Andy Collins

And yes Tony, I've completely U-turned, before you say it!!

Mike (Prochip) injured himself quite badly a couple of weeks ago, I couldnt say if this is a direct reason, but it must have been a setback. Oh and we hired a tracked chipper of him a couple of weeks back.

Arent you being a little short-sighted? With kit, you can go out to work and earn some spends to help you through your Uni years, without it, you'll be a trolley-wolly at Tescos.

I see what you're saying Ian, but I was watching the Chelsea Show last night and the emphasis even there is well and truly on the environment, ie 95% recycling of all waste from show week. This Show is visited by the Big People,the movers and shakers in business, as well as the general public, and the message gets through to them. What they then need are the people to make it happen for them. Enter Hama stage left. This green, environmental issue is not going to be a flash in the pan, its here to stay IMO, even I have changed my way of thinking radically in the last few days on this issue, the penny dropped. Thinking "green" is no longer the domain of the hippy, but is becoming the way of life for all, and I think there will be big money for the few who get in there and advise on it.

I wouldnt waste too much more time working for others, grab the opportunity with both hands, use the momentum to drive your ideas forward now, otherwise someone else surely will. I'd hate to see you sitting here in a few years time typing "I wish I'd gone for it" threads! I remember sitting in truck at lunchtime a few years back with a certain co-worker, chewing over whether or not a British-based Arb forum idea would work..... and here we are!

Reading through this, I really think you 2 are onto something, and think it would suit Tony down to the ground. Using your passion & time-served knowledge I think you have found a niche market. now you just have to implement the ideas, and sell them to clients. Go for it Tony, its Hama-time!!

It took me many many years to finally get to where I wanted to be. I took jobs I didnt want to do to keep earning. I dont have a degree in anything, that was not part of my personal quest. I have been unhappy with my lot in the past, but now I have what I was seeking for (whatever it was!) But I'm no longer the young pup, ideals change, needs change. Its not always about money, but being happy and content. I'm sure you'll get to where you want to be one day Tony, and we all have times where the dreams feel as if they are being quashed. In your shoes, I would get out there, get the work you want, do the work the way you want to see it done, even if its just you and a lad. You should then be able to earn more money in 3 days than in a full week working for another, thus be able to afford to do the courses you wish to take, and the time to study for them.

[quote name=Monkey-D;301152 More importantly' date=' if this really is the first time you've trawled through this mightily impressive thread, then; 1/ Shame on you ! & 2/ who's modding this mod. .[/quote] 1) I trust you are more than capable, after all this sort of thread attracts a different kind of person. 2) We super-mods see-all, hear-all and of course know-all, if not we have our means of detection which automatically sets off the alarm bells in the cavern, which awakens the beast, which goes and gets its food bowl and rattles it on the bars till I press the Big Red Button which unleashes it on the unsuspecting victim. Tis said the howls of the undead can be heard long after termination, and some try to return in another form, only to be finally and cruelly put out of their misery once again, God rest their souls.

This being the 1st time I've looked at this thread, waaaay back on your opening pics Dave, I cant help wondering if originally there was a beech hedge planted beside the gate, and the remaining tree beside the gate was a result of the rest of the hedge being removed? I doubt a tree would have been intentionally planted at the time of the brick gateway, but a hedgerow would have made sense (to me!!) just a thought.

Still too high for this ground-hugger:biggrin:

I wouldnt!! (Its over 6feet tall anyway)

I think things are gradually changing for the better, the new generations joining the ranks are getting better informed on safety matters, the 'old school" types are getting older and retiring, frequent re-training updates us on safety matters and better techniques. But saying all this, and as I have said elsewhere I havent checked any stats, are we any safer now than back in the 80's? We are hearing of many serious incidents on here, is the message getting through? For all the risk assessments/method statements, H&S hoops to jump through, affiliations to AAAC and the like, people are still getting seriously injured or worse. Yes it is a high risk trade, and we accept that, but are the measures in place actually working, or merely safe-guarding someones Teflon-coated behind up the chain of command?

