Andy Collins
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Everything posted by Andy Collins
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The thing is, I want him to want more, I want him to help me and himself, and I want him to want to do it. He is a conscientious lad, gets on with tasks methodically and cares about how its done. I dont want some idiot who couldnt give a damn, thats why I offered him a tenner an hour. I shant be breathing down his neck, checking his every move, the jobs will there to do, and he'll be his own "boss" if you like. He's happy with the whole arrangement now. Our kids want to be needed, and loved, that doesnt change as they get older, but they still need direction and guidance, and above all they want to feel that they are important to you. He's no longer a seedling struggling to grow, or a whippy sapling fighting up through the canopy, but a young tree that needs occasional attention to maturity. They still frustrate the hell out of you now and again tho
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Well, it seems the carelessly left laying around job ad has done the trick, asked him to lay the table while we fetched fish and chips, and he had seen the ad. This brought the topic up at the table, without awkwardness. He's going to start next Saturday doing maintenance My way works
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Writing a management plan (5year) to cover trees in Con Area
Andy Collins replied to Andy Collins's topic in General chat
Thanks, all good stuff so far -
Reading this has really got me thinking, I can see where Stevie is coming from, cos it says it under his name! My lad works hard during the week, I'm friends with his Manager and my brother is working with him, so I have no worries about that. But he moans that his apprenticeship salary is so low, which it is. I tried to offer what I thought was a fair amount for "unsocial" hours ie saturday morning, essentially triple time. Yes, I dont want to be spending my time doing menial chores, because I'd rather be out pricing more work, selfishly. I dont want either of my boys to have to work like I did, dont forget this new minimum wage did not exist in my time, but I expect them to learn a few core values, to prepare them for the real world. Part of this is if you want to live on bread and butter, you work a week, if you want jam on it, then you have to be prepared to do extra.
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Sitka spruce growth rates
Andy Collins replied to marcin's topic in Forestry and Woodland management
Welcome back Oliver -
How to get into the forestry industry?
Andy Collins replied to Stu's topic in Forestry and Woodland management
Felling work on piece rate is hard graft, day in, day out slog. Regardless of the conditions (weather), pushing yourself to meet your targets. Its tough on the body, back in particular, as the pace is relentless. BUT it is a fulfilling job, and enjoyable if you are of the right mindset. I'm not going to dress it up fancy for you, if yu want to do it go in with your eyes wide open. PS, what area are you in? -
Stevie, I havent huffed and puffed at him at all, I provided a solution to his problem, he wants more money, I offered the opportunity to earn it. That opportunity was turned down, to my frustration, as I believed I was helping him. Perhaps I wasnt, perhaps I was being selfish by thinking it was something he could do. The solution is for him to try and earn his money elsewhere, and do it the hard way. Life is full of hard knocks, wrapping them in cotton wool and soft-soaping them does them no favours, it will not prepare them for the big wide world. In a nutshell Stevie, I disagree with you on this. Ever your 2,399th fan, Andy
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If I remember rightly, Jones have several "satellite" companies around the country, so there may well be someone nearer than you think. Pm Jonesie on the forum and I'm sure he'll be able to help you. or click on this link: http://www.frjonesandson.co.uk/about/uk-wide-outlets/
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Me time, girlfiriend time Tried suggesting it would give him more disposable income for going out.....didnt work! D'oh just had a flash of inspiration, think I'll write out an advert for the shop window, and "carelessly" leave it on the table so he sees it by "accident"
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I had a "Wood-Wasp" for several years, a long thin fibre-glass wedge on a strop, ideal for felling as you could walk from tree to tree and never lose your wedge. Now I've lost it!!
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I base everything on my own experience when I was in my teens. Work was extremely hard to come by, esp as a youngster with no formal training, but sheer grafting got me better money than many "educated" types. I suppose I tend to look back and expect them to be the same. Perhaps I'm the unreasonable one, maybe he thinks I what I expect is unreasonable? I dunno.
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Had my youngest bemoaning the fact that he doesnt earn enough as an apprentice mechanic. To remedy this I offered him the chance to top his income up with some Saturday maintenance work for me. Basically pressure washing machinery, checking tyre pressures, checking oils routine stuff really, and I offered him a tenner an hour for the service. He is currently on 3.60 p/hr as apprentice @ 19y/old, so I do sympathise somewhat, but he just doesnt want to do the Saturday work, which is to help free my time up so I have more time for pricing and paperwork. What is it with the blighters these days??? He's a ard worker at his job, but shut the door at the end of the week and its "his time off"
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I wish to write a management plan to cover ongoing works in a conservation area, to present to the council. My thoughts are to include: A brief summary of the history of the site A description of the work intended, spread over the next 5 years to cover the maintenance of veteran trees, removal of "unsuitable" trees ie self set sycamores. Year on year planting of specimen trees. Site plan? Any suggestions for anything I have not covered above please?
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Top job Steve
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Aye, oh and thats a tenner for each "Aye" put up or shut up
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Its a long shot, but try Fieldens for a UTV/ATV, as far as I'm aware they hire out. Fieldens Ltd | ATVs Ask for Keith or Ben, weekdays only at this time of year.
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Finally the forwarding trailer made it appearance this week, not bad as it was ordered in August! Just in time for next weeks woodland work (1000 ton of Syccie to extract) Dont ask anything about it, its not mine but my mates.
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Maybe a fine for starting a totally pointless thread about pointless threads? lets say 20quid for this one? If you dont want to read about something, then dont.
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On the beech we took down yesterday, the 660 was cutting at the same speed as the 880, couldnt separate them side by side, I was actually impressed by its ability again. 0f course the 090 rocks too:thumbup1:
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TIMBERRRRRRRRRRR
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Haha that Plane, be more fun to fell it than to try and save it
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Whoops typo Dave sorry:thumbup: Anyways, its dead now:biggrin:
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You the man Mondey D. There were decayed Merip fruiting bodies everywhere around the base, no sign of anything else. So I can only report what is seen (fact) rather than what I believe may have been there (conjecture) But seeing as you have a far broader knowledge of things fungi related, I assume you are indeed correct (maybe) :001_tt2:
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From what i could tell, as we disced the butt up, it rapidly expanded from the highest point (about 10feet) to ground level. Even in the lowest two sections, about 10" thick, the spread of decay drastically increased. Makes you wonder how severe it was say a foot or 2 below ground, and in what condition the structural roots were in.
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Small amount of decay in the timber, about the size of a saucer at 10feet high. Targets, had the tree failed, were a tennis court, ornamental garden, and a very busy public area due to wedding parties have photos taken amongst the trees. Or if had toppled backwards it would hit the Sequoia behind. Its in the grounds of Haughley Park, where the popular Weird & Wonderful Wood weekend event is held annually.
