WARNING TO OTHERS

[Alex O]

So when quoting to fell a tree, do you turn down jobs where the owner has just bought a house with an existing tree?
 
"same as spending a lot of money on a block driveway " If you're referring to my appeal case, I should have said that in the neighbours case the drive was cast-in-situ concrete that predated the tree planting by a few decades. The owners original drive also predated the tree but was (hopefully) restored by just replacing the top/wearing surface - if it wasn't the drive contractors would have severed all the roots.

Hi Gary, I’m not having a pop buddy. Every case/tree is different but me personally if I get asked to do a bit of butchering on a nice tree regardless of a TPO I will always try educate the client in the reason why we cut stuff and how we cut stuff if there unwilling to at least take on board any comments I would and have refused to quote on trees. I won’t have my name and company associated with shitty tree work. Some TPO tree definitely need working on but the tree officers don’t always see it which is a shame as we’ve lost so nice trees because lack of maintenance. I see every tree we do as a bill board and giant advert of me and my company unfortunately it just takes one bad job to ruin a company. ( every case and tree is different)

[Anno]

I would say, me being one, every TO is different too and every TPO Tree is different in context and reasoning behind it and if they are involved in resurveying and revoking old orders the process is fair and fully thought out.

I think the case is fully justified and is a breath of fresh air, also it is unusual, having worked for two Local Authorities, to get the backing to prosecute and would love to hear more information on the case, how was it proved to be the owners responsibility, beyond reasonable doubt, for one?

[Guest]

It can sometimes seem quite arbituary which trees have TPO's. As has been said we've all felled trees that we would consider worthy of a TPO but are unprotected. I guess if you can afford to turn the work away (even though someone else will probably cut it down) you might feel better about things with yourself. Either way its part and parcel of the job and not worth beating yourself up about. The one main advantage I find with a TPO, is that you can do a sensible reduction rather than the topped mug-tree the customer wants. When you have the reduction restrictions to work to on the TPO approval in writing, it makes it easier to put your foot down to the over-reduction most customers want.

[Paul in the woods]

I've never understood why a tree that is TPOed for the benefit of the community isn't paid for by the community, i.e. council. And by that I mean any works required on the tree or remedial works to damaged property.

[Mr. Squirrel]

4 hours ago, Gary Prentice said:

So when quoting to fell a tree, do you turn down jobs where the owner has just bought a house with an existing tree?

 

There's no black and white, but yes. I don't just get back in the van and leave, I offer alternative options and approaches. But if some bawbag buys a house then decides they want all the mature trees around it felled I'm not interested.

 

In complete agreement with the previous point though regarding government intervention. Seems to be somewhat hypocritical that they slap a big (and reasonable imo) fine on this guy but would probably sign off on flattening some woodland for a carpark.

[Gary Prentice]

On 24/12/2019 at 08:15, Anno said:

I would say, me being one, every TO is different too

You can say that again 

 

and every TPO Tree is different in context and reasoning behind it and if they are involved in resurveying and revoking old orders the process is fair and fully thought out.

Another topic entirely, but I wonder what percentage of 'protected' trees actually merit a TPO? All I ever hear are TOs complaining that lack of resources prevent resurveying (particularly of old area TPOs). This is a comment, not a criticism. 

On 24/12/2019 at 08:15, Anno said:

I think the case is fully justified and is a breath of fresh air, also it is unusual, having worked for two Local Authorities, to get the backing to prosecute and would love to hear more information on the case, how was it proved to be the owners responsibility, beyond reasonable doubt, for one?

I have a feeling that it may have been a case that it was more to do with poor representation on the defendants side, than really good on the prosecutions.   

[MattyF]

No Garry I don’t and I also feel not enough trees are protected.

[Khriss]

@GaryPrentise my ha'penny worth is - i always feel sad when i fell a good specimen of tree. However i have felled 10s of 1000s of trees. I have planted 1000s of trees. It IS my profession..... But i hope i have the right attitude to it,  not just 'its a job' K

[difflock]

As I have stated bytimes,

"sometimes a tree deserves a hug, or an affectionate pat on its behind, before you fire up the chainsaw"

mth

[Rough Hewn]

As I have stated bytimes,
"sometimes a tree deserves a hug, or an affectionate pat on its behind, before you fire up the chainsaw"
mth

Hippy!
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