Paul Barton

Are you asking if tree surgeons work in the winter? If so, the answer is yes! Whether it works out for you financially is another matter. If you work for a big company that have a steady flow of contract work and pay decent wages then you should be fine. If you're planning on setting up on your own then you should expect some significant fluctuations in work flow. Good luck (and welcome to the forum).

You could try using the email address on the job advert? experienced arborists | Tradkronan AB | Arbjobs.com find Arb jobs / Tree work

Now that would be awesome...I'd join you for that. 48 days non-stop...call it about 60 days with breaks. Hmmm, 2 months cycling south France, Spain, Morocco and Mauritania - yes please!! Anyway - well done Rob, you're a legend.

Ha! Is that a setup?!

There we are: Arbography.

Amazing effort. Where's the link for his sponsorship?

Maybe they are not pointless and you need to pay your girlfriend some attention?! Working 7 days a week for 7 months is not a balanced approach to life (in my opinion). I am particularly work-shy though

As you rightly say Dave, it's only a notification. The only decision the council can make is to place a TPO on the tree, or not to. As they have not made a TPO the client is free to carry on with the tree works. I am not aware of any precedents set whereby the tree owner notifies intent to do one thing and then does another e.g. notifies an intention to reduce and then fells the tree. I think this would be sketchy ground as it could be proved by the council that the owner misled the council. Ultimately though, if the TO regards the tree of some value he should probably make a TPO. I think in reality it more often comes down to trust and a working relationship - if the TO gets a notification from a trusted contractor then he may not bother with a TPO as he trusts that the work notified will be done and not more.

This is fantastic - I had been in touch with the software company in the US that does this but have been beaten to it. I hope it gets a good response from tree officers. Great to see a project focussing on tree benefits rather than tree risk.

Happy days! Congratulations.

Depends on the insurance of the person you are sub-contracting to...if there policy includes sub-contractors then no.

Hi Guy, Does your form take account of the targets and/or occupancy level? I can't tell if the "location exposure" column might refer to that, or if that is more about wind/visibility. How is size measured? Height / diameter / spread...or a combination of those? What is the 'value' to be entered for "contributions"? I like the simplicity of the form and imagine you have your own guidance notes for using it...I'm just trying to think how I would use it. I like that idea of a balanced approach that acknowledges contributions when assessing risk. The ISA BMP seems to have more of an emphasis on risk assessment based on likelihood and consequences of failure than your form.

Talisker for me. Laphroaig is just too peaty/medicinal for me.

If the tree is on the edge of a huge cliff....

I literally can't imagine anything more exhilarating and terrifying. Awesome!

It was Epic cycles yeah. They were excellent...back in the days when I had a few bob to splash on a very part-time hobby:thumbup1: Tenbury Wells to Malvern would be a nice ride - 22 miles of B roads and a pint in the Nags Head at the end!

Hmm, that's one word for it. Agony would be another!

I bought my bike from that smart roadbike shop near you Simon - have you been there? We should go for a ride sometime - me, Simon and chunkymunky are all local to Worcestershire aren't we? I need to get fit again - I have just entered the OMM for this October. Haven't done it since 2009.

In which case do whatever it takes to get some money flowing in...just don't price so cheap your costs are more than your turnover. Sounds like a hard time for you - especially feeling the responsibility to provide for a young family. I hope you find some more work soon.

- Fursty ferret - London Pride - Waggledance

Hmmm, I guess that depends which takes longer - the enquiry response from the LPA or the quote! You make a good point though - knowing the status in advance of meeting the client will impress them and make the process smoother for them. Out of interest, if the LPA ask you why you are making the enquiry, what do you say? I am always tempted to tell them it's none of their business but figure that doesn't grease the wheels very well:biggrin: If it were me (I rarely quote for tree works anymore) I'd still discuss the client's wishes with them before enquiring about a TPO...taking enough notes on site so that if the trees turns out to be protected you could suggest a more appropriate spec to your client that is more likely to be consented. I guess it really depends on the ease of access to information. If it's a 2 minute phone call or a quick online check then fine, do it first - but if (as I have known before) the LPA ask for a written enquiry and take days to reply then I certainly wouldn't bother without an instruction from the client.

I take your points, but would still say that checking for statutory protection on trees you are not instructed to work on is wasting your time! Isn't it better to make it very clear on your initial quotation that you will check for protection upon receipt of a written instruction to commence with the job?

I don't see why you would enquire about TPOs without an instruction from the client - without any kind of instruction you are both wasting your own time and, in my opinion, over-stepping the relationship with the potential client. I wish more LPAs would make TPO and CA information available online but sadly many tree officers do not want this as it would give them less time to react to threats of felling which are highlighted by 'enquiries'. IMO the way some tree officer's use this system is rubbish - I believe that TPOs should be served on notable trees regardless of a threat but the guidance refers to 'expedience' so it won't happen any time soon. Important trees are part of an areas character and heritage - much like listed buildings and monuments...but these aren't only protected when under threat are they?

I was watching thinking what kind of arboricultural firm could afford such a quality video?! Doh. Great video though.

I have recently bought this accounting spreasdheet: Accounts Spreadsheet - the EASY Range I am getting on pretty well with it so far and it seems to do all I need for £30 per year.