So someone had the idea to run the electricity lines up the bottom of a small inclined valley. Then various trees grew along the valley and up the valley sides. The consequence over time is that the trees along the valley and up the sides have grown up higher than the electricity lines in the valley floor.

Now was the time to recreate the Tunguska event of 1908 in Siberian Russia whereby 2000km2 of forest (80 million trees) were destroyed by the mid-air explosion of a meteor, with no known casualties.

We had to remove all tree that were in danger of being blown onto the power lines. Many were already dead and represented a clear risk as they weakened over time. Some dead pines were already leaning in the wrong direction.

Naturally our efforts to remove the tree should not bring down the power lines. Hence the use of the 6 ton pulley/winch to direct the fall.

Trees and power lines in valley floor

Rope as high as possible up the tree

6 ton winch

Above you can see there was a twist in the chain preventing it from being cranked all the way up the chain

Checking the winch

Getting the rope as tight as possible before winching

Pull!

Garikai puts up with the press photographer. ZESA line at top

George enjoying the press interest. Dead Wattle trees coming down

Get ready to chop the tree and crank the winch at the same time

It can be tricky to coordinate the cutting and pulling

Experts on the job

The outcome of all the demolition – a swath of fallen trees around the power lines

The Tunguska event of 2015

Prehistoric life was discovered as having survived the event

Growing tree fern

Tree fern leaf unfurling

Heidi, Petra & Barcus checking on their ‘pets’ (if you know the story of 101 Jack Russell’s)