HIDDEN DANGERS of TREES | Knowing this can SAVE YOUR LIFE | Camp Safety

[@KingsTLC]

Allow me to try and help out, as a ex tree surgeon we used to tackle trees like this all the time. Willows are renowned for splitting / cracking...they generally are located near water sources and take up vast quantities of water, which lead to them rotting from the inside out, and they tend to grow long and leggy stems, which can easily snap with wind, not a good combination. The first ash would have been caused by ingress of water, insects, open to the elements etc at the (compression) fork of the double stem (bark inclusion), over time this would have got progressively worse until a point where the the weight in the canopy eventually wins, and the fork will split. Beech trees are also renowned for limb breaks, this may be caused by several reasons, they have shallow roots, so they shed limbs to alleviate weight rather fall over completely, almost after a dry period / drought conditions, and generally more noticable on larger, mature trees. You are correct with the white rot / brown rot...breakdown of cellulose and lignin. The ash tree will need to be cut down very carefully..as the tension / compression of the wood, especially ash is very unforgiving, and could "barber chair", this is when the tree will split before you finish cutting through the wood, resulting in half the stem splitting up vertically, possibly taking you with it, leave it to the professionals. Many thanks.

[@kranson8514]

Many thanks,👍 one day I'll get back into bushcraft

[@karenlloyd1705]

Great explanation, thank you

[@irampotter]

I couldn't help notice that some people advise leaving hanging trees to the professionals, but I've watched Bodey and Doyle a lot over the years and I don't think they actually know much about trees at all, to be honest I wouldn't trust them.

[@hengis73]

I wonder if the op meant their barbers. A lot of tonnage in their coiffure.

[@greetb9330]

Should be qualified, they were part of tree I5.

[@1972hermanoben]

With so many damaged trees we need more professional arborists to cope with the surgeon demand

[@nickimacrae7163]

Another note for anyone thinking of planting laburnum in their garden is that their secretions make paths and surfaces very slippery when damp or wet. They get like ice.

[@rachelwilson6531]

My grandad used to have this tree and I was not allowed anywhere near it .

[@littlepuppy101]

Lovely, mate. Please be charitable to the mighty yew tree. It is poisonous but the entire nation of Britain stood behind it, and it defended the shores of Britain, in the form of the beloved English longbow. The 100 years war was won with the yew. ❤️

[@gloriabailey6170]

These are very useful ideas even in the United States while camping

[@zdenekoldrichmarek2867]

Hi! Thanks needed to know this about these trees. Be Blessed.

[@noofynumbskull]

Laburnham lovely wood to turn similar to acacia grain but darker , yew is my favorite to turn the colours are fantstic but dust mask and goggles a must

[@sambeanland8707]

brilliant vid, thanks. For the mushroom hunters, remember never pick any fungi( chicken of woods/ oyster/ beefsteak) from a yew , as they take on the toxin

[@skyblue-df2od]

😱

[@joshclarke8959]

I'm afraid your wrong. It doesn't.

[@ultimatehandyman]

I’m glad you mentioned Beech. A few years back we were in the garden with the kids, there is a Beech tree that is about 200 years old. After we went in the house, I was working in the computer and heard a massive noise (I thought the Beech tree was collapsing), all of the neighbours heard the noise. There was a branch that fell from approximately 45 feet up, at the tree end the branch diameter was about 18 inches and the branch was about 30 feet in length. If we’d have been in the garden there is a good chance that someone would have been crushed.

[@ilya.petersen]

Great video! I have quite a bit of experience with chainsaws and sawing trees, but some of the ones you show I wouldn't want to have to work on without someone much more experienced present. Some additional information about yews: the Latin 'taxus' and the English 'toxic' have the same linguistic roots. A famous use of yew wood is for the construction of longbows, as the difference in consistency between the sapwood and the heartwood makes it great at handling the tension of a bow. And another story I heard about why yews are often found in church yards is that they were planted there to stop shepherds from moving their flocks through the area, as they wouldn't want to risk their sheep ingesting anything from the yew. Thank you for sharing your knowledge, and please keep making these great videos!