Unfortunately, comoon sense just aint that common!!

Though I can see where your coming from Shane, I see one BIG problem. I have, over the years, worked for many companies in several industries. One common theme regarding accident/incident reporting, was that "we dont put that in the accident book, dont want HSE seeing that". its irelevant to the size of the business, that attitude is rife. Its no good having laws/rules in place if no-one follows them. One company I worked for, I impaled the sole of my foot, I was told to say I did it at home, not in company time, but I wrote it in the Accident Book, but a while later the page was missing. We work in a very macho trade, who can fell the biggest tree, who can throw the trunk the furthest, who can get round the tree the fastest and all that stuff, a lesser man is seen as a wimp in many places. Until this way of thinking is changed, nothing will change.

Sounds like you guys are going to have a blast, I expect to see plenty of incriminating photos after:thumbup:

Aaaarrrrgh I have a Jo-Beau, bit like having a Betamax and you all have VHS:banghead:

Years ago on a job, (I was chargehand, and the boss was on site) a young new climber was told to climb a dodgy tree. He spoke up and said he didnt feel it was safe to climb. I inspected it following this and agreed it would be safer to fell than risk climbing. i went over to the boss and told him our decision. The boss laughed and ridiculed him for being a wimp and said he'd do it himself. I told him what i thought of the tree, but he climbed it. When he was near the top, having reached his TIP, he moved out on a limb a little, and the tree fell over, the roots had completely rotted away. Luckily the boss walked away (sheepishly) and had the mickey taken relentlessly, but it vindicated the young climbers judgement. Never be afraid to make a call, its your life on the line.

Hmmm dont want to delete the pic, as the posture of the guy, and the speech bubble sums it all up, and to change it now would spoil it. We're not here to be killjoys, but next time......

With deep concern last night, I read yet another RIP thread. Another loss to a family,and a member of a team somewhere in the UK. I'm hoping that the regularity of such reports is simply due to the fact that this forum is "live", ie that we hear of incidences instantly, rather than waiting for a HSE report to come out. With the tightening of H&S in our industry, surely we should be safer, reams of paperwork risk assessments, method statements and better training and certainly better PPE. I havent checked any H&S stats, so I couldnt start to say if the modern way is working, but I have noticed that several incidents have involved the more mature worker, rather than fresh-faced youths straight out of college. Only the other day, I was travelling home from a job, and passed another team working roadside with very little in the way of TM, no hi-viz, and certainly paying no attention to the busy traffic around. Were these from the travelling community? NO!! They were a professional company who had bid the cheapest price to get the work, and in doing so was putting their staff in danger. Its not too much to ask that we should expect to return home each evening, with all body parts as they were first thing in the morning. If your boss/team leader is pressurising you to cut corners, dont be afraid to question it, we are all responsible for each others safety at work. Please be careful out there, I, for one, dont wish to ever read another RIP/Serious accident thread.

I forgot to say at the time, but the weight on the timber lorry of the willow registered at 17tonnes:001_smile:

Nice smooth job as ever, good series of pictures:thumbup1:

If I get time at the back end of this week, I'll try and get back for some pics from t'other side. I value all opinions, else I wouldn't have asked, and my T/O's opinion will be sought and added to the equation.

Thought you'd have parked on the lawn mate:thumbup:

Looking to hire a tracked chipper for 1 maybe 2 days for work in the Folkestone area. Any reputable hire companies... or do you have one you can hire out. have Plant insurance, will pay a fair rate for a good machine. Please PM me if the latter.

Thank you Marcus, interesting information and duly noted. This particular tree appears to be very healthy (given the trunks condition) the target below comprises of a new park fencing, the area is not accessed except by myself and maybe the gardener. I'm in favour of leaving well be tbh, just wanted opinions from those with more experience on veterans. Thank you all:thumbup1: