Hi

[Grizzly]

I just thought I'd say hi and give a quick introduction.

 

My name's Mark and I live near Richmond, North Yorkshire. At the minute I'm not working in an arboricultural field although I would dearly love to....In fact I'm not working at all now! Up until 5pm today I was working as a gardener but received a phone call saying the company had lost 4 contracts in the North and, as a result of me working as a Self Employed gardener rather than being on a contract like the other staff, I was no longer required. At the time I heard I was......how shall I put this? A little annoyed:angryfire: however, I now feel that as that door has closed I'm able to go ahead and open another. I've wanted to work in forestry and arboriculture ever since going to help lead felled trees from a wood while doing an agriculture course way back in 1999/2000. I love trees, woods, and woodlands and to work with trees would be a dream come true. I've done little bits here and there over the years, mainly bare root tree planting often in some cold, lonely places as a self employed worker. I don't have any chainsaw tickets but have used one extensively while I was a water bailiff looking after a 72 acre site. I am wanting to get my tickets because even though I'm fully safe and competant when using a chainsaw I want things done properly. I saw somewhere that I might be able to get funding to re-train so I think this is the next step for me.

[White Noise]

Grizzly like you said one door shuts another one opens . Some of the best old school tree workers I have ever known had not a single qualification between them. Some people are just naturally good at climbing . Not me Its taken me years to get to a pleasing speed .But in reality its the finished product that counts . Anyway welcome to the world of Arbtalk .

[Tommy_B]

Welcome to the forum mate.

[Mark Bolam]

Welcome mate.

 

Loads of good advice on here.

 

Oh, and there's mine as well!

 

Don't know the Mascall brothers do you?

[Gerbutt]

Hiya Grizzly, you'll love it on here, everyones very helpfull and you can learn loads from having a good old read too. I did my training last year and got 60% funding from the government through train 2 gain. Even though you have no work at the mo you're still self employed, so you should be able to get it too.

[Grizzly]

Thanks for the welcome, I'm sure I'll learn plenty from people on here. I've been ploughing through some of the threads and already have found plenty of things to interest me.

 

Some people are just naturally good at climbing . Not me Its taken me years to get to a pleasing speed

 

At 16 stone I don't think I'll be doing much climbing, it takes me long enough to climb the stairs

 

Don't know the Mascall brothers do you?

 

The name doesn't ring any bells.

 

I did my training last year and got 60% funding from the government through train 2 gain.

 

How did you go about it? I've had a look at some of their information and from what I've seen it all seems to be aimed towards employers wanting to train their staff.

[White Noise]

He ho I know a guy whos 17 stone and a very good climber . Although a tad heavy for Pruning operations lol .

[Grizzly]

I read on a website that I am maybe a little old now to be wanting to get into this industry. It said I may struggle as I'm over 30 (I'm 33) especially if I'm wanting to get my climbing ticket. I reakon there's much more to it than climbing and anyway, climbing aint the be all and end all! My neighbour is a landscape gardener (he has no work for me) and if he gets a tree job that involves climbing he'll get someone in to do it.

[White Noise]

Bull shxt Treewarrior climbs and hes new to the industry and 50 . I,m 39 and climbed for over 17 yrs .

[Gerbutt]

The chap I did my training through sorted it all out for me but I'll have a gander in my paper work tomorrow and sort out some numbers for you to ring. Don't worry about your age, if you're willing to graft like hell you'll have no probs.