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Advice from the experts please...


kieran285
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Hi guys,

 

Basically, I am after information on becoming a tree surgeon.

 

I am a 25 year old who is physically fit, I have a head for heights and love climbing. I enjoy rock climbing/mountaineering and have a decent knowledge of rope work/systems.

 

Currently I work as a water sports instructor in the north west area and love my job but fancy a change... I know tree surgery would be something right up me street.

 

My dream would be to move back to Cornwall and mainly work as a tree surgeon and do a bit of outdoorsy stuff on the side.

 

So from what I have seen, I would be tempted to go to Kingswood Tree Services (down south) and box off the main quals you need to become a tree surgeon (I think its like a 30 day course). Now I realise I wouldn't have any experience so employers may be a bit funny with me or pick the guy with exp.

 

Like I say this is a foreign industry to me so any ideas, advice, contacts, thoughts on how to get the ball rolling with this would be most appreciated!

 

Cheers now! Kieran.

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Alright Kieran. I started my career around the same age as you.

 

Phone around your local companies first of all, see if anyone will let you come in and do a day or twos work for free/cheap dragging brash (smaller firms will be more likely to agree to this initially). Turn up, work hard, watch and learn and stay safe/out the way initially.

 

If you like it, book on to a course to get your tickets (not sure what they're called now, but CS30,31 and 38 to start with), then see if you can get a job as a groundsman somewhere. Pay won't be great at first but as you progress it will get better.

 

In my experience the bigger firms are more willing to pay for you to do courses etc, so they should be first port of call - also I have found people have more time to show you things at larger companies and you will get more of a chance to climb.

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my advice would be try and just get some days dragging brass for some company to get a feel of what the industry is like. Sure the massive 100 foot takedowns are fun but people forget about the shitty clearance jobs. Like today i spent my time reducing bunch of hawthorns in the pissing wet and i really questioned why the **** am i doing it.

 

Just get a feel for the industry first, rather then fork out a wedge on these courses and not enjoying as much as you thought!

 

All the best!

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TTownsend:

 

Hahah! I feel the pain, I have spent a considerable number of days this 'summer' sitting in a powerboat coaching windsurfing in the pouring rain with a strong, cold north westerly wind... You think why am I outside? when I should be inside with a mug of tea... Beats working in an office for sure!

 

Good advice and thanks for it, like I say, I shall try and get some work ex and develop some contacts :)

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