[@eumaeus]

To the best of my knowledge, you're the only bushcrafter who posts such videos. Bravo!

[@eumaeus]

@@hiddenvalleybushcraft5683 it's us that thank you. 😊 I've watched many of your videos, even prior to subscribing. I see only sound, tried and tested advice offered here. I'm so impressed, I might book myself on one of your groups....Once I've saved again, having spent a fortune on yet another air mattress.

[@vi0205]

Thanks Nick, a danger that I completely underestimated!

[@scotty5717]

Not a camper, but admire your knowledge.. Very informative videos

[@greasedragon77]

I just found this channel a few days ago. It's fantastic! I'm going to assume that trees are safer in the US. Outside of a mention occasionally of looking for "widow makers" (quickly explained to be a limb that can fall from a tree, and then quickly moving on), this is new to me. I've watched 100s of videos from several channels... and I am now afraid to go into the woods. I'm sure there are things like this in North America, and I think I used up all my extra lives in my youth (running around the woods ignorant of widow makers in trees, undertow in the river, etc.). Thanks for what you do. I've learned more in days than I have in months now. I'm looking forward to practicing Bushcraft skills here in the States...and as soon as I can identify a #36 bank line tree I'm sure I can do well in the woods here. You have natural cordage over there. This is also awesome... and it's refreshing to see and learn! 🙌🙌

[@banksarenotyourfriends]

16:50 The reason you'd want to eat a Yew berry is because they're probably the most delicious berry in the UK. The seed is only dangerous if you crunch it up, and the flesh is really easy to separate from the berry with your tongue. I wouldn't advise beginners to go out picking them because of the relative danger, but I certainly wouldn't say "don't bother" with them if you're not new to the woods. Just eat them one at a time and spit the seed out. You don't know what you're missing! They've been removed from the landscape in a large part because of how deadly they are to livestock. They were generally left standing in graveyards to prevent people from using the graveyard as free pasture for their animals in days gone by.

[@ChrisLambert-Yngvegodi]

Why bother when there is a feast of berries on better plants?

[@banksarenotyourfriends]

@@ChrisLambert-Yngvegodi because those other berries don't taste like candy floss! Lots of outdoor activities that we routinely do are very dangerous, you just mitigate the risks by taking care.

[@ChrisLambert-Yngvegodi]

Not wholly historically accurate but whatever, up to you.

[@banksarenotyourfriends]

@@ChrisLambert-Yngvegodi which part? Care to enlighten us then?

[@ChrisLambert-Yngvegodi]

@@banksarenotyourfriends the bit about yew in graveyards.

[@markhawkins2723]

Hi Royal, to safely take the tree back to a safe height, you would have to climb it and section it bit by bit and removing all the leaning side branches first to remove the weight on the lean side.

[@PippetWhippet]

So, check within 5m for yews, laburnum and 20m for beech, or trees with rot, plate fungus or damage to the trunk or root plate, not forgetting to check upwards for the canopy! Thanks for such excellent videos!

[@triumphrider572]

Great video! Always well worth a watch, especially about Yew and Laburnum. We live next to a cemetery. One day when he was about twelve, my son came home from playing and vomitted some strange seeds up. We found out that he had eaten some Laburnum. Rushed him to hospital, but the doctors seemed at a loss what to do. Luckily he recovered. Needless to say, he learned his lesson! He's 27 now by the way.

[@jennyjewell5635]

When I was sitting my finals for State Registration in Nursing in 1972, one of the questions was what are the symptoms of laburnum poisoning and what action should be taken? I knew the answers back then.

[@TheScragglyMan]

You've probably potentially saved lots of lives with this video, I know when i think about camping i never thought about trees and being careful of them coming down. Im glad this is my introduction to it rather than the alternative.

[@hunterG60k]

I had no idea about beech trees being so dangerous, they've always been my favourite to climb 😳 I also had a yew tree in my garden which I would climb regularly, how I'm still alive is baffling 😅

[@leebus99]

Nick: “get out in the woods, it’s great for mind and body” Nick: “the woods will definitely kill you” Total mixed messages on this channel 😆 Joking of course. Another good video, a few things here I’d never though about before.

