Paul Barton

That's uncalled for. If you have nothing constructive to post please don't bother. Sent from my iPhone using Arbtalk

I use FreeAgent. It's not an app, but a really good website you login to to create your invoices and manage your accounts. I can send you a 10% off code if you're interested.

Don't rub it in Dave! How's the new job going Nick?

Lots of ash appear to be under stress this year. I suggest you approach a local arborist / consultant for an inspection of the tree if you are concerned about its potential to damage your house. Sent from my iPhone using Arbtalk

Very nice. That fence looks expensive...did you have to justify the tree's value to get that put in?

That would certainly spice things up wouldn't it! I gather Mr B was quite scathing of Kew's approach to tree risk management. Just doing his job I guess.

Here's a running order for the day - it promises to be an interesting event. The Programme 0830-0925 Registration and coffee/tea 0925-0930 Welcome (Mark Chester, Executive Director, The Consulting Arborist Society) The event will be chaired by Adam Riedi, past Chair of the AA Scottish Branch 0930-1015 Jeremy Barrell ‘Decision making for tree managers – how to get it right and sleep tight on windy nights’ 1015-1045 Jeremy Barrell will answer questions on his presentation, and any other issues to raise. 1045-1115 Coffee break 1115-1230 Dr. David Lonsdale will share his thoughts, followed by questions and discussions 1230-1330 Lunch break. 1330-1415 Jeremy Barrell ‘Will we ever be able to define how much tree management is enough to meet the duty of care? Followed by questions and discussion 1415-1515 Dr. David Lonsdale will share his thoughts, followed by questions and discussions 1515-1530 Comfort break. Bottled water will be available to delegates during this time. 1530-1620 Open forum. Questions raised by delegates will be discussed, with comments from the speakers and audience discussion. 1620-1630 Closing thoughts: Mark Chester, Executive Director, The Consulting Arborist Society Questions A key focus of this seminar is discussion based around questions delegates may have. To enable informed discussion, we ask that questions are sent in advance. Send to [email protected]

Letting the grass grow within the fence would be a good idea although some might find it less aesthetically pleasing. Maybe a couple of Rottweilers leashed to the stem would work. Sent from my iPhone using Arbtalk

If you are coming along to the show tomorrow or Saturday, please come and say hi at the CAS stand (T5 on the site map - opposite the catering tent). Mark Chester and Bob Widd will be there to answer any questions you may have. Come and find out about the new 'Young Trees' course to be held at Barcham Trees this July, and the Experts Question Time in Edinburgh.

I'm following so far - the diagrams are very helpful, thanks.

It's a shocker isn't it!

£3400 doesn't seem much for destroying two trees and damaging a third. Still, it sends out the right message I guess. Agree with you though Craig - some idiot built way too close to that tree.

The Consulting Arborist Society is hosting an event at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh on Tuesday July 1st. They will be giving presentations on the whole can of worms that is managing the risks posed by trees. This has been a hot topic on Arbtalk and the UKTC recently as the merits of different approaches to tree risk assessment have been debated. David and Jeremy have lots of experience in this area, both having acted as expert witnesses in high profile court cases involving fatalities caused by trees. There will be plenty of time allowed for questions to be put to the speakers, so bring along your burning issues to open up some good discussion CAS_EQT2_Flyer.pdf

Hi all, Just a note to let you know that this new sub-forum has been created to help the members of Arbtalk ask anything at all about CAS. News about forthcoming events such as seminars and courses will be posted here too - feel free to ask any questions about them, or general questions about membership of CAS.

Great story well told - thanks David.

Charlie and Lola answers more

Seems a shame to fell it. Make sure you check for Conservation Area/TPO.

Take photos of the work and the van in case the council need evidence to prosecute. Sent from my iPhone using Arbtalk

It does, thanks.

Well, as usual I have got lost in this discussion as my brain started to swim with all the numbers. Perhaps it's just me:blushing: One thing I have noticed: all the workings out that Acer has done to replace the descriptive words used in TRAQ with a numerical value start on the premise that: Imminent = 1/1 Severe = 1/1 But "imminent" does not mean "certain" or "definite". Perhaps it means something more like "highly probable" or "almost certain". Either way, I don't think you can equate it with 1/1 (i.e. 100% probability). Perhaps the upper threshold of 1/1 is too high, and that has affected all the other values which Acer has suggested - thus making TRAQ seem more risk averse than the QTRA method. It would be good to have some wider contributions to this thread as currently it is being dominated by two people that clearly have abnormally large brains. After all, if these risk assessment methods are to be used by a large number of arborists, they need to be simple enough for the average person like me to understand:001_cool:

Stunning job! Sent from my iPhone using Arbtalk

Thanks for the link, will look out for that on the market. Looks small enough to attach to a bag strap or something to keep hands free. Sent from my iPad using Arbtalk

I'm not sure how it's going to pan out trying to assign any kind of numerical value to these descriptive words but I like the way you are trying to find common ground between both systems. I haven't given this a lot of thought but how about: Imminent = 1/1 Probable = 1/1 – Greater than >1/2 Possible = 1/2 - 1/1000 Improbable = 1/1000 - 1/1000000 I'm not very clever (particularly with maths) so hope I haven't contributed utter nonsense!

My tuppence worth: Hardware: I use a Getac GPS PDA for data capture using software that requires the Windows operating system: http://en.getac.com/pdf/PS535F.pdf. It's a good little unit - the GPS is fast and pretty accurate (not sub-metre though) and it's small and light so you can stick it in your pocket when you need both hands free. I have recently bought an iPad Air with a Lifeproof waterproof case. I really like the bigger screen - makes it easier to view plans and enter information on to spreadsheets if you use them. The 'numbers' app has some great features such as forms that complete each column, and drop-down menus. Software: For GPS data collection I use Digiterra or Pocket GIS (but I'm not very good at PocketGIS yet). I think Digiterra is about £750. It comes with a desktop version which is basically a GIS - so you can manipulate data, create maps, export as different formats... I am looking at some cheap options to turn the iPad in to a GPS data collector. The best looking one I have found so far is GIS Pro (GIS Pro & GIS KitGarafa | Garafa). I haven't yet bought it so can't give a proper review, but it appears to do all the things I need. I particularly like that it can cache aerial photos from Google Maps etc so you can use it offline in the field. You can also load in your own geo-referenced site plans if you need to. Hope that helps. Paul

Yes of course! Sent from my iPhone using Arbtalk