Jack-Arb aka Tiago Sinclair-Julio.

Hello guys, I worked for a big council contractors company for 18 mths, most of the things there were crap, but the one thing I thought was ok, was the way the gangs were set up. Most of the time we were in teams of 2, both climbers and one day one climbed and the next day the other did the climbing. So both did grounding for the other and because the teams almost never changed we developed quite good comunication with signs and doing it this way there was never the thing of - im the climber and you the groundy that feeds the chipper all day long... I personally think that the groundy is has important has the climber and therefore no difference between the two. The climber might have more training and does a more dangerous job so I do agree that he should be better payed. But if both climb like in the company i worked there would be no groundies, just climbers doing ground work on the days the other climbs! Tiago

Hi Tockmal, What a strange theory, but when you say makes you depressed what does it really mean? It can mean several things depression. Cause depression is very vague word, can be a one day thing that one just feels sad or it can mean one feeling so empty that nothing matters and feeling so low that we dont want so see anyone... Any how I've never heard of a smell of any kind having such effects. I can imagine a smell making me a bit happy because it brings out a memory, or vice versa but nothing more than that... Could it be something to do with the fact that leylandii is the most hated tree in britain and that one more bad point added to the long list of horrible facts . To me it sounds total nonsense! bye tiago

hello, Just as a gut feeling I would say that it was planted after 2nd great war. Tiago

Hi guys! I hate reducing any tree that as a very dense canopy like, purple plum, fasteguite hornbeam and cherrys can be ****** up too! Having to do 1000's of cuts can be a pain in the ass and not having a decent anchor means that one as to be in doggy positions for certain cuts. Ash doesn't bother me unless theres no growth points to cut to. And the tree I most like to reduce is oak, normally they are piece of piss. Tiago

Hi mr jd, How is it going? Hope things go well for you. And yes im happy to do the odd job for you, I've got plenty of holidays left, let us know! Tiago

Whatever you have to do, do it as best as you can! Tiago

Hi pablo, Im more or less with the same dilema as you! Ive done a National Dip. Arb a few years back. It was a great way to get in the industry, I gained some basic understanding of the theory side of things, it made me aware of the legislation and some basic stuff on tree biology! Since then I've worked in several places got the much needed practical experience, now 3 years on and i think its time to do some more studying. I've thought a bit in whats the best way foward, and came to the conclusion that the foundation degree is the best option for me. Firstly because its recognised outside the UK and because I might not want to live all my life in England it makes sense having a qualification like this. Secondly the National Arb Dip, was really quite easy and its enough if you want to work all you're life climbing trees. But if you want to do something a little more intellectually demanding, its not enough. Now that I know that Arb is what I want do, having the degree makes total sense. I want to do it working at the same time so its gonna take longer cause I'll have to do it part time. I live in London and theres no where inside London that does it, as far as I know! So the closest I found is in Northhampton, its a bit of a bother but I guess it will be worth it. Where about are you? I gather from you're name that you not English, like me! So the recognition thing might be important for you too. Hope you success!!!! Bye, Jack

hello tuppy, at work for the last couple of months we've had a student doing is work experience. he can climb reasonably ok but never used a chainsaw in a tree. while with us he as done some deadwoods with a silky but thats been it. we cant let him use a chainsaw because our insurance policy doesnt cover students without cs39 to practice under supervision of a qualified person. Catch 22 situation, how can he pratice and get confident before he's test? Something is wrong because surely this work experience should provide exactly this kind of preparation. i felt sorry today for him, when he said he'd failed is test. im not suprised dough if he never had the opportunity to use one up a tree. we did try to prepare him a bit, telling him the expected cuts and making him practice them with is silky... but of course when he was given a chainsaw he wasnt comfortable with it, who would be? he said the reason the assessor failed him was because of not using the chainsaw brake in between cuts and possibly more stuff i think. it should be like driving lessons, under supervision of someone with the ticket there should be no problem to use one! i was lucky the place where i got my work experience had no problems in sending me up a tree with a saw, so when i had my test the only thing i had to concentrate was my bad habits:001_tongue: good luck jack

