Bald Monkey

Sorry, new to this fungi thing. But here is one I saw the other day when walking the dog. Not sure what it is? Any help appreciated.

I'm an Arb student and no matter how much I asked at the gate they wouldn't give me a reduced fee which I think was abit unfair. However I bought a load of kit at the show and with the bargains to be had that saved me about £75 on what I was expecting to spend over the internet. Overall a great day out.

Cheers mate:thumbup1:

Hi, Any idea what time the APF opens on Friday? Can't seem to find any details on opening times. Cheers:confused1:

After reading a lot of the threads on here it becomes clear that this is a job that many of you love, and others love to hate. So what is the best and worst thing about being a tree surgeon? I'd like to know what I can look forward to when I enter the big wide world of tree's.

Hi Fflint, Well I bet that wasn't what you wanted to hear from Laz!! Paints a pretty bad picture doesn't it. I'm in the same position as you at the moment. I'm getting no job satisfaction in my current role (office based) and I really wanted to find a job in the outdoors that would be a challenge but enjoyable at the same time and Tree Surgery after much research ticked all the boxes. I've handed my notice in and I'm due to start a NA in Arboriculture in September and can't wait to get started. This wasn't a decision taken lightly because I've got a mortgage to pay and other financial commitments but sometimes you have just got to take risks. I know it's not going to be easy and I know it's not going to make me a millionaire, but I'm hoping at the end of it I will be able to go to work and get some job satisfaction and hopefully enjoy it most of the time. If you never take a risk you will be living a very dull life and in 20 yrs time you could be sitting around thinking what if and I definitely don't want that to be me. I wish you all the best of luck for the future and it will be good to hear how you get on.

I found Arb talk through surfing the web. First I ended up at Arb Jobs and that pointed me in this direction. Very addictive!! Because I'm only starting college in September I don't feel I can input too much at the moment but am loving all the banter and finding it all very interesting. My wife is threatening me with divorce because I'm spending more time on here than with her.

I will attending Brooksby Melton college in Leicestershire. It has a very good reputation around here.

Hi Cerne Arb, Thanks for the reply, I was just wondering did you enjoy doing the NA Arb course? I'm really looking forward to it and hoping it will give me a good overall insight into Arboriculture.

Hi Tom The course that I will be doing is 50% theory and 50% practical so hopefully I'll get plenty of experience of climbing. Obviously climbing trees in a college enviroment will not fully prepare me for climbing in the real world.

Thanks monkeyd, I will definitely be searching the local authority sector among other things. The course I'm doing is 3 days a weeks so hoping to pick up some sort of work in the industry for 2 days per week although I will probably have to wait until I've taken the first couple of NPTC units.

Thanks for the welcome. Not what I really wanted to hear for my first reply but appreciate your honesty. I'm under no illusions that this is a tough game to get into. However I think I have the enthusiasm and commitment to give it a good go and this is something that I really want to do and I'm going to put 100% effort into it.

Hi There, thought it was about time I said hello as I've been checking out this forum for a few weeks and have decided to join. I'm totally hooked. I've been working for 12 years in an office enviroment and am totally fed up with it and after much research have decided on a career change into the Arb industry. I'm due to start a National Award in Arb in September which includes CS30,31,38,39 and can't wait to get started. Any tips you guys can give me would be greatly appreciated. I've got to buy some kit at some stage such as boots, trousers and gloves. Any recommendations? Cheers for now!!