ClimbingNev

Cheers mate, yeh we got a damn good crew on at the moment. Is a good feeling when you can look around at the lads and pretty much know they are each on the ball in their respective roles. Got good climbers on as well as really decent groundsmen, the boss is on the money with his timing and recommendations and the office secretary is involved and professional, am happy at Bartletts York at the moment . Am sure there will be more pics to come. Have been away from arbtalk for a while but am gonna make an effort to be more active on the forums in future. Cheers.

Yeh it was decieving. Also there is a river running to the rear of the tree within 3m of the stem. Also the buildings were very close, old and fragile with asbestos roofing. The building is still operational so that combined with the need for a quick removal due to blocking the main egress and delivery road meant the crane was the best, safest, quickest and most cost effective way of serving the clients wishes.

Hi, after a LOOOOOOONG time away, take a look at these pics for your enjoyment Works undertaken 6th March 2012 by Bartlett Tree Experts York. I am climbing with scottie and crew tending the ground. Sectional dismantle of a Black Poplar above the BHS outlet at Kirkstall, Leeds. (right next to the abbey). The weather was fine and sunny, probably the best day of the year so far! Askham Bryan horticultural college's Matt and Graham brought out a small army of first year arb students to observe the work site which was nice to see. The dismantle was completed in the day, with the total work schedule for the site being one week. The main stem weighed in at 15 tonnes, taken in 3 sections. weights were 6t, 5t and 4t respectively. We used an 80tonne crane but the chains were only rated to 4t each, hence the smaller (but still massive) sections. Crane operator reckoned on a total tree weight of between 25 and 30 tonnes. The tree was deceptively tall and was just about at the limit in terms of Height and reach. Works were to enable flood-defence piling works prior to re-development. I should point out that the tree was massively over developed with huge sprawling, over-extended limbs. The tree had a history of substantial limb failure. Also a similar Black Poplar was pruned and retained and most of the trees on site were lifted and dead-wooded and retained, as in keeping with the amenity value of the site. We had an ecologist on site for some of the works inspecting the soft fallen branch-work and stem-wood for bats and birds. A hidden honey bees nest was disturbed but the colony was re-homed by a bee keeper! The honey I collected from the fallen combs was top notch by the way. All in all a very tiring but satisfying week!

Hi mate. I have not read all the replies to this topic as I am lazy, but thought I would draw your attention to a variation. Someone may have covered it already but I will repeat it in any case. You mentioned you want a self feeding system? On the vid in the second or third reply you can see that the climber is pulling himself up on the line, then locking and feeding the slack through with the other spare hand when he has gone a meter or so up. well look at the photos below and follow the numbers for reference info. THE V T AND KNOTS JOINING IT TO THE KARABINA ARE NOT DONE UP PROPERLY THEY ARE FOR SYSTEM DEMONSTRATION PURPOSES ONLY I JUST THREW IT TOGETHER USING THE WINDOW LATCH AS A FAKE ANCHOR TO SHOW THE GENERAL JIST! 1. You can obviosly use a gadget here with a length of string to make bringing the shunt cord in a bit easier from a distance, I am just showing the principle of a friction knot. 2. The main line goes through the D or sliding ring (3.) (Karabina used for demo instead of slider as I have not got a harness to use right now) 4. Shunt cord comes from 1. and attaches onto pulley to self shunt the V T up as you ascend. 5. If you want to get a good pull simply hold your shunt knot and pull the system through at point 6. until the V T is away from you. You can get a reet good pull at point 7. and the V T locks, unlocks and moves it'self. To branch walk or descend just pull the system to you again by reversing what I have just shown. I love this system hope you do too mate, All the best,

Now then Tony, how are you? Long time no see. Didn't know you were on here mate. Hope you and family are well. How is Mark? Are you still doing the paving job?

Also mate just thought I had better let you know I am not out of work, am still crew leader, and knowing you , you won't be either, but I am just putting the feelers out cos I fancy making some real $ again! Where are you now mate, same company? And will my live-lining, control, earthing and general YEDL electrical tickets be valid now if I was to consider going back for a visit to the dark-side????

