arbogrunt

Interesting stuff mate, I'd love to know whether any of the boreholes I've put in have been used. I did see a pollard I did in a gorge being used as a hunting perch for a Kestrel...which chuffed me no end!. Good point about the holes being further down the trunk. I usually put a few in on the way down. I was also advised to bore in and up to create drier roosts for bats. Also, I try and do horizontal coronet cuts on branch ends for the same reason. I always take the opportunity to talk to bat experts etc to ask them their opinion on the sort of cuts that would benefit wildlife the most. Some of the Reserve wardens have been a bit 'reluctant' about the whole idea, but a few minutes of explanation usually swings them around and they realize that in that environment, target pruning is not the best way forward. The first two pics show a willow crown reduction using NFP throughout (it takes a lot longer!) and the tree after a years growth. The second shows a large sycamore pollard/monolith (the tree was too large for the area of the reserve).

With regard to insurance. The way I see it is a freelance climber is responsible for his own injury insurance and tools. The public liability/Employers liability is down to the company he subs for. The reason I carry my own PL is because I work for the local Wildlife trust and work under my own liability - my groundies are provided by the trust and are covered by their insurance and they are under their own risk assessment. If your a freelancer and you sue a company for an accident, you'd better think about moving to another area - nobody will employ again - and rightly so. Theres no way a freelance climber will earn as much as someone with their 'own train set', but the stress and time factors make it worthwhile for me. I'd never start up my own company in the UK again (but I'm glad I had a go all the same!)

A selection of coronet cutting from the last few years. I do about a day a week for my local wildlife trust and its stubs and coro's all the way! the second pic is about a year or so's regrowth on an oak. The last two are an attempt to create habitat for bats/woodpeckers etc. Time will tell if they take it up!

I'm treating myself....to one of these!

best thread of the year!...we're secure in the knowledge that British Arboriculture has a great future with such outstanding lunging!

I'm always interested to hear what peoples thoughts are on freelancing. I've been doing treework for 15 years now, had my own company for 6 years - and yes it does hurt to let it go!. I've been working as a freelance climber now for about 8 years. The best thing about it is theres no staff to let you down or worry about, then its the fact that I spend weekends with my missus and kids doing what I want to do instead of pricing up 20 or 30 jobs:thumbup: I fell into a trap early on with carrying too much kit, get shot of any big saws or equipment ( people will just take the p*ss). I carry an MS200T (and spare) and I've got a 357XP and a back handle MS200. I also carry full rigging kit including a drum, this is because I prefer my own gear when working. I've got £5 million PL, PI and injury cover - insurance costing about a grand in total. I've never been 'knocked'. I only work for companies I know and I follow the golden rule...only work for people you like! With regard to rates, that varies with what company I work for. The going rate is £120 to £150 a day, occasionaly a 'peach' job will come in and you could get £250-300 but these days who can afford to shell out that for a subbie climber?. The few PJ's I do are either for friends and family or are paid well enough to justify me working on my weekend!. If your reliable, compentant you will soon build a good reputation, thats what I would look for in hiring a subbie climber. As long as you don't put in 'prima donna' prices and you always do your best on every job you do, you should keep busy!

My 110 csw with a Nissan 3.5 turbo engine conversion. Now sold to a bloke in the Pyrenees via Ebay!. It was all nice, shiney and clean before I took it to work....

I used to run a 110 CSW with this engine in it. Nissan FD35 3.5 turbo, it was 135bhp and I used to get 95mph out of it (without the roofrack), it pulled like a train and all Landies I've driven since feel 'tame'!

They were cracking saws, a bit on the heavy side, but lots of grunt. They didnt like the rain much though!. They were also much more robust than an 020T/MS200T, I reckon thats why they stopped making them...they lasted for years!

...and the 'brasses' on the street corner across the road (discounts for AA approved contractors?!). What a lovely little spot.....

there are some VERY dodgy areas down here. In some places you have to have one bloke 'on stag' whilst the rest work. I also had some bloke hang out of a slow moving car and make a grab for my 357XP. He was only joking...but so was I as my bitch slap skimmed the top of his head as the car drove past!. When in comes to tools you can't take any chances, I've had Pikeys follow my wagon back to the yard before, the best thing to do is photograph them, they don't like that much. Keep your gear safe fellas!

