A lovely mild winters morning was the backdrop for the installation of the most important and celebrated Christmas tree in the country, the tree at Stormont.

M.Large arrived to the site shortly before 8 am with 2 x mobile lorry mounted HIAB knuckle cranes and a crew of 2 operators and an arborist.

The 15m giant tree selected by our highly qualified arboriculturalist team dwarfed the crane truck delivering it, so it was clear from the off this would be an impressive specimen.

[caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignleft" width="400"] M.Large trucks arrive to install christmas tree at stormont[/caption]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="400"] Stormont’s 15m Christmas tree dwarfs M.Large crane truck.[/caption]

 

The crane’s worked on a “top n tail” basis with precision to lift the tree, bring it to a standing position and carefully drop it into the installation hole, positioned just  to the right of the famous steps.

[caption id="attachment_1283" align="alignleft" width="400"] M.Large crane hire operators work top n tail to install Stormont Christmas Tree[/caption]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[caption id="attachment_1284" align="alignleft" width="400"] M.Large crane hire operators work top n tail to install Stormont Christmas Tree[/caption]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once into the hole, further precise corrections by the skilled crane operators were made in rotating, tilting and even taking just an inch or 2 of bark off the bottom to make it fit…amazing how just a few inches makes all the difference even working with a huge example like this, (food for thought for us all when the home trees are being put up.)

 

[caption id="attachment_1285" align="alignleft" width="400"] Trimming the base of Stormont Christmas tree[/caption]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once straight and into position the tree was supported by a series of wedges sledgehammered into place on all sides to create a solid immovable installation.

 

 

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="400"] A little off the side?[/caption]

 

And that was just about it.

Send the climbing arborist up to grab the crane lifting tackle, retract the cranes….and now it’s the turn of the sparks with the lights.

One hour of work=one month of seasonal cheer at the houses of power.

[caption id="attachment_1291" align="alignleft" width="450"] one hours work = one month of seasonal cheer for all at Stormont[/caption]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BY mlarge | PUBLISHED November 28, 2013 LEARN MORE