Thanks Tony, Im not sure if Im disciplined enough to do it online, I think that without a tutor and tutorials I would find it a lot harder. For me its quite important to have clear dead lines and as well someone that can be there to help me if things are not clear in my mind! Maybe online theres deadlines and a minimum of subjects one as to do in a year, or can you do as many as one wants? When you say the best part of 3 years working on it, how many hours a week those that mean? Thanks any how, I found that Moulton college in northhampton does de foundation part time and its more or less one hour from London... Do you think that its worth doing the extra year to get the B.Sc. (hons)? Good night, Tiago

Hello guys, I would like some advice from someone who is doing a HND in arb or that as done it recently. One of the thing that is bothering me is that I cant really find a college or Uni that does this course part-time. I live and work in London and from what I've seen around here theres no place that does it part time. I dont mind to travel out of London once a week to get to it. Ideally it wouldn't be more than 1 hour each way to get there by train. But I could make an effort if futher away! The reason why I would like to do it part-time is that I would like to keep my job so I can finance it. It will last 4 years, one day per week. It seems a hell of a long time but time just flyes... What I really need to know is, does anyone know of a place that as this course in or around London? And how intensive the work load is? And how usefull is this qualification? I have a National Dip in Arb, quite a basic qualification and only recognised in the UK while the HND is recognised in most countrys in the world, this is one of the things that attracts me to do it. The other thing is that it opens quite alot of possibilities once I get fed up of climbing trees. When I was doing the Nat Dip Arb it was a completly new subject for me, I did quite well but now feel that I would have gained lots more out of it now, that Im involved in the Arb world, I have much more questions that I want answers too, than before! As I said it was quite a basic course and I want to go much more in depth so HND must be what Im looking for. So please anyone, with a little advise do let me know what you think of this course and a good place to do it at! Cheers, Jack

I personally love to coronet trees, theres an art in it, to make something look naturally fractured/ ripped/ cracked/ broken with a mechanical tool that cuts in straight lines its not as easy as one might think. I really enjoy doing them because one as to be creative and experiement different thecniques. But nature is hard to copy, so i do see quite a few that look totally man made and then half there purpose is lost, but maybe they still work for the general public, hopefully! For the ones that think that coronetting is a fashion that eventually going to die out, i think they are wrong, more and more people are trying them out and theres defenatly a place for them in arb these days. People are aware of the importance of preserving dead trees and blend them in with there natural enviroment. The reaction of the public that approach us while we doing them as been great, most of them find it odd and ask whats those things all about, and once we've explained I have heard only positive stuff. I think people really appreciate to see the effort we put into to preserve and encorage wild life, and thats why I believe its something thats going to be more common in years to come... Jack is back

My biggest fear at the begginning of my climbing days was anchor point failure and cutting myself seriously and having no time to get down the tree before being to late! Nowdays i dont worry about those things, and thats a bit of a worry in itself! Jack

Yes I do think that was the right thing to do, and the end weight reduction looks good as well. Any more than that would have looked excessive without looking at the condition of the branch unions. The tree is still there and you've got more work in the future there, and everyone is a winner! Jack

The pics are all from the same tree, reduced on monday and the coronets where made today... J

I did today, one of my best ones until know! Im glad you appreciate it. Jack

Its done because its better to leave a standing trunk than removing the tree and doing this we wnat to make it look as natural as possible. So thats why we coronet the branches so it looks like the wind as done it... The question you have to ask is does it look natural or not... At the moment probably not but in a few months it will or kind of natural... Theres lots of little bugs and fungy that only live in standing timber. Its on the edge of a woodland so it kind of fits on its among other trees that have been wind damaged. Thats the theory in simple words. Jack-arb

Im well pleased with coronet in the lower branch, its so much easier do do if theres a already a nice big rip and it looks much more natural... And it takes half the time to do, becuase half the surface was done when removing the branch with the old top cut... In a few months when its seasoned it will look well nice I hope! Jack ps - no its not a take down - its gona be left like this!!