A company I climb for now and then in South East Essex has been broken into:thumbdown:. They lost the following chainsaws etc at the weekend; 1 x Jonsered (36" bar - not sure what model) 3 x MS200T 2 x Husq 262 2 x Husq 287XP 2 x Stihl 30" hedgetrimmers 2 x Stihl blowers 1 x Stihl HT75 1 x Echo pole pruners Anyone having any offers of 'second hand' gear, please let me know on here and I'll pass any info on. On a happier note, 2 tractors stolen in Ingatestone, Essex were recovered from a 'Travellers site' in Basildon after being stolen last weekend. They had just been fitted with trackers the week before! - result.

....works for me mate...don't try scoffing the leaves, they're horrible!. I got mine from zipvit.com.

Squeeze in there 'two men', we'll pull you out with the Tirfor back at the yard mate!

had been getting a bit of white finger in this hand, along with a bit of arthritus from an old break. Decided to try a Cortisone injection in it and ended up with a 'radial vasospasm', a day in the local hospital and 6 weeks on wolferine to thin the blood - more painful than breaking the damn thing in the first place!. Its pretty much sorted now, I'm climbing every day without too many problems

I am aware of these rules, however, I'm a self-employed freelance climber and I know I've got to get the job done to earn the money. The reality is x number of blokes have to get x amount of work done a day to earn the money, if that means all day ringing up a trunk with a big saw - then so bit it. I began to suffer badly with white finger about 5 years ago. I narrowed it down to using HT75 polesaws/hedgetrimmers in the end - theres no AV to protect your hand when you hold the shaft. I avoided using them (and when I had to, used AV gloves) and I also started taking Ginko Biloba every day to improve my circulation. Thankfully, the condition rarely bothers me now.

Canter - I drive one occasionally. It outperforms a transit any day, but the gearbox is horrible! (in fact when I'm driving it sounds more like a jukebox!).

Sadly, there are only 3 ways of Canvey, red route, blue route and the vertical option if the Oil refinery goes up!. Traffic is a real nightmare mate (as you've found out!). On the bright side, Southend is good for a few beers after work!. Not sure of the address of that place. I think the business is called 'Mr Fencing', its on your left, 200m before the 'Tesco's roundabout' (Southend bound).

Theres a place that sells topsoil, mulch etc, right opposite the place felix is describing mate, give them a knock, they take chip off a couple of small firms in the area. Good luck with the traffic in and out of Canvey mate!

:biggrin:I haven't pimped it yet!. I'm planning on putting a 5 ton winch on the front, HD springs and shocks, raising it and putting a proper roof rack and ladder on. I'm going to put a plate in the sunroof in the back and have one of those air-vents put in it. Anyone racked out the interior?, I'd like to see some pics:thumbup1:

agree with the posts on 'Smelly-Helly's' - its good kit, its got to be pretty brass monkey to climb in it though. I like to balance keeping warm with a bit of temperature control - nothing worse than being cold, then overheating as soon as you access the crown. I wear a 'headover' around my neck and 'wristovers' (these are just old wool socks with the feet cut off. They keep you warm and are easy to discard when either the sun gets up in the morning or you work a steam up in the tree!). I always put my wooly hat inside my helmet when I swap them over for added insulation too. I got a Berghaus Choktoi pro windstopper last winter and its serving me well, its got venting zips under the arms, which is great for climbing. Before all this, I make sure I get a big bowl of porridge with banana and honey in it before I go out in the morning! Roll on summer!

my Disco commercial, prior to being arb-pimped!

'Doesn't even mention the risk to health of spending time in the cab of the 'Mog with you after a curry' its just my own way of recycling mate!!

I think any time you spend with your kids is always a great thing, whatever you do!. I've got 3 boys and every now and then I take them out on jobs. It teaches them the value of 'grafting' for a living (none of them want to follow in my footsteps - so this might the only proper 'days work' they'll ever do!). When they work hard (and I do make them work), they appreciate the money I pay them at the end of the day. They are also Scouts/footballers/rugby players etc and one of them is in the local swimming club. My little girl just wants to go shopping - thats the wifes department!. As long as they are happy and healthy its got to be a good thing!