Colin Bashford

You're damn skippy its arbitrary. The key point in the BS is the bit I highlighted in bold above

 

"...which may change its shape but not reduce its area..."

 

So; take for example the TPO'd x Cupressocyparis leylandii (oh yes!) on a development site I looked at today.

Mature specimen tree in the corner of a raised lawn. Corner is formed by two roads. Lets say a 1m dbh for arguements sake (it was bigger and multistemmed) Developers RPA?

 

12m circle. Shown on the map as including the roads...durrrrr why would the roots opt for road when there is a perfectly good lawn?

 

Well they wouldn't so a more accurate rpa would use the same area of the circle (452m squared) and apply it to the lawn to give a 21 x 21m square. (bye bye to your proposed footed hard surfaced access driveway mate!) But that assumes the roots grow in a square I hear you say. Yep. so lets calculate another way...

 

Its in the corner so maybe its fair to say the roots would have exploited the space in a quarter circle fashion? Seems ok? The guidance says we need the same area so we need to calculate a circle that has four times that area that we want (a quarter remember).

 

4 x 452 = 1808m squared

 

1808 / 3.142 = 575

 

square root of 575 = 24m radius

 

So a quarter circle 24m radius from the tree base out into the lawn. Bloody big but slightly more representative of what the RPA might be. Now apply you knowledge of root morphology. Soil type, species, age obstacles...This particular tree, we might comprimise on a 18-20m radius quarter circle given the vigour and age of the tree and its ability to deal with the loss of area. But don't tell the developer that - he hasn't bothered to do the calculations and I don't work for him!

 

 

Pete -

The 12x modifier is referenced in table 2 of the BS as follows:-

 

"NOTE The 12× multiplier is based on NJUG 10 [9] and published work by Matheny and Clark [10]."

 

Where the refernces are:-

 

[9] NATIONAL JOINT UTILITIES GROUP (NJUG). Guidelines for the planning, installation and

maintenance of utility services in proximity to trees. Publication number 10. NJUG, April 1995.

 

[10] MATHENY, N. and J. CLARK. Trees and development. A technical guide to preserving trees during

land development. 1998. International Society of Arboriculture, Champaign, IL 61826-3129. 184 p.

Thank Tony this is one of the best explanations I have heard since we wrote 5837.

Colin

This appears to be one of the worst and most horrific cases that I have come across in a long career. My sincerest thoughts and wishes go to Scott's wife, family, his friends and his work mates who I know must be finding life currently very difficult.

I have read all postings with interest and must comment on the amazing camaraderie that you guys and gals show for each other. As I have said before you climbers worldwide are an amazing bunch, please all take extra care and God bless you.

Colin Bashford

ISA Vice President.

just what he said surely the prizes are worth it

I agree with all that has been said and totally applaud Steve's magnificent efforts.

The prizes are surely worth it but that value bears no comparison to the pleasure and joy we can help to bring to the kids who should all have health, comfort and happiness. So come on guys let's see a surge in raffle ticket sales and at least hit the £1000 mark.

Happy new Year to you all.

Colin

 

Stump "Vduben" take a picture of the stump,it should still be there,from that you can see how deep the face cut its, and at what point the back cut started to split "slab".

 

This is a public forum Mr Bashford,I made a suggestion of technique that can be employed to minimise the risk of a "barber chair".I did not imply that the use of the technique's I described would have eliminated any hazard totally.

 

Hope he gets better,post an address for us to send him our best wishes

 

I absolutely agree with and understand

the comments that have been made since my last email.

 

We all need to learn from experiences good and bad, but we should not be seen to be prejudging the outcome of any case.

 

Sure it is a public forum and a very good one, but so are newspapers for example and they have to be subject to restraint over assessing who or what might be wrong in any particular case.

 

I will watch with interest.

 

Colin

If you think its going to split,use a "bore and release" cut.If straight felling is the only option,you can gain some safety by wrapping a rope or chain around the trunk.Ratchet tie downs work ok for smaller stuff,but you can't count on them being safe after using them in this manner.

 

Sounds a bit like the face cut was too shallow?Could you take a picture of the stump for us please?

I really do not want to sound as an absolute bore on this interesting thread, but a very serious word of caution. Such cases and I have three running at this moment almost inevitably come to Court and therefore all these issues must be treated as sub judice at this stage if you do not want to damage the potential case of either the likely claimant or the likely defendant.

You will be aware that similar cases can involve mega bucks but if a Court/Judge thinks that a case or an expert witness has been pre-judged or influenced by prior discussion such as on this excellent forum then a case which may take years to come to Court can be ruined.

Please in the interests of all likely parties to a possible case or claim, do not therefore discuss this particular case in detail.

Please however may I add my concern to those that are suffering.

Cheers

i drove past this tree today. I reduced/topped this Beech approx 8 years ago. ive been hunting round trying to find the picture i took at the time with no luck. Beech dont throw out shoots like other species, and although can be difficult to reduce do respond well providing you don't go too hard.

Another very useful photo Steve. If you do come across the earlier photo even better.

Mind if I use this for demonstration purposes?

Colin

Sorry Colin, those are all the pics I have but I will try to get down there and take some more pictures.

Thanks. that would be great. I think from the evidence of your photos thus far that the detail would be of great help in work that I am doing following a couple of Court cases.

Colin

I'd appreciate if everyone could spare a few moments to visit these charities home pages and vote in the above poll. The charity chosen will be receiving all proceeds from an upcoming charity event to be held soon on Arbtalk

Thankyou

 

http://www.thechildrenstrust.org.uk/

 

http://www.promisedreams.co.uk/

 

http://www.caudwellcharity.com/

Steve

A very difficult choice but 'Alfie' sold it for me.

