Help/Advice wanted Re; tree climbing certification

[Al Baker]

Dear Aborists,

I joined this forum in the hope that I might get some advice from you. I've been informed already that what I want to do is virtually impossible (Unfortunately a bit like red rag to a bull for me).

I would like to fast track my way into Arboriculture as a professional tree climber.

I have no existing qualifications in Arboriculture.

I have been working in industrial rope access and SRT for over 20 years. I've been using chainsaws regularly for 15 years. I'm 47 years old and I live in Invernesshire.

 

Could any of you advise me as to the minimum certification to get started professionally and where I could find the relevant courses (preferably in Scotland).

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Al.

[Steve Bullman]

You can certainly fast track your way through the necessary CS units, in just a couple of short weeks. This wont make you a professional tree climber though, 20 years rope experience or not

 

Sure someone will be along soon with the exact CS units you currently require(i can't keep track).

 

Have you tried Barony college?

[Al Baker]

You can certainly fast track your way through the necessary CS units, in just a couple of short weeks. This wont make you a professional tree climber though, 20 years rope experience or not

 

Sure someone will be along soon with the exact CS units you currently require(i can't keep track).

 

Have you tried Barony college?

 

Thanks Steve,

no I haven't tried Barony college. I'll look into it.

I can appreciate that a short course will not equip me with many years of experience. However, I'd rather not continue tree climbing without certification.

 

Al.

[Ben Saxton]

CS30,31,38 and 39 minimum there you go steve:biggrin:

[Steve Bullman]

Knew there was a 3 in it somewhere

[Al Baker]

CS30,31,38 and 39 minimum there you go steve:biggrin:

 

Thanks very much Ben, that correlates well with my google research.

[Yorkshireman]

Welcome

 

as Steve says courses do not a climber make ,,, you've either got it or you aint

 

however 20yrs in the sky is a bleeding good start ,, most of the work is in your head rather than in your arm,,,,

 

its work planning , effective control of your time, anticipating what comes next

 

text books are fine to start you off but I'd suggest you learn from those that have been successful to give you aheads start , when you book a course ask as to who is likely to instruct you ... then be a sponge, ask lots of question, watch climbers climbing , when you climb spend enough time planning where & how your going to operate & that starts before you get into the tree , too many rush up the wrong side of a tree & then struggle far more than they would had they simply asseesed the trees structure first

,, then it gets sweaty I'm afraid ,, time in the tree will teach you whats good for you & what isnt

 

all the best Iain

[Al Baker]

Welcome

 

as Steve says courses do not a climber make ,,, you've either got it or you aint

 

however 20yrs in the sky is a bleeding good start ,, most of the work is in your head rather than in your arm,,,,

 

its work planning , effective control of your time, anticipating what comes next

 

text books are fine to start you off but I'd suggest you learn from those that have been successful to give you aheads start , when you book a course ask as to who is likely to instruct you ... then be a sponge, ask lots of question, watch climbers climbing , when you climb spend enough time planning where & how your going to operate & that starts before you get into the tree , too many rush up the wrong side of a tree & then struggle far more than they would had they simply asseesed the trees structure first

,, then it gets sweaty I'm afraid ,, time in the tree will teach you whats good for you & what isnt

 

all the best Iain

 

Hi Iain and thanks for the welcome.

20 years of rigging yep. At the cutting edge (not tree cutting admittedly) I've been flown all over the world to instruct and consult. So it's a while now since I've rushed up the wrong side of anything.

however, this dog is old enough to know that the trees are going to teach me something new. They're gonna sweat me I know it. We brushed shoulders several times already, I jammed saws, had cold sweat on the back of my neck and spilled blood on ill conceived speedlines.

 

Books are good yeah, though I have to say I found youtube to be the best resource so far. I've watched about 25 hours of tree dismantling and pruning footage from all over the world. Some nice examples of how to do and some of how not.

 

Questions, are good too, I'm going to be asking a few here. I reckon this is a really good resource.

Very glad I stumbled on it.

Edited January 8, 2012 by Al Baker

[Graham Jackson]

hi al have u tried hbs ring at tore for courses thats where i did mine or ringlink services ,got the numbers somewhere i'll look them out for u where in inverness-shire ru

[Al Baker]

Hi Jako,

I'm 20 miles South of Inverness on the South side of the Loch.

If you can find those numbers I'll buy you a pint.

Edited January 8, 2012 by Al Baker