Andy Collins

Very nice bench

Libellula depressa (Miserable dragonfly:biggrin:) seen today.

I'll not argue with that!

Double bubble :elefant:

What tyres are you running at the moment, I've got Kenda Executioners up front, and Mud runners rear, and it'll pull across clay plough in 4WD no probs.

Come and introduce yourself at the Arbtalk stand, sure you'll meet some other members.

Look here (item 10) Forest Warning Signs

I know of a secure roadside compound, with cctv, security etc, kids got in over a holiday weekend and climbed on a pile of pipes (heavy ones) and inevitably the pipes rolled crushing one kids leg badly. The company got fined for failing to adequately secure the stack, and failing to keep the site secure. It was few years ago, i"ll see if i can find a link of the case.

Lets not chew over the old fat any longer, yes criticism was over-due in the past, but Paul (AA Techie) came on here and took that criticism on the chin on behalf of the AA. I have seen now that he (and others) have taken note of the greatest voice in the Arb sector, and are starting to implement changes in their organisation. I, for one, applaud their efforts and thank them for taking time out to listen to us lets work together with them so as to make it beneficial to all.

Its what ever you want it to mean Frank, thats whats even cooler about the job.

No Ben, I bought the front assembly from the States, a company called Swisher. Fieldens only stock Logic and Wessex gear. The Swisher atv mounting kit runs right under the machine, attaching to the front steering arms and right through to the towhitch at the back. Its also leaf sprung to take the weight off the steering. The lifting crane is home-built modified engine lift, and is very precise when reversing up to a planting pit.

With so many different aspects to this job, from tricky take-downs to planting, using big saws, big kit, down to the simplest pleasures. From great highs of a successful job to the heart-rending disappointment of hitting a hidden nail with a 4 foot bar and re-sharpening for what seems like an age at the end of the day. I had a cracking day yesterday, job going well and looking good, then my mate sent me a pic of one of his jobs, collecting buzzard chicks for the RSPB for ringing, aint they just soooo cute ( in a masculine predatory kinda way!) Lets see and hear your tales of why this is just the coolest career.

The Multi-tasking Mulch Moving Machine in action! I have pushed this quad to its limits in the last few days, the bucket scoop is approx 4feet wide and the rhodies rootballs are about that in diameter, wet they weigh about 300kg. Moving mulch it moves just over 2 large wheel barrow-loads, saving a lot of labour.

On this job, it is more a chance to have a taste of Chelsea, if these plants were not sold off they end up in a skip/chipped up. The idea is not to re-create the Chelsea garden into his garden, but incorporate some of the planting. I did not think that the garden shown in Landscape Man series fitted in too well in its new home, hence the idea of utilising various plants and fitting them in to the existing planting scheme. Plants I declined included 12ft bamboos, various tree ferns and a 15feet high yew hedge! As far as the delay waiting for the hay harvest costing extra on the job, this is a necessary balance between the client and his wife to keep the status quo, therefore a cost he had to endure!

Fair question, and was a matter for debate between myself and the Landscape Architect. I have to consider several factors, H&S of the family's young children, health of trees being the most prominent. They are big trees if they for any reason fell over, they are more stable in the ground. I pre-filled the pits with a lot of water to ensure they are at least moist. The heat the last few days has been quite high, the rootballs were very dry, they'd been in Chelsea for a week, lifted and put on trucks, sat in traffic for hours, stood out until we could get them in the ground. They are worth 3k each, what would you do? The smaller Pinus bushes are on top of the ground, with the spare soil piled around the rootballs following a good drenching.

here's the comprehensive list of plants to date: Pinus sylvestris 'Watereri' - scots pine shrub Rhododendron yakushimanum Rhododendron cunninghamia Cornus controversa - Giant dogwood Cornus kousa - Szechuan strawberry Viburnum plicatum - Japanese snowball 3x 7.5m Pinus syvestris (I mis-wrote both of the Cornus, and had to check on the Rhodies)

Er no! Thats what gardeners are for

Sure Lee can write in C&G on the ticket:sneaky2:

Sickenly soppy, but 24years of marriage, 2 lads who have grown into men and are both sons I am proud of in their own ways. Oh and I get to do a job I like, for the toughest boss in the world.

I have on order now another 16 dwarf rhodies to infill around the others, they wont be in for 3weeks or so! The "Island" will also be done in around 3 or so weeks once the hay has been cut (women ) so plenty still to do, and the biggest part.

Time will tell Tommer, Scots are a hardy breed and I've seen worse in the woods survive, its more the aesthetics as much as anything. Any Hoo, todays work was to move the rest of last nights delivery into the holding area, get some of the rhodies in the bed and mulch entire bed so its clean and tidy for the weekend. The two Very Large Cornus were dropped in the planting pits last night, so had to back-fill those in (Cornus alternifolia, Cornus kousca), think I'm going to transplant Kousca into a better place to show it off more! A few pics from today, showing the quad shifting the smaller, yet still too heavy for 2 men, plants around. The bucket has saved a lot of time when back-filling and shifting the mulch around the beds. Little crane came into its own for positioning plants over the pits.

Just pull a sheet over your head and cut out some eye-holes

Yes Dave, crackin on is what I like:biggrin: Both the trucks have been in now, I needed to get the plants in the ground asap due to the heat. Trying to keep those rootballs moist was my biggest concern. The Pines are temporarily in a holding area, they will be transplanted to create an "island" down in the pasture in 3 or so weeks time, once the hay has been cut. The surplus soil is to be used to create the "island", my idea being to create a natural focal point from the house. To a certain extent, the pressure is now off, I can now get back to enjoying the job, hopefully I'll rattle off a couple of pics as I progress now. I've learned a lot about logistics on this job, co-ordinating the movement of plants from Chelsea to Suffolk, having to fit in with Chelsea's clearance schedule nearly blew my plans out of the water. I also learned that just because someone says they can unload trees, doesnt mean they can! Equally, my faith in others abilities were bolstered by Glenns' dedication to help me yesterday, he went far beyond his brief as a digger driver, top man, and now a good friend.

Digging out 4feet deep tree pits and there is absolutely no moisture at the bottom, emptying a bowser full of water into each pit to give the trees a chance (temporary pits until we can re-locate trees into the correct area)

Too dry!! I'm having to put a bowser of water into each tree pit, takes for ever to refill. The soil has been 'improved" with 30% rotted manure, 30% soil improver, and existing topsoil mixed up. All very time consuming tasks, the day ran away.