eucalypts and other long-lived trees such as gums, boxes stringybarks and ashes are used by wildlife when a hollow is present.

More than 300 species of Australian native animals -mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians - depend on hollows in habitat trees for shelter1. Decaying logs also provide critical habitat for vascular plants2 and fungi.

Many introduced trees such as willows, pines, peppercorns and conifers do not naturally produce suitable hollows used by native wildlife.

Any logs being repurposed should be placed as close to its original location as practicable.

Milling

The main factor determining logs for milling is their intended use. In order of highest value, logs can be milled into uses for:

1.Rhodes M, Wardell-Johnson G, Rhodes M, Raymond B (2006) Applyi9ng Network Analysis to the Conservation of Habitat Trees in Urban Environments: A Case study from Brisbane Australia. 20(3) 861-870

2. Unar P, Janik D, Adam D & Vymazalova M (2107) The colosization of devaying logs by vascular plants and the consequences of fallen logs for herb layer diversity in a lowland alluvial forest. European Journal of Forest Research 136(4) 665-676

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a)Speciesb) Agec) Condition d) Preferred repurposing option

Step 3. Source Recipients

Depending on the job, the land owner may, or may not, want to use the felled trees. In either case, the following provides a list of possible uses for the repurposed logs:

• Ecological - Creation of habits (including aquatic)within local areas to facilitate biodiversity and habitatdevelopment (e.g. logs for landscapes)

• Artwork - projects with local landholders and otherstakeholders (e.g. log sculptures).

• Interior Design Projects – construction / furniture

• TAFE - training programs or similar

• Playgrounds - structural and non-structuralplayground equipment

• Cultural and Heritage Commemoration - historical orcultural (indigenous and non-indigenous)

• Community Groups - community gardens, men’ssheds’, woodworking classes

• Woodchips / Mulch - community groups, tree removalcontractors, councils, road reserves

If the landowner has no capacity to use the logs, approach the following organisations to see if they would like to purchase or be gifted the repurposed logs:• Local Government

• State Government: eg Victrack, VicRoads, Parks Victoria, Melbourne Water

• Education Campuses: universities, TAFE’s, schools

• Community Groups: eg men’s sheds, community gardens, planting groups, landcare groups

• 'Home Improvers': a large interest in 'upcycled tree stumps and logs' is seen on social media. Make your timber safe and available via Gumtree or other such services.

Source: www.inhabitat.com

Action: If required, source recipients for each of the trees to be felled.

Step 1. Gather habitat data

Ideally, all species with tree hollows should be identified before removal of the tree/s, and data collected including dimension of hollows, its compass direction and height from ground. Consideration should be given to whether it's possible to remove the hollow and place it into another tree in the immediate area (if the hollow is active)3.

This data is crucial in order to replace what has been removed. Hollows can be carved out of trees left onsite or nest boxes can be installed so as not to affect population numbers. Hollows can take anywhere from 20-100 years to form.

Action: Undertake a survey of the trees to be removed to identify a) the tree species b) presence of any hollows including their dimension, compass direction and height from the ground.

Step 2. Prepare a repurposing plan for each tree being removed

Where it has been confirmed through the design process that tree removal is unavoidable, tree asset owners are to advise which repurposing strategy is to be employed.

Consideration needs to be given to the species, age and condition of the trees to be removed, with an assessment of the tree species being the main criteria in helping to determine how to repurpose the tree.

Note many mature trees will be hollow and suffering from decay and therefore not suitable for many of the re-use options listed. In some instances, the quality of the timber can only be confirmed once the tree has been felled.

Action: Determine which repurposing strategy will be employed for each tree to be felled by preparing a plan for each tree which includes:

Artificial hollow for Microbat3. Gibbons P & Lindenmayer D (2002) Tree Hollows and Wildlife Conservation in Australia CSIRO Publishing.

Better Best Practice Notes are designed to help practitioners strive for best possibilities in delivering city shaping and sustainability projects.

We call them Better Best Practice Notes as a reminder that our best is always getting better.

Loci welcomes the use of this Better Best Practice Note and only asks that Loci Environment & Place Inc. be acknowledged as the author. We openly welcome your feedback on ways we can keep improving the usability and

application of these Notes. Just contact us via info@loci.melbourne

This Better Best Practice Note has been developed in partnership with Melbourne Metro Rail Authority and arborist, Bobby Furby.

Last updated December2017.

Attach this Better Best Practice Note next time you request a quote, and ask bidders how they will incorporate best possibilities for your project.

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Step 6. Arrange transport

Where required, organise for transport of the tree to a suitable location identified by the owner of the tree.

Transport may be to an interim storage location, or to the final destination for repurposing of that tree.

Note that you would most likely try to wood chip a tree, or parts of tree, onsite where they have been removed.

Action: Arrange transport of the felled tree to a suitable location, or set the logs aside for wood chipping / mulching.

Step 7. Repurpose the felled trees

With reference to your tree repurposing plan, ensure that each and every tree that has been removed is repurposed for its highest and best use. Include signage where possible to help the community understand the history of repurposed timber.

Action: Repurpose all felled trees to achieve their highest and best use.

Action: Assess the quality of the felled trees and review against your previously identified repurposing options.

1. Habitat logs2. Milling 3. Wood chipping4. Arborist Woodchip5. Sawdust (for stables or composting)

Step 5. Review felled trees to confirm reuse options

Once the trees have been felled and transported to a storage facility or holding location, an analysis of the stockpile of logs is required to determine the quality of the wood for reuse.

Apply the hierarchy of tree repurposing for the highest and best use of felled trees in the order of:

Step 4. Prepare a tree felling plan and communicate removal logistics for each tree

Once a tree has been approved for removal, prepare a plan that outlines the logistics for removal ensuring that the removal methodology is consistent with the proposed reuse e.g. if to be reused for habitat or milling, then cut the tree lengths into the longest possible (e.g. 3-5 metres).

This step may require the relocation of fauna, installation of nest boxes, and installation of devices to prevent fauna from re-inhabiting trees identified for removal.

It is advisable to engage a specialist tree repurposing arborist to attend the felling of the trees to direct the contracted arborist to achieve the greatest reuse outcomes.

Action: Prepare a plan which describes how each tree is to be felled for its identified repurposing and communicate this with the team felling the tree.