[@LOFIGSD]

Risk, different strategies, blissful ignorance or educated appreciation, I would be interested in the Statistics of people dying camping in the Woods, I know, very few even talk about the dangers of falling trees on Wild Camping sites, I only know because of Military training to look around for the dangers, mainly in case tthe wind picks up, the info on diseases is interesting, though I knew some of this.

[@bigg4089]

This was an excellent informative video, thanks Nick. Especially for those of us getting into hammock camping and hence more likely to camp under the canopy.

[@Ocxlocxl]

I was clearing rhodedendrons in Trent Park today as a volunteer and saw so many unsafe tree situations. Very little tree management here sadly. Several dead trees overhanging pathways and bridleways. Went on a local bushcraft day for axe safety yesterday after watching some of your content, its a real encouragement.Great video content, many thanks.

[@warren7949]

Thanks for the advice! I fell for the nice clear camp site under a beech tree just a couple of weeks back. Had no idea I was in any danger at all 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@si_blacksheep]

Another great vid Nick. Informative and from someone who knows what they’re talking about. Always learning 👍

[@JoelAaargh]

Lots of interesting things there to look out for in my local woods, especially as the weather turns and the winds pick up. Cheers Nick!

[@tedsemonis7905]

Here in Florida we have Manchineel Spanish name, manzanilla de la muerte (”little apple of death”) Sap causes burns and blisters from as much as picking a leaf and getting white sap on you.

[@kevinoutdoors4861]

Hi Nick another great informative video another fungus to look out for is honey fungus causes decay in the root system it's fruiting body small honey coloured mushrooms show on the ground around the tree so people don't always associate the two thank you for sharing this very important information

[@artistgigot2044]

Thank you. Great information. Our massive Eastern White Pines in Canada, although inviting to camp under, can also shed large branches, and act as lightening rods.

[@skyblue-df2od]

😱

[@rossmacrae8406]

I stopped camping amongst trees years ago after having to break camp in the dark when the wind unexpectedly increased. More exposed on hills but greater chance of a view!

[@webb618]

Thanks nick! I now know a few more “tells” of danger to look out for. I’ve been very mindful of the widow makers lately. It seems like common sense until you end up in a bad spot. Keep up the great work. 👍

[@petezahrbock9931]

Having fun on a Sunday with you. Keep up the good work!!

[@h.bsfaithfulservant4136]

Thanks so much Nick… very sobering. I saw the effects of a small tree falling onto two cars parked in the street I live on 😳😲🤭

[@LOFIGSD]

Good video, I wild camp, including Hammocks, this info is amongst the reasons, you should scout an area out, even if it is to go back at a later date, it is quite relaxing sleeping in a forest, watching the trees sway in the wind, So hopefully this wont put people off, life is full of risks, education does help mitigate some though! Question, for the tree experts, at what time of year do Beech shed limbs mainly?

[@skyblue-df2od]

all year round

[@nightstormoutdoors6080]

I live on the west coast where it is more often than not blowing a gale, it's also mostly farmland here for cattle and sheep breeders. Almost every forest whether it be deciduous or coniferous has fallen trees in it. The soil here is sandy, which doesn't provide the best grip for tree roots, and the uprooting of trees is seen everywhere. I tend to pitch my tent on a field well away from the trees and my greatest fear is being attacked by a bull or stampeded by a herd of them in the dark of the night. I can't get a peaceful sleep no matter where I go. I am always at least semi alert when sleeping and always waken up feeling fatigued. Really enjoyed your video. Thanks.

[@nightstormoutdoors6080]

@@hiddenvalleybushcraft5683 : Yes, please. That would be very interesting.

[@environmentart]

Absolutely packed full of information. I always learn so much from your videos. Thank you!