Yes I do agree with this point of yours, its seen to often the wrong tree in the wrong place... People forget that a tree will grow and out-live most of us in the right circumstances, and what once was a small little tree (in the back of the garden) in a few years will a full mature tree in the wrong place... I dont need to go far, from my bedroom window in terrace house with a garden no longer than 12 metres long there are 2 big poplars at the bottom. That my sweet grandmother planted 20 years ago when she moved in! I've reduced them once after cracks in wall started to appear, all this for the insurance to pay the damage! Jack

It wasn't enormous, about 1foot diameter and six meter long I cant think in weight. But big to take in that way I think. It wasn't unsafe in my book but not the proper NPTC way. So what Im getting at does it become unsafe if you dont use a hinge or a undercut? I think, if you are above it then theres no way it will hit you, so yes its safe! Whatever the size. Jack

I agree with you its realy sad to see nice mature trees being felled because of subsidence specialy in cases where the tree was there first. But the thing with subsidence is a no win thing once the tree is removed it doesn't always solve the problem. People think that once the tree is gone, thats the end of it. Where does the water go if the tree is not there to suck it up? Depending on the type of foundations, but for alot of then in a spongy soil just keep sinking. Its the end of the story for the arborist but for the insurance company it is'nt. Subsidence can get worse and more insurance claims, it goes on and on... Solution: I think they're called raft foundation where the all house is built on top one flat foundation (just like a raft) so if if moves it all moves. Opposed to foundation that are on each corner of the house. I learnt all this in my course but this is all that is left in my head. Or build houses in better places and let trees be where they are, difficult in such a crowded country! Jack-arb

Hi, This was my job for today desmantling this chestnut in poor condition with quite extensive bark die back and with a 10% lean towards a road. Nothing out of the unusual, leave as a monolithe and coronet the top and the side branch... These where the requirements... The side branch was big long heavy peace of timber going out towards the road, went out on it and took all the brash out, left only the long peace of timber. Got back to the trunk asked for the 044 and with only a top cut at an angle started cutting, halfway through this massive crack and down it went leaving this massive tear as I thought it would. Tomorrow i'll go back and finish the coroneting if the weather allows... I know that its not the way to remove a heavy limb but because I was above it I didn't feel in danger at any time... Any thoughts? Is it too uncontrolled? I shall post the finished cuts. As soon as they're ready. ps- you'll probably see this first that the real thing - yeh you - bike rider!!!?

Thanks rumination, Very easy I think I'll remember it just from the link. Looks prety constricting! Cheers Jack

Is this one for making a harness out of a rope?! I was under the impression the Valdotain was the one used with the climbers hitch... A triple bowline can be used as a harness not very comfortable but if necessary take you out of sh$$t? Any pictures? Jack

Hi Bill, I'm curious about the constrictor knot, could you describe it or put a picture on how to tie it... Thanks Jack

It would be good to know what type of knots work best and why in different situations. So in a few examples lets see what kind of knot one would use. Setting up a pulley on a trunk before sectionning down? Timber hicth its time consuming to set up and pain to keep moving it about specially after loading. Running bowline its fast to set up easy, to untie even after loading but dont know why dont use it that much in this situation. Cows hitch never use it, must admit cuase dont know how to tie it. I know that its used for this situation, any plus or minusses??? Lowering down a big section. Half hitch and running bowline its my choice for the same reasons above. Half hitch and timber hitch commonly used but time consuming i think. Any others? If need be to pull something with the truck? What knot would you use to attach the rope to the truck? Double bowline perhaps for the same reason! Its late and running out of ideas! Any other examples? To secure a load of brush on the back of a trailor? To send up to the climber something like a bottle of water or something with a smooth surface and no kink for the rope to hold on to. What knot to join to ropes together for extra lenght. To make a harness out of a rope? Any other use that you can think and why? Good night Jack-arb