To enable course attendees to:
- Identify where and when junctions in trees represent a major hazard
- Understand the main factors affecting the strength of junctions in trees
- Describe branch junction anatomy, identifying key components of the joint
- Categorise branch junctions into different classes of morphology related to their strength
- Understand the relationship between natural braces and bark-included junctions
- Categorise natural braces formed above junctions into different classes and relate this to the likelihood of junction failure
- Describe typical causes of bark-included junctions in trees
- Understand the main causes of the failure of junctions in trees
- Assess the sustainability of the tree’s current branch structure
- Specify appropriate remedial work in response to a range of junction types