[@fantasycat94]

From age 7 to about 11 I used to climb a yew tree on a regular basis in our local park, because it was really good to climb and I loved how it looked. I don't remember ever coming out itchy thankfully, and thank god I never fancied eating any berries! Didn't know any of this until now

[@pronetowander2153]

Good video Nick it’s good you brought attention to this matter some people don’t have a clue, I believe a lot of people will be looking at their random sites and say oh my god I’ve been camping here need to pay special attention also need to be aware that picking mushrooms on or under these trees is a definite problem like the yew…

[@inguzwulf]

Very good info, well presented. Great for beginners but also a worthy refresher course for those of us that might get an itsy bit blasé from time to time. I'm always impressed with people who remember the details of what they learn (or just remember stuff full-stop).

[@huaweikh2593]

Fantastic informative video, many thanks 👍

[@soggz4246]

I had a widow maker come down in front of me a few weeks ago. Missed be by about a foot, but it hit a branch low to the ground and came back up at me and gave me a black eye and a deep cut under it. Lucky day? Stay well Nick.👍🏾

[@markchambers3833]

The yew trees in most churchyards across the UK are Irish yews (taxus baccata 'fastigiata'). They have an upright habit as opposed to the spreading habit of the common yew, hence their popularity. The Irish yew was discovered in County Fermanagh in the 1760s and commercially propogated in the early 19th century, meaning most yews in UK churchyards are under 200 years old. All Irish yews are female and can be grown only from cuttings as seedlings revert to common yew. The original Irish yew tree (the mother of all Irish yews worldwide) is the 'Florence Court Yew', located in the grounds of Florence Court, Co. Fermanagh.

[@simongumbrell2955]

Thanks for the great intuitive videos I've just started learning foraging and bushcraft and this information is always handy and compliments my other knowledge for any particular survival situation

[@barnabyvenskunas2309]

Taxus Bacata have arils not berries. An aril does not fully encase the pit or stone within it.

[@ajdooom]

Wow, amazing knowledge, both scientific and cultural. In the name of safety, another step towards understanding nature and species.

[@pauljoslyn154]

Another fascinating and informative video. Many thanks. More to think about than just looking for branches that may fall!

[@deborahhenderson149]

Cheers for the info. I probably will never go camping but I do love trees ( mainly in my paintings) so it was nice to hear the good the bad and the ugly about certain species.

[@gloriabailey6170]

Thank you as we as a family really enjoy the out door life

[@MikeWood]

Suffice it to day, yew know your stuff. :) Great vid. I will camp in a farm field and take chances with a combine harvester next time. ;)

[@CPeter0912]

Excellent information really well presented. Thanks so much.

[@paulfranks195]

What a great tutorial. Thank you (yet again). More please !

[@alanevans4232]

Thanks Nick, very informative. I knew some of it but not all. Not sure if you know but, apart from geting ichy and sore under a Yew, the gas given off by the needles can induce halucinations, doesn't work on everyone.

[@charitallman5742]

Big Thanks for this. Just had my first forest wild camp. I attached my tarp to a Beech Tree (great forest clearing etc). Must be more careful in future!

[@greetb9330]

Very interesting post and good information, best not to take anything for granted and look around your surroundings. I see the foraging (berry) section has caused partial debate. surely the wise man leaves alone potential danger, and lives to forage another day. There are plenty of edibles around once learned without resorting to high risk foods which can if done badly end the show, just play to your strengths. Great clip, thank you for sharing it. All best.

[@GreytOutdoorsMedic]

Hey Bud, glad you’re branching out on your video topics and getting to the root of the problem with widow-makers. Fun fact, worse time for trees to fall over is Sep-timber. Also, dogwood can be easily identified by its bark. Leaf me a message if yew need some ideas to spruce up your videos.

[@salliemorrill2671]

Amazing info. Thank you for a great vid. Thank you for your service.

[@fireforger9192]

Good video have seen some of these issues myself wasn't aware of all of them so good reminder and top tips! 👍

[@jimcy1318]

The crack willow, you'll have every druggy in the neighborhood walking in your woods when this video goes viral. Good video 👍 lot's of good info.

[@rodneybetts6086]

Great Video. Very Informative and Eye Opening.

[@brucematys8597]

An excellent educational video Nick. I really appreciate your thorough explanation of the dangers! Cheers.

