benedmonds

I have a client with a knackered tree that we need to make safe, but the neighbour has informed me that a barn owl has been using the tree for the past 4 years.. Is there any protection for nesting sites that are used year after year? It could be argued that it is "in use.." Barn Owls don't lay their eggs until april/may so we won't be disturbing any nesting birds and I am going to try and retain the cavity if we can. Being a schedule 1 bird I want to ensure I have not missed anything...

It is currently a 'natural' landscape and is likely to remain that way. The clients ideas felt very disconnected.. I am going to steer towards a block of trees/spinney to act as the screen from the footpath and for the wind break screen I am going to push for a willow fedge, possibly incorporating changing rooms also made out willow..

Recommendations please, I went to the Ifor site and was confused by the choice. Everyday use will be for the stump grinder but I can hire 2.6 ton diggers very reasonably so want the option of using it for that. Always amazed at price of used ifors which seem to depreciate so slowly....

Looking for some ideas for a client, he has a lake next to a river. He has already planted a hawthorn hedge but wants a second higher evergreen layer. At present it is rough pasture, oak, ash hawthorn etc.. Not manicured and native.. He wants a meadow, orchard, a spinney of pines, (which I an not sure about but can live with there is a block across the river) Some walnuts, which would not be my first choice but as chalara and global warming continues could be good. He also wants to screen of several areas to provide seclusion from a footpath and to act as a wind break. He suggested laurel, rhododendron and bamboo.. I think these are all bad ideas and would look out of place and potentially be invasive exotics.. Any ideas. It is decent rich soil, I like natives/native looking trees. But think it is worth considering future changes in climate..

We have had the hb20 8 years.. it is a good machine. But even bandits don't last forever...

What do people think, we have had the HB20 for many years now and it has been a good machine that was head and shoulders above the rest when we brought it.. It has had a few issues recently and it is now only firing on one cylinder. Should we get another HB20 or HB20n or has something come along that is now much better. Bearing in mind we have a bigger grinder so access is paramount..

my wife got a 3310, did not like it. txting was a pain after your used to a smart phone. What is wrong with having a smart phone? You don't need a top end one and they can be pretty robust.. my samsung s7 is even waterproof apparently.

Did you use the big bandit for chipping.. surely that eats everything easily...

It's pretty difficult to be sure when buying used it's not stolen. I got it originally off ebay in 2004.. pretty impressed it's still going..

I asked for engine serial number.. still waiting... But to be honest I don't want to be involved. I have been paid by insurance company so there is no benifit to me.. The police were useless and not willing to investigate.. I guess you can't blame them as they don't have the resources..

Anyone used the Tundra, looks like allot of pickup.. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TOYOTA-TUNDRA-4-7-I-FORCE-2008-57-REG-SINGLE-CAB-IN-METALLIC-BLUE/123617335597?hash=item1cc82ad92d:g:3CEAAOSw4F9cTzqf:rk:1:pf:0

I can't be sure it's mine but it does look like it and it was not a very common machine. It is possible that the modifications made are a coincidence. Pic's of our machine are easy to find on the web so they could have even copied taken the mods from the internet.... The extended spout is the obvious trigger, but also pretty sure the lombardini engine is not the original one and the one we put in. The unmodified original had a turbo and an air filter sticking out of the side as shown in the photo, ours did not when it was stolen.. Ours was also at a trailer place at the time as the hitch was broken and they craned it onto a truck when they nicked it. So that fits with the sticking it on to the trailer. The current owner is also quite probably NOT the thief as he states he has had it 5 years and it was back in 2011 it was stolen. I am sure we could probably dig out engine numbers to ID, I called Manchester police on 101 and apparently they are "an emergency service" and not interested in investigating it.. So if you are selling it your free to get on with it.. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kwik-Chip-222-turbo-Wood-Chipper-mounted-on-an-Ifor-Williams-trailer/303037590270?hash=item468e72aafe:g:x8wAAOSwFlJcJzVh:rk:1:pf:0#shpCntId

Our chipper was stolen 6 or 7 years ago. 90 percent sure it has just come up on ebay.. Is it worth reporting? Who would I report it too? I guess it would belong to the insurance company.. It looks like a piece of rubbish now and I don't want it back..

Thats high praise.

Maple on tour....?

Some of my guys complain when they don't get a picture (They also do sometimes complain when I have quoted from one....) I often combine google earth with my photos. It does take time though.. Which is why i am interested in trying Arb Pro.. I also love google street view. Regularly quote from it... It can be useful in looking at rates of decline over the years.

I will deffo take you up on that.. when I get time..

Yes. I had been considering trying Arb Pro. But not willing to sign up without having a better play. I checked out your web site and saw in your FAQ you do not have a free trial so shelved the idea... I will check out the Demo.

You should change your FAQ's https://www.arbprosoftware.com/faqs

What dont i have a clue about? You have an amazing set up. But the pic shows a vehicle with a sticker that says 20m exclusion zone with several members of staff within that. The sticker is pointless.. A bit like stikers that say construction vehicle..

you have to be one of the few people waiting for ash die back to take hold...As this setup has to be the way forward...

But what use is this information? The reports are NOT going to be conclusive, they should identify the level of risk of subsidence if the tree is remains. My guess is there would be a moderate or high risk depending how far from the house it is.. But that doesn't help much and they want the tree out because of light anyway.... If the structural engineer states there is a high risk of heave if the tree is felled, your only option is to retain the tree and hope it never dies.. There is nothing practical (that I am aware of) you can do to prevent any heave and I think we have agreed that staged reductions are pointless.

Rather than trash the employment thread I thought I would start a new one. Beddows are seeking a member of staff and offering what looks to me like a very good day rate. 220 days at £180 a day equals £39,600 a year. Which is going to be more than many small company owners make, and definitely more than most make in the first few years trading.. All for allot less stress.. How much is the equivalent cost to a business for PAYE. My estimates of financial cost to the business of an equivalent full time position after NIC, Pension, training, ppe etc etc. would be around £30,000 But how much is having permanent employment, sick leave, guaranteed work worth? Not to mention possibilities of progressing in the business..

Has anyone ever had a case where a tree has been felled due to subsidence only for it to then suffer from heave?

Looks a lot more then 6m tall unless it has been topped just above the photo..? Still not sure what a structural engineer will tell you... Or what you could do if one did say heave was likely.. I guess you could just keep the tree. I am happy to be corrected.. Subsidence risk is more likely then heave imo.