Jon Hartley

Thanks Phil Ill have a look at that!

...a slight change of subject but its still in the same vane, can any of you recommend a free ware alternative to autocad?

Thats exactly right Tony. These situations are few and far between and like you say you do build them into your pricing structure to a certain extent. Over the course of a year this will get swallowed up in the accounts almost to the point where its not noticed financially, the customer has been kept happy and we are still working. (doesnt mean its right though:wink:)

I hadnt heard of HSE Myth Busters, brilliant!

Thanks RobArb, I bought that last week from eBay, it hasn't arrived but I'm glad it was a good choice!

That was a little unclear! First year please, the year of soil overload by the looks of it?!

Do any of you guys who have completed the first year have any book recommendations for the year?

Our specs are very clear. BUT When a customer who essentially employs five crews has a tantrum it's best to give him back his dummy

We went bent over and took our medicine! 2tonne of topsoil and seeded the garden!!! The customer is always right

This isnt far off the mark but there are some companies doing the right thing. I can only comment on my area. Council do have there own arborists. Mostly from a non arb specific back ground though. when you get here you can enrol on a TAFE course to do the Level 5 Diploma in Horticulture/ Arb. course. This is the base consultanncy qualification. You can submit your present qualifications as evidence for Record of Prior Learning (RPL). This will negate the need to complete the whole course as you may be awarded certain modules as a result. The industry here has come a long way in the last 5 years but the "Joe Bloggs Tree Lopping" end of the scale is diabolical!! Most companies are coming round to the fact that helmets MUST be worn and chaps Must be warn when using a saw...yes, even for one cut! I think the industry in a similar place to where it was in the UK 10 years ago and it is moving forward. If your going to climb, find one of the companies leading the way. I cant see that Council would offer sponsership for a position that it could fill from within the country but I may be wrong. Council dont pay as well as the private sector either. What quals and experience do you have and where are you thinking of living? have a look at arbjobs there is plenty there Good luck, its a massive move but a fantastic lifestyle!

We removed some young Weeping Figs at a Government owned housing association style property a few weeks ago. We were asked to remove the tree, grind the stump and surface roots. Figs have a load of shallow and surface roots which can cause quite a lot of structural damage. We did as we were asked but as you can imagine, grinding a whole area instead of just the stump produces a fair amount of spoil and this is quite woody due to amount of root involved. This is generally raked level so there are no holes or significant lumps and bumps "trip Hazards" and left for which ever contractor does the landscaping or to break down naturally. Basically we removed the tree, ground the stump and surface roots. I got a call from a house inspector yesterday to tell me we had to revisit the site, rake up ALL the spoil and take it away. I explained that if we raked the top "woody bits" off there would be more underneath to a depth of 150mm ie to the depth of the grind and if he was concerned the area should be re-landscaped by an appropriate contractor. Long story short...The MD got a call from the head of procurement in the government department and I was told in no uncertain terms to get a crew back there tomorrow! Why has this gone so far I hear you ask? Because of "a Health and Safety issue". The tenant has made a formal complaint because the spoil is "a potential choke hazard for the kids"!!!!! Why are your kids eating wood? When are the public going to realise that there is no such thing as risk free and assume some level of responsibility for themselves?!

FdSc northcountryboy. I did the RFS Cert. Arb. in 1999 (not at myerscough). It was a real eye opener for me. Id been climbing for 3 years by then and the knowledge I picked up in that year made me realise what I was doing poorly and why I was doing the things I was doing well. It really did start me on the way down my career path proper A really good course, I know you will get a lot from it and I truly hope you enjoy it!

Very happy to say that I have been accepted onto the course and start in September! It seems that I will be in good company with several others here also starting. It sounds like it may be good to be able ask the odd question here and get a quick response from one another rather than hanging out for the official response from tutors! I must admit that I am a little worried about time management with working full time and baby on the way...its going to be a busy year!!

Sound advice!!

sorry to here its a little rubbish, a pint of tea goes a long way to help though! The Ausies got a day off today for Anzac Day (a bank holiday for rembemberance day) its been a beautiful day in the surf with the turtles for me!!!

.....as far as the walnut goes, Id leave it until its in leaf.

correct me if I'm wrong but...the tree will be producing energy. It will have been respiring away like mad using the stored carbohydrate in the xylem and roots to produce the energy it needs for growth. It will start producing more carbohydrate when its leafed up!

Interesting article. It probably is pie in the sky, but it doesnt do any harm to dream! Thanks

Thanks teequip, I think there was a lot TV references in there! I saw the chap on Grand Designs years ago (I think that is the chap you were talking about)Charcoal burner in Sussex? He did build an amazing home for himself and I think extended for his family later but that may be incorrect. As far as escape to the country wannabes...I couldnt agree more!

Thanks for this. There is even advice on planning permission on the woods for sale site!

I've been Down Under for a few years now saving hard. The Australian dollar is looking pretty good against Pounds Sterling so when I end up moving back home to good old Blighty I will have a decent deposit to be able to buy the new family a new home. I have heard tell of woodland being sold by the forestry commission (is this right?) and have managed to get all misty eyed about living in and managing my own area of woodland! I am pretty certain that getting planning permission to build a habitable dwelling in an area of woodland will be pretty difficult? I know some of you will have experience in this area and any advice or info would be happily received!

Youve got a basic qualification that should help you get a groundies job. I dare say you have a first aid certificate from the security work too. It definitely is the best way to learn the ropes, the best groundies are often climbers. Dont be put off by any prima donna climbers shouting the odds, there are plenty of them! Its a great industry to work in and modern ergonomic climbing techniques are loads better for your body than they were even 15 years ago. Good luck

I agree. In order to make an informed decision the only real option is to wait and see the extent of damage. Nature is remarkably resilient! I would have thought it was worth finding out if your neighbours insurance company would liable for cost of remedial works/ removal, if it is then I don't see why this couldn't be deferred until such time as any damage to your property (tree) is more quantifiable. Its worth an ask. Good luck.

Hi Steve, Im going to have to wait until Sunday to have a good look. I guess that the content is based on UK/European even Northern hemisphere species? Im down under along with a lot of other British Arbs and there are some differences down this way (especially in the tropical and sub-tropical areas). The screen shots look great. My fungi ident is abysmal and Im certain that this app will be of great help. Thanks.

This is sound, accurate advice.