[@huaweikh2593]

OMG! I just drove past your house, seen your vehicle & now you are in my 'recommendid!'

[@tomtintin80]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge very detailed video 👍

[@Nyctophora]

Thank you, I am much more informed now!

[@justme2640]

Great informative vid thank you for help keep me and my family safe whilst enjoying the outdoors 🙏

[@nigelgregory4777]

Another great information video Nick, I've been to some woodland that looked like the grim reapers waiting room, you need to keep an eye out even if you are just walking through. Take care mate, stay safe, 👍👍

[@paganoutdoors3193]

Cool video, I can attest to crack willow splitting etc, as I used to coarse fish alot, had afew big trees come down in winds too, I love yewtrees, my trade was cabinet maker/joiner and working with yew, its colour is wonderful, dust not so much, where I live now in notts/lincs, seems to be rather alot of ancient yew about, which is wonderful, really liking the videos, good health and safe travels, cheers craig

[@nigelmcardle4112]

Great video,thanks for the info.

[@ScoOutDoors]

A foundation of knowledge you are👍 very well explained and this video will definitely saves lives and make people more aware of death from above not everything is as pretty as a picture this is a part nature that needs massive respect

[@stevo728822]

I suppose before we moved to coal burning, the wood cutters would have known their local woodland like the back of their hand. This video sort of reminds me of the 70's watching Jack Hargreaves in his Out Of Town series. Not forgetting Yew was used for making Longbows. In Germany the Lime tree is known as the Tree Of Truth, people would be questioned standing underneath a Lime. Another tricky one to avoid scratches from is the Blackthorn. And when those pine cones fall on your head from a Scots Pine, they can hurt a bit. Definitely true, the more you get outdoors the more you learn about different species.

[@matthewcunningham8691]

Fascinating video, many thanks

[@andrewscrivens9586]

Another fantastic and informative video Nick 🙂

[@davebloggs]

Great video , here is a little add on, the larch tree is a nice tree but dont light a fire near the bottom of one if you set fire to the roots it will smoulder from one end to another and can easily start a forest fire, on the other hand if you need to transport fire pull some out the ground cut into about 1 foot lengths bundle some together burn in your fire until they glow when blown hey presto easy fire carry. the Inuit people here in canada often did this. yew wood also makes amazing furniture . i made a lot of money out of turning yew branches etc after the hurricane that isnt going to happen so said Micheal fish :-)

[@rob-in-peru]

Fascinating! Will look out for the same problems/dangers here in Peru.

[@Tykepaints]

Thanks for taking the time to make the video Nick, another great one. Similar to what you said about the Beech I’ve also been told that Elm are prone to dropping limbs with very little warning so have always avoided spending any significant length of time under one - is this an old wives tale / myth or has anyone else heard this too?

[@Tykepaints]

@@hiddenvalleybushcraft5683 Agreed, we have a couple of enormous old ones near me and I’ve never seen any signs of it. It’s got me checking and it seems (disclaimer: according to google) that it’s associated more with American Elms, which isn’t such an issue for us in the U.K. obviously - thanks again.

[@lincolndave1966able]

Superb and informative video. Got to be honest, it was an eye opener for me and I love woodland wildcamps. Definitely will have my eyes wide open on my next visit.

[@colinbarton8720]

Very useful as I now know the tree just outside my house is a Yew (der I live in Yew Close). I didn't know about the poisonous nature of the seeds either so thanks again but I did think that the berries looked really plastic and fake when I was studying them waiting for the mutt to stop snuffing nearby, almost too-perfect-surely-they're-not-real.

[@Mat-kr1nf]

What an excellent source of information, I’m always reading and hearing about watching for “widow makers”. I had no idea about the intricacies you have covered in this video! Here’s me thinking it’s just a matter of “ooh, that’s a dodgy looking branch up there” 😄🤣😂. Not quite so simple!🤓🧐

Interesting and informative, thanks

[@seanleonard9381]

Thanks for another great video

[@Phil144gbp]

Great video will share mate

[@maxshand]

What an amazing viceo. Love this onto the next

[@jeanettecollis5653]

Really interesting. Thanks! 😁

[@treebeardtheent2200]

It would be nice if I could find a similar quality informative video on tree hazards that exist in the western United States.

