Amelanchier

hang on a mo. If the use of natural fracture pruning (NFP) has a demonstratible benefit to the ecosystem whats the problem? Is it really a issue that our work might be mistaken by laymen for cr*p pruning? This is a technique for specific areas not the high street. If you don't like it, never mind. I work private and in local gov. and I spec it as much as possible in the right spots. I think we have a conflict here between tradition urban arb and eco-arb/woodland arb. Different tools for different jobs. Over here best practice aims toward 'invisible' tree work. The idea being the best possible thin/reduction/lift/clean is not noticeable by joe public. Not always achievable but something to aim for IMO Give it a couple of years and you wouldn't be able to tell. I'll take some photos of real / fake fractures and give you a test if you'd like? C'mon we have to take arb further than shigo, otherwise we're just sticking our heads in the sand.

Sometimes something done for a good reason looks to all intents and purposes like something done for no reason.

was that TCC in brigadoon?

Its the english open tree climbing competition occuring at the same time as the Sparsholt college open day.

Usaully down to venues and insurance mate. And its cold and wet Shrugborough = Staffordshire somewhere

I'm doing my usual English & Welsh. Should be interesting as I don't climb much anymore!! Peter, is the missus competing this year?

What's wrong with papers? Its the most up to date info available. Hell, getting most arbs to read anything is hard enough, you might as well make it short...

Yep...

Don't think Mr. Laver will mind if I post an email he sent to me here. Happy new year to you all Here are a few dates for your diary. We are also running some student work shops, hopefully before the student event. Any one out there who would be will to come along and give a little back please get in touch. We also need to start build our list of willing helpers for the year, so if you would like to judge or tec, contact Paul Searle. First up is the student comp So all you Senior climber who are free please come and help out at the student comp. Judging is a great way for you to improve your weak events, as you will really see where and how to score the max points. Rules updates are on the way so watch the main ISA ITCC web pages. So the dates are Student TCC April 25th 26th Caple Manor College Enfield London English Sparsholt open day 16th 17th May Winchester Irish Lisnavagh Arklow 31st may 1 June AA Trade Fair 13 14th June ETCC 21st June Turin Italy "Keep up keep up So get a bloody move on".... "Alright alright"... This is the self preservation society UK&I 4-6th July SHUGBOROUGH, (TBC meeting 31st Jan) ITCC July 26th Welsh Newport Tredegar House Newport south Whales 30th 31st Aug APF September 18th 19th 20th AA Conference 14th 17th September All the best look forward to seeing your soon Alex Laver UK&I TCC Chairman

I'm nearing completion of the myerscough Foundation degree in Arb and can't recommend it highly enough. Fairly flexible as well but dig deep as it about a grand a year for three years.

I'm all talk these days.

Its like a 'loss-leader', to borrow a hideous marketing term. You're showing everyone in a high profile area what a careful and ecologically considerate company you are in the hope that they'll ask you to top out their leylandii hedge.

I like a good natural fracture cut but its a risky one to spec if anyone else is going to do it. I often end up asking to see previous examples of their work, usually sorts the cans from the can'ts.

Well I couldn't see the collar or a ridge so I just went for it. Nah no MEWP, access was too tight. Ladder worked just fine.

It did before I hacked it. Sorensen Veg Consultancy ha ha. That would be a prototype silky that I've got on test.

Did this little crown lift job today. Had to do it on my own with no groundsman because my price was too low and I couldn't afford to pay anyone. Also had to be done pretty quick as it was in a conservation area and I hadn't notified the council, one of those stealth jobs y'know. I didn't bother with rigging either, just whapped it off in big bits. Homeowner will clear up afterwards I suppose. Overall I was quite happy with the result, I think I'll be back to take a bit more off though.

Didn't think so mate, structural root collar flare and all that. Best to ask a pro though!!

Looks good, nice job. What was the final spec on the reduction? 10% of total crown dimensions? From what you were saying about it in your earlier posts I had expected a much harder result. Like the dead hedge target exclusion method. I find it hard to sell round here because people either assume you just want to dump your brash or they're worried local kids will set it on fire. Very nice job sir.

yeah nice one steve and everyone involved

There's the key. No seasonal variation = no earlywood and latewood. Thats what annual rings are of course, cross sections through smaller denser vessels. If you don't need them, you don't grow them.

I think it is. Possibly Pleurotus cornucopiae. Was it on its own or was this the best one of many?

Micropollard?