Colin

High Scale

Do you by chance have close up photographs of both sides of the top side of the tear scar on this split Oak?

If you do or have other photographs i would very much like to see them.

If you like they could be sent off forum to [email protected].

Colin

Count me in please.

Very cynical statement Colin....and calling fellow human beings 'crap' is a touch misanthropic don't you think?

 

My apologies I should not have said that but am dealing with a serious injury case where exactlt that happened.

 

 

 

The ISA did get its act together in the late 90s early 2000s for a short time with the introduction of the UK/Ireland Cert Arb, and organising and running comps which still continues. These days I'm not so sure about the other things the ISA does.

 

I agree that it did go throufgh a quiet period. We are working on it right now.

 

 

As for the AA running ads in the Yellow pages, its impact will be minimal as people are very fickle and choose their tradespeople by word of mouth regardless of AA approved contractor status blah blah blah.......

I hope you are right for there are a large number of good 'tree guys' out there who can do just a good a job as the AA approved contactor but cannot afford the time and money to become approved, and under your belief with what benefit.

Colin

Great competition, great photographs and great organisation. Well done to all.

Well, we have the last laugh, if we want. If people at grass roots level, voted with their feet, things would soon change to accomodate everyone, and then they'd represent everyones interests not just their own. I was a member of the AA for a few years, cos I thought at the time they cared for people that cared for trees, I left cos I felt it was just another back-slapping club for the boys. I've joined the ISA instead now, and think, for now, its better than the AA. We'll see.

Big A

I hope that you will not be disappointed with the ISA and its UK/I Chapter. We really are trying to assist and represent those at the sharp end of our profession. I am keenly interested in finding out what is required by those at the grass roots level.

In respect of the ISA Certified (I hate that term) Arborist I can advise that accreditation is by examination but that it is not a difficult exam and 'course work' can be done at home.

The accreditation is subject to Continuing Educational Units (CEU's) to ensure you keep up to date. Obtaining CEU's can be as simple as reading selected articles in the ISA News letter and answering a set of questions from multiple choice answers. This can be done in a lunch break in the cab of your van. These are then sent off. You also get CEU's for attending seminars, lectures, trade shows and demonstrations.

When you acheive Certified Arborist status you have a badge and an identification card to show clients and employers that you are qualified. In that way we can ensure that those purporting to be tree surgeons, really do have appropriate knowledge and experience. That would help to put paid to the gypsy fraternity that knock on doors and show that one man bands and of course their dog can produce high quality work.

Check it out with the ISA UK/I office and talk to Jean McDermott, or otherwise ask me the questions and if I do not know the answers I will find olut for you.

Cheers Colin:beerglass:

the AA are apparently planning on doing full page ads at the

front of the arb sections in the yellow pages to promote arb approved companies,

telling the public why they should choose them etc...... Can anyone verifiy this

I believe that it is true. Certainly they the AA have been talking about it for a long time.

I however have some problems with the AA scheme. An AA approved contractor is only as good as the staff that they have at any one time. The tree company can become approved and then a couple of weeks later lose all their good climbers and be staffed with crap! That does not quarantee a good or a safe job for the client.

Much better is the ISA Certification scheme were it is the climber/worker that is 'approved', then you should always get a good job for the client.

Colin

Surely this is why there should be insurance to cover all eventualities.

Colin

Cheers Big A

Fine by me Mr Bashford.

That's cool, but what is with this Mr Bashford?

Thanks for the permission I will try to let you know which ones I use.

Colin

colin.....it would be appreciated if as well as the photographer you could mention the source, arbtalk.

No problem Steve, but I need to get the photographers OK first.

Colin

Hi Guys and Gals

I have been admiring for some time some of the excellent photographs displayed on this thread.

From another current thread on this forum you will see that I am providing a seminar for Barchams Trees and I am wondering if you would allow me to use some of these shots. In particular I would like to use some from Bushbaby, Peter, Nuttyarb, Pete Mctree, blue and BigA.

I have checked and I can copy them out from the forum. I will of course acknowledge individual photographer for each photograph used in my Powerpoint presentations.

Please can you let me know if this is OK. Cheers

Colin

 

Colin, is the ISA active in Scotland?

We have a few members and a couple of years ago ran a TCC in Scotland. We need more members to be really active over the border as we depend so much on volunteers. So any out there come on in, you are most welcome.

I agree with Dagmar.

We had one just outside our old office.

Colin

COOL SITE the cert arb seems interesting tho' I cant afford to travel to middlesex for an exam

us poor northerns left in the cold again shame!!!

Yorkshireman, the exams can be and are provided at several centres, even one close to you. Check out with ISA UK&I Chapter office email [email protected]

I am biased but we need you guys as members so that you can be better represented and we can provide the information and events that you require. See my other emails on another thread.

Colin

Russell Ball is back in England working as Tree Officer for London Borough of Harrow.

The article can also be obtained by looking at the attachment in my earlier email that provided a link to the Treebuzz forum.

That sounds cool Steve. We are looking to have climbing experiences/camps where World Champions such as Bernt Strasser, Mark Chisolm and Kia Martin would be sponsored to run training, provide advice and chill out with all you 'guys'. At the sametime we might run short seminars on VTA, Fungi etc to continue professional development. How would that sit with you folks?

Good to see such enthusiasm and so many new members. Welcome Gary and Inz.