[@phuaphua4301]

I'm learning something new, thanks you for sharing 😊👍👍👍

[@phuaphua4301]

@@hiddenvalleybushcraft5683 Thanks you ☺keep smiling, 😊😊

[@billyaitken1713]

It's all true!! A friend of mine has a fishing channel in far North Queensland, he had a video on a boys trip up a river with a riverside camp. What they all missed but I saw on his video was a whole tree with a trunk a little under a metre in diameter, about 20-22 ft up in the trees above their site 😱☠️💀‼️They get huge tidal differences and horrendous flash floods up there, so precarious fallen timber often ends up in the riverside tree canopy. 🇬🇧🤠👏👏👏 very relevant content🎥😍👍

[@stevesidebottom]

Really informative - thanks. While thinking of trees, any chance of you doing a guide to how best to harvest wood? How to spot dead standing, which species work best for different tasks etc? Cheers, Steve

[@Dingleowl1582]

Another great informative video 👍

[@ozdavemcgee2079]

Informative and many trees we dont have here. Interesting about the Yew Tree, similar to South Aust Sugar gum, produces arsenic. Similar issues in Australia. Termites eat up same route as fungus in crack willow. Or up side of ecalyptus trees and concentrate on a huge branch at trunk. Additionally various parasitic choker vines kill trees off. Often branches just drop in fine weather. Windy weather more so. And if there has been a few days rain and high winds, gum trees just go over. Ive had one drop across the road in vile weather one night literally 12ft in front of me and I stopped inches from the trunk. But yeah very similar issues of trees going down from termites, white ants, some fungus, parasitic vines as well as many species of eucalyptus trees don't root well. A wise person sets up camp well before dark after inspecting the site carefully. All part of the fun and games. Just goes to show you need knowledge of any location you operate in

[@oswaldthree]

In Oz, in Queensland particularly, you know not to spend time too near Bunya Pines, esp in the nut season - one drop could mean your death! RjB

[@mealex303]

For the split free use a come along on the weak branch and pull it sideways

[@robch4414]

"here's a cracking example.." Nice one!

[@ChrisLambert-Yngvegodi]

You're not wrong mate and your have shown some good examples. I do trees, professionally, and I have no problems camping in woods or under canopies but I have a fair bit of knowledge. I still cack my pants in strong winds and shy away even if I have a helmet on, just the flying dead wood can be deadly. On Ash, I personally find that rhyme not fitting to reality as I know it 'will' burn but the calorific value of heat is rubbish when green, personally I favour beech for heat or any fruit wood. That snapped Ash tree, an easy taken down but that's just my opinion.

[@aynsleycooper365]

Good afternoon Nick, we're a couple of days late to this one, but enjoyed it nonetheless. Thank you.

[@aynsleycooper365]

@@hiddenvalleybushcraft5683 Believe me, the "Tree book" is coming out before we next holiday...

[@myparceltape1169]

We got a recipe for food which included Laburnum Leaf. There was one outside the door but we used Bay Leaf instead.

[@seasoldier3902]

It has all been said by those below. Enjoyed the vid immensely. Thank you.

[@MyMy-tv7fd]

rope the ash half top and bottom to guide the fall of the ash and burn out the tree with thermite. Or just use explosives

[@kevinoutdoors4861]

lol nuke from orbit

[@deandunbar5159]

THANK YOU NICK... 👍🙏

[@geoffminter2927]

I watched a beech shed a massive branch not 20ft from me. It was a good 2ft on diameter at the end closest to the trunk

[@MoreThanJustaCleaner]

Very useful, good stuff 👍😁

[@joshwalker4506]

Hi nick, would you be able to do a video on how to fit a backpack for bushcraft and what to look for as I can’t seem to make mine comfortable, thanks

[@3dagedesign]

My theory on sudden limb drop is, .. it's a survival mechanism,. shedding weight from the main tree and extending the area where beech can grow, the same thing applies to the acidic leaves.