No haven't managed to get nhold of him, the number I have for him doesn't work mate. Don't know how to get hold of him do you? Anyhow someone told me Fountains had gone tits up! (Leeds office) so will he even have a job now? I hope so like but you never know. Have you applied to Tillhill mate? Let me know, I messaged you my number mate so give me a bell sometime when you have 5 mins, could do with a chat. Cheers J, Nev.

Wow, I wish I was there man! I really long for a job that does not involve destroying or "pruning" a tree!!! I get so sick of the general attitude of the british public towards trees. How nice it would be to go somewhere and make money doing this kind of thing, can you imagine being sent out to put lanterns in the trees in the UK? Maybe I am wrong?? Great pics mate, I am officially jealous.

Hi mate, I like to see good tree management. Pollarding a Lime in this way can increase the lifespan considerably. If done right it is not a bad option. The work your doing looks very neat and I think that, going by some Lime "pollards", this management programe looks right for the setting. I know Lime is one of the more "forgiving" species but that should not be an excuse for topping or reducing. In my opinion if your going to think about a crown reduction it should be this or fell and re-plant. Nice one mate Nev.

Baz, Baz, Baz! You know as well as I do when surgeons get together it is ALL about the climbing!!!!.........then it gets out of hand! It has too....it's tradition! Lol, seriously tho, I will be able to get some chairs and a shelter and stuff. If we all bring something, we can all make do. I think my essential bit of kit is gonna be a camera eh!

Just for a giggle, then I will pack it in with the photos lol, I thought you may like this one. I went to the dark side for money once and pursued utiliy arb. Just so happened my mate Marc, an experienced and morally correct arborist, came to work with me as well, got a lot of training it has to be said and now have tickets coming out of my ring piece, electrical qualifications and the like, so that was good. Something to fall back on anyway. We made up a team at the arb association conference a couple of years back and won. Was a great day. I still think there is room for utility arb to become respected. It just requires a change in attitude from the top down and a willingness to change from within the industry. I went as a fully experienced tree surgeon and could not believe, NO REALLY COULD NOT BELIEVE! some of what went on but on the other hand some of the changes that happened while I was there were brilliant. A lot of novice climbers being given loads of good equipment and then being thrown in at the deep end and left to their own devices hardly fills one with confidence, but I have to say I met some very skilled and ethical people in my time doing utilities. But thats a different thread I guess. The best thing was the $, I have never made so much money in my life! Nev.

Just found another of Tony and I dismantling a multi-stem lambardy Poplar last summer. I'm the one at the top. We were using a one tie, one cut technique. This job was one with a neighbour kicking off cos she did not want it down. It stood in the centre of four gardens and was subject to a tpo but had split and was condemed for being dangerous. Had a fair old heated discussion with her and the fella. Sometimes being diplomatic takes all your patience doesn't it. Nev.

Nice one mate.

Hi mate. No I basically got the crane driver to put me at my anchor point. Then just swung to each sling point, then dropped down to cut. At the end climbed up, attached the sling to the last piece then dropped down, pulled my rope out and was ready to cut the last piece. worked quite well as I could climb into position while the crane lowered its load. Would defo use a sling climber if the size of the tree required it though so your quite right, just not really needed in this situation, Nev.

Well seen as you liked the last one I thought I would post one or two more, don,t know what the quality will be like, sorry. LeyburnLad!! if your reading this you would have some good uns wouldn't you? (probably take ages to upload black and white or sepia though mate , only joking) Enjoy!

This was a job in Pickering, North Yorkshire late last year. We had been called out when a substantial part of the tree, namely half the canopy failed into the car-park of a hotel. A man was just opening the door of his brand new BMW when it landed on top of him, crushing the car flat but missing him. He suffered only minor scratches. By all accounts the car was flattened to about 1m high Lucky bloke. This tree had an impressive spread although you might not appreciate it as we had already removed all the branchwork up to 12 inches by this stage. Not the tallest of trees but big and old nonetheless. These photos show us dealing with the big wood. it went really well, we were done in just under 4 hours. A lot of people gathered to watch this landmark tree dissapear from the scenery. A shame really but there you go. The wound from the failed limb was HUGE, I don't know if the photos show it. Anyhow, I love jobs like this, must be a man thing . Hope you like the pics, all the best, ClimbingNev

