Andy Collins

Some of the time today, when replying to posts, takes a lot longer than normal to load the page. Normal flicking through the forum and reading posts is a quick as ever though. There you go, loaded in milliseconds this time

Sorry, yes you're correct of course about the 3rd D re dying. But I do know many trees get removed before planning even gets notified of future developments, so if no TPO or Con Area is already in place there is little that can be done. I know of one oak in particular, where a drive is to be put in the future, and the tree is in the way. I have asked the TO to TPO it, but there is no imminent threat to it as the proposed drive has not had the plans put in yet. But I have been approached to remove the tree, I know there is imminent threat. The tree will eventually be removed before the plans go in, nothing I can do now.

I use a logging tongs holster, the leather holster for billhooks seem to be custom made to suit different style bills. I found some nice leather ones, unfortunately I can't remember where now. I did google it at the time,

Why should any subby have his own PLI if he is purely subbing out? The main employer wins the job, takes the risk, makes the profit, it is up to him to employ the right person for the job. Therefore, if he knows someone is a bit careless, it is the employers fault if something is broken, pay a bit more and get a better subby, or pay a bit less and accept the risk. Accidents will happen on a rare occasion, and this has to be taken into account. If the level of damage is unacceptable, then get another subby, plenty advertise here and elsewhere for work.

TOs have little effect on a future development site if the trees are removed before the plans are submitted Nimby. It's an age old dodge, unless they fall in a con area or TPOd. I'm also guessing the TOs are going to be inundated with TPOd Ash removals under DDD, and as such will probably follow our judgement in some cases.

Cracking shots there, nice kit, nice teamwork, good to see how you're getting on Tom all the best to you and CTS for the future.

I could have had four large Ash already this week, simply because the leaves are falling. One is near a proposed development, and the tree will obviously shut out the light on the south side, and may even affect the siting of the proposed dwelling. I forecast that certainly a percentage of these will get felled, one way or another.

I'm more concerned how many currently unaffected Ash are going to be removed under the auspices that they are losing leaves, etc, dodgy geezers will have a field day. A developer struggling to get rid of a tree on a plot, oh it's Ash, get rid. And so on.

How many times do we have to be asked if that Ash can come down because it has "that disease"? I havent seen the disease yet, but I have seen a lot of Ash losing their leaves....it's autumn how many unscrupulous tree cutters are going to fell perfectly healthy Ash on the back of this. I think this is going to be more tragic than the Chalara. Sad times.

I was speaking to a lady this morning who is a botanist on one these discussion groups for the Government and she has cited and pushed for the Swedish approach. No final decision has been made at this point, it's stlll under discussion. The preventative idea is to stop human and related traffic carrying the spores further. This is not to totally prevent it, but to help reduce travel. It is accepted that air borne spores will still travel. Newspapers rarely give all the facts only what they think will make good reading.

Snow???? Joking right Jon?

I'm going out on a limb here and going to say Oregon Waipoua. I've had a pair quite a while now, and in warmer weather they seem the most comfortable. I also like the large HD press stud pockets. Mine are wearing well to date.

Have the best growers you can sensibly afford, after a year get another pair, hopefully before wear and tear has shredded your last pair. I do this every year, finally binning the most knackered pair. This way you're spreading the cost, you have a nice dry pair in the event you get soaked, and you can wash and dry the manky pair occasionally. I'm not going to recommend types, I have Stretch Airs, O Waipoua, etc in my cupboard, probably got 4 pairs on rotation at minute. I hate putting on dirty wet clothing the following morning.

Blimey, get out the saws quick, Mr Humphries says it's ok .

I got myself the Sealey version of this earlier this year. Slow and steady, does the job. It'll not break any production records, but it's dependable enough for home use. Worth the money IMO

Didn't the name revert to Ustulina sometime back? Now everyone calls it Kret.... Can't spell it it either . Fell fell fell before Mr Humphries pops along

Well, there we have it. Two opinions, poles apart. Obviously, if you want it to work it will, which ever way round you do it. So anyone care to share which grants and handouts are available to new starts? I dont know, the world is changing so fast these days, I just can't keep up

Man descended from the trees for a reason!! Perhaps, those that didn't became extinct. We do know that those who did evolved into modern man (and woman) and survived. Based on this thoroughly (and slightly Tongue in cheek) scientific theory, don't do it.

I don't think there is anything wrong with getting grants etc, Gareth. I think for the majority of people it is just not the way they've done it, (including myself). The old way was to learn the trade, put the hours in for someone else, similar to an apprenticeship in a way. Then in time move on and set yourself up. Maybe some resent the fact that there is help out there to get you going I don't know. I do know this is now a heavily over subscribed trade, too many chasing to little work, and only the strong will survive. But who is to say who this should be?

Ok here's some food for thought. We, and I include myself here, always jump on this kind of thread because it's just the way we feel it should be done, it's the way I did it and many others I'm sure. Is it that we cannot bear to think that there is in fact an easier way to get there? I doubt there is one "successful" arborist run business, I mean successful as Richard Branson, not successful as in still going, treading water to pay the bills. Let's face it, tree work is not the choice of entrepreneurs to get rich quick, and no serious businessman would invest real amounts of money into it. Many of us do tree work for the passion, the love of the work and the outdoors, most of us are not "real" businessmen, as a result many will fail in time. What is to say a person with business acumen couldn't make a real go of it, employ the right people to do the right work, even if straight out of college with minimal trade experience. I still think we're all right, been there done that and all that, but just trying to see things from another angle.

What I was trying to get across last night was an opinion to help allreaders, not just the OP. Being s/e is not an easy option, in fact it's probably the toughest choice, the easy choice being on the books with all the "luxuries" that employment brings, and lack of reliability short term is a problem, hence why I suggest having different options to fall back on.

As Treequip says, direct supervision only, the supervisor cannot be doing anything else other than watching over.

That's all good then, sorry I'm tired and was typing as I thought it. It is tough when you're let down at the last minute, and is a pita because it's too late to try and sort another source at short notice.

Hi Ian, welcome to the forum . My thoughts are that you would need a much bigger saw to power an Alaskan mill. I run an 090 on mine. The best person to talk to would be Rob D on here, for further advice.

I find this difficult to understand. I've been a subbie for the majority of my career, and was rarely let down, maybe half a dozen times. There is always something to do, and in the event of being let down, you have a back up plan of some sort. If you are truly self employed, you have to back things up. You sell logs, you do anything to keep your money rolling. You don't put all your eggs in one basket, if you do you should be employed, not s/e. Being s/e, you are a business, yes a very small business, but you have to keep your business afloat by always keeping your eyes open, and planning ahead. In answer to the OPs question, no, you can't charge a cancellation fee, or you can, but it'll probably be your last day there.