Matt

If you're doing the cs30 and 31 course, all of this will be explained as part of cs30. We had a day and a half in the workshop going through all of that.

"RESIST the temptation to start mowing before it is growing vigourously, a few weeks away yet... " Why is that though? I've always just started cutting when it's started growing and never seen any problems whatsoever. Not trying to start a row as you're a greenkeeper and obviously know your stuff. Would just like to know your reasoning. By the way, I have no desire for a bowling green lawn and neither do most of my clients (as far as I know!) Also it surely makes a difference where you are? When to start would be different in Cornwall to when you start in Scotland?

Did my first cut last week. If it's growing, dryish and no frost, it can be cut.

I reckon that will survive. There's an oak near us that got struck by lightning a couple of years ago. Basically all that was left was about 1/3 of a trunk (I mean 1/3 horizontally) 2.5 - 3m high and even that's got a hole in it all the way through, at the bottom. Walked past it the other day and it's got tons of new growth. Amazing! Will try and post a picture when I get the chance.

Bloody hell Tom, that looks like a nightmare!

Surely the answer is all three and it depends on the situation. Nobody would fell a tree all in one if it's next to a road with a greenhouse on the other side and various buildings, but by the same token why would you section if it's in the middle of an empty field?

Cheers for the advice guys. It's an old saw that's had this problem since I got it. I did reset the carb back to basic setting and adjusted from there. I think I've been just not been getting it quite right, i.e. probably going too far past the ideal setting trying to get it to rev nicely. I'll reset and start again. I put a new spark plug on it but will have another check of the air filter. Not sure of exact age or number on carb Jonesie as saw isn't with me now. I'll have a look later and post. I'm intrigued as to why so many say leave carb alone. Why is that?

Sorry if it's a silly question but my MS200T keeps flooding. I've been adjusting the carb and cleaning off the spark plug, it then restarts but it seems to keep doing it. Could it be anything else other than the carb? If not, I shall persevere trying to get the carb right. Any tips on that? Probably all really obvious stuff but I'm still a newcomer! Thanks. Matt

I may be missing the point here, but if you owe him more than he owes you, then what's the problem? Obviously if you're not getting any money out of him, you don't pay him anything. Sorted!

49p a litre! My local Lidl is 75p. I use half and half with diesel so that still saves me about £16 for every tank. Passed a petrol station selling at 122.9 this morning!

Ever so slightly off topic but how necessary is a yard? I'm just starting out really, will be doing bits and pieces of tree work here and there to try and establish myself (I don't have another full time job though! I'm self employed doing gardening, interior plants etc) I hope to eventually do tree work full time so will I definitely need a yard for storage of wood and equipment etc or do others on here just use their home as a base and store minimal amounts of wood? I'm guessing it all depends on if I wish to sell firewood or not.

Sent a PM, but forgot to update thread so I'm doing it now.

Count me in please!

I went for the Navaho Variobelt in the end, very comfortable. Got side straps thrown in with it which I haven't used yet but may give a go. Anyone else use these? Supposed to give more freedom of movement and transfer some of the weight to the leg straps. The connector doesn't look as tough as a maillon though.

Cheers for the advice Steve. I suspected it would be a reason like that, otherwise they wouldn't get away with charging more for the tree specific ones. It would be great to be able to try a load on but I don't think I can wait until the shows unfortunately. Another bit of advice that would be helpful is about buying second hand. Obviously a harness is going to have a limit to how long / how often it is used and I think I know what the answer will be to this but do people recommend steering clear of getting harnesses on ebay or second hand through some other means? If I were to get second hand, is their an age of harness it would be unwise to go much older than, or does it all depend on how frequently the harness has been used? Thanks