hesslemount

Being a tree climber wanting to venture into new technical developments but not for the sake of technical self masturbation does anyone have an opinion on the following 2 techniques?: a) Helical (friction hitch) tied to crab with anchor hitch (or buntline) with 1.5M of 8mm aramide which is self adjusted with micro-pulley attached to crab with a small shackle with a 1/4 turn. b) Double rope technique alternative to footlocking - a left and right ISC foot ascender with Petzl's new double handled ascender (ascentree). I was shown method a) by a friendly member of staff (Craig) at Trees Unlimited in Leeds and seems to work very well although found the helical a little cumbersome to tie in comparison to say a Blake's or Prussik. But the knot does work very fast and runs true. As for method b) I'm awaiting my ascentree in about 2-weeks time to try this method out. I know there'll be lots out there saying "Jeez what's wrong with just a Prusik (or Blake's) and footlocking?". But the investment in money and time to develop the techniques seem to outweigh the cost of unecessary physical exertion caused by "sticking to the old ways" even though the old ways are admittedly good and tried and tested. OBJECTIVE opinions from all corners appreciated.

Nike may have said "Just Do It!" but did you ever see the e-mail's that were forwarded to and fro between customer and marketing manager? It was estimated to be forwarded to between 50-60 million people and cost Nike dearly. Nike were selling $100 trainers to have what you wanted embroided in gold on the side of the trainer as part of their "Freedom of Choice" marketing campaign. The customer wanted "sweatshop" on his $100 trainers and went all the way costing Nike dearly! It's all about the fight guys. Those who sit in the middle of the road get run over. I digress ..... ops I just lost £40 whilst sitting here moaning ..... hey ho! http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/thomas-sutcliffe/make-your-mark-on-our-trainers-sure-no-sweat-692804.html

Whilst all the builder's are getting laid off (well come on they've had 15 years of raking it in) tree work still going very well here. Lots of larger contracts but the domestic work quieting now (expected so close to Xmas).

Me thinks that Skyhuck's nailed it here with this link. Calling all tree surgeons: Virgin timber (everything we cut from trees) is de-regulated as waste as long as we use the chippings as woodchip, compost, bedding and the wood for fuel. If you have primarily folliage chippings bury them under the wood chip! Under this Env Agency regulation no tree surgeon is carrying WASTE if it's under the above and therefore none of us require a waste carrier's licence. Cheers Skyhuck Reckon you've saved lots of tree monkeys £50 p.a. :001_tongue:and caused lots of prosecuted ones to start up their belated appeals:mad1:. Rich (The Tree Surgeon's Che Guevara - well not quite)

Therefore "virgin timber" must not require a waste carrier's licence; as it's not waste? There's always a gliche when it comes to money and the government.

From Env Agency. Sorry if there is replication here but it's just been posted to me. Information is King - and at home in our ivory towers we've the luxury of being able to press page down button it if it's of no use. "Dear Richard Thank you for your enquiry regarding waste carriers licence. It is recommended that all tree surgeons are registered as waste carriers, if it is likely that in the course of your business you will carry waste that someone else has produced. You will need to register as a waste carrier if; you have been asked to cut and remove a tree, or have been given a course of action to take by someone else, then you are not the waste producer, as the decision has been taken by another person. you take away trees or branches which have been cut down by someone else, as you are not the waste producer. You will not need to register as a waste carrier if; you have been given the responsibility to decide when and where to cut and remove trees, for example, a large scale (regular) maintenance contract, then you do not need to register as you are making the decision that produces the waste."

Used the Big Shot regularly in Borneo for 2 years and the big shot is without doubt THE tool for shooting lines to height (70M+) and picking your branch. Works well with dacron low memory line and the 1st pole of a short fishing rod on a reel with a v.large diameter spool. Andy Barrel converted me to it years back and I ain't ever looked back. However for UK climbing it's limited for daily tree work. Worked well for high trees where access was using SRT techniques. Footlocking or body thrusting 70M's sucks!

Right here is the "bottom line" direct from a phone conversation with the Environment Agency. If you go to a client and it is YOUR decision to prune a branch or take down the tree etc. then the waste is YOUR waste. If it's your own waste you DO NOT require a waste carrier's licence! However if it is the CLIENT'S decision to remove the branch(es) or take the tree down then it is THEIR waste and therefore you need a waste carrier's licence to carry SOMEONE ELSES waste. Interesting what Big Boss Beechwood said above^. Has this been tried and tested? Always good to give two fingers to the beaurocrats with a clever little loop hole.

Many thanks that's what i was looking for.

As a tree surgeon taking logs and chippings from a job and transporting the chippings to a school (play areas) and logs to either myself or whomever wants them; do I require an Environmental Permit from the Env. Agency to carry waste? http://www.netregs.gov.uk/netregs/275207/1991727/1991805/?version=1〈=_e As I see it the answer's a (grey area) no as "waste exemptions include crushing, grinding or other size reduction of waste". I am chipping and I am reducing the size of the waste therefore according to EA's website I am exempt from requiring an Environment Permit (otherwise known as waste carrying licence). Does anyone have concrete facts on this?