Now mate, not dead! I have a new phone, lost your number, hence you will of had no annoying phone calls! Would doffo be interested in getting back doing smashy smashy, our spot is the pits at the mo , they aren't paying anything over 40 hours, overtime rate has gone out the window and prospects are poor to say the least. Not a happy camper mate. Giz a pm bud. Cheers. N

Plus I forgot, we can ask at Bilton hall can't we Scottie and I know that Nick Batty, the collection Arborist at the Castle Howard Arboretum trust will probably be able to help out. Leyburn lad will recall us practising for the comp up there a few years back? Fothers(if your still in touch with him J?) will ring him and probably join us, or I can contact Nick myself? What do you think? Also, just as a thought, does someone here have contact with anyone at Temple Newsham? Will put the old thinking cap on. ........I can see this getting a bit beyond recreational climbing/practice and into a full scale surgeon meet

Well if Leyburn Lad is in then I am too, will be good to see you again J! Plus the fact that I work with you Scott, means I really should, don't you think? (sneaking off climbing with your new best mates without telling me eh? shame on you! just wait until you see the pile of brash i'm gonna leave you tomorrow, Judas! lol, lol, lol) Only jesting bud. Really good idea this, there is not enough happening in this area, See you in the morning mate.

Ha ha what a thread. I am guilty of drinking quite a bit. I drink whatever I feel like. I love wine, lager, bitter, stout or spirits depending on what mood I am in. I learnt my wreckless binge drinking habits from a variety of foremen and older colleagues at a few different tree contractors early on in my career lol lol. Now although I try to keep it to the weekend these days I find that the best cure in the morning is a bacon sandwich, coffee, mars bar, a can of coke and a couple hours hard graft. I usually feel better by dinnertime and fit to go out again by teatime! Yeaaaaaah old school surgeonness.

IN REPLY TO Marc's REPLY ( POST NUMBER 8) Although I agree that a good groundsperson is worth their weight in gold I don't agree with the comment that groundsmans wages should reach the same level as a climber. You hit the nail on the head by saying "....just don't fancy getting in the harness...", in my opinion the proggression from groundwork to aerial work entitles you to a bit more brass as you are taking more responsibility and risk. Now I don't want anyone thinking I am poo pooing groundworkers as I think that working the ground can be a lot of hard work, and to do it right, to get that special rappor with the climber is a very skillful job but I do think the climber, especially a competant and experienced climber deserves that little bit more at the end of the day.

You know I have been climbing for years, started on three strand , and could never be doing with gimmicks and loads of unnecessary, fiddly bits of kit. I like to keep it simple. Only recently have I realised what an ignorant buffoon I have been. "you don't need all that crap on your harness" I would say to people! "I do my job with a blake hitch and a side strop,I can't be doing with fannying about with pulleys and the like" lol lol lol funny how you get stuck in your ways and reluctant to embrace an easier way of doing things isn't it! But this system, which was demonstrated to me at the AA tradefair has re-kindled my interest in climbing kit and knots/systems. I love it! It is an absolutely fantastic system, I am really impressed with the way that you can move your hitch in and out on the system to suit what your doing at any one time (with your full weight against it I might add) its so tidy as well. I know this might be a well known set up but I aint been looking at whats out there for years. Great photo! Nice 1. Nev.

Ha ha ha ha ha. Seriously J you where unlucky not to have been in our team last year. Wish you had of been mate. (no offence Scott if your reading) You definately deserve a win. PM me and we will sort it if you are interested bud. We need to organise a training get together and laise with the sponsor. I got a third man who is up for it and might do, but if you know someone let me know! In case my guy pulls out. (ps I know this is slightly off topic but it is still to do with the original thread). Hope to hear from you soon mate. Nev.

That you J??????? I think this thread goes some way to opening up to the outside world what is happening within utility arb at the moment! It is on the up and up and (speaking from experience in most areas of arb!) HEALTH & SAFETY WISE I think utilities are setting the standard industrywide!! I have competed and was in the winning team 2007. I will be putting a team together ready for this sept totally independantly (with sponsorship. I managed to find a well known Arb setup director who shared my way of thinking over a beer at the tradefair, AA arborists team challenge barbecue) so the big companies better watch out Hey nice thread! PS if it is you giz a message! Cheesewire and Luger waiting for you!