Tree officers in Islington are using a high-tech scanner - similar to a hospital ultrasound machine - to help save more trees. <br><br>Occasionally they need to be removed from leafy streets or parks in the north London borough because of disease. <br><br>But officers from Islington Council can now take a look INSIDE the trunk to find out how far decay has spread, thanks to sound wave technology. <br><br> This could increase the chances of a tree being allowed to stay. <br><br>James Chambers, the council's senior tree service officer, said: "Sadly we do sometimes need to remove trees when disease has taken hold. <br><br>"We're experts in examining trees. Most of us have studied the subject for years, and we could bore anyone with all the stuff we know. <br><br>"Sometimes the trees look healthy but decay in the trunk, due things like fungal infection, can mean they're unsafe. <br><br>"This machine lets us find out the extent of this decay, and decide what we need to do.<br><br>Cllr Ruth Polling, Islington Council's Executive Member for Leisure, said: "We know how important trees are to our residents and what a difference they make to our environment and the green look of our streets. <br><br>"So, if we save just a handful of mature trees with this technology, it's well worth the effort."<br><br>The 'Picus' scanner works out the extent of decay inside a tree using sound waves, like an ultrasound machine.<br><br>Colours on the scanned image show different consistencies of wood which indicates the extent of decay. <br><br>The equipment has already saved a tree on Highbury Fields, N5, in Islington. <br><br>ENDS <br><br>For more information please call Chris Weeks on 020 7527 3032 or 07825 098804 <br><br>PICTURE: Scanner 1 - the Picus scanner in action; Scanner 2 - scanned image showing health of tree <br>
Page Last Updated: 17 December 2009