dannyT

shame about the chelsea flower show garden they stuck in the "back garden" looked like a wildlife garden that had been knocked up by the local wildlife trust only cost them about 100 grand couldnt work out how the designer came up with that figure. It was a shame as the tree planting, hornbeam hedge, stumpery and rose garden where spot on. The designers garden looked totally out of context with the overall formal style.

yeah good deal at honey bros on the honey bee, but make sure you tell them you want a splice. Mine arrived without cost me 11 quid to send back and then waited 3 weeks for it to be sent back!!! To put that splice in and the postage back was an extra 30 quid. Turned out quite an expensive "deal"

AWSOME pics. Makes me want to go for a walk in the woods

some top piccies there fella

i have a love hate relationship with the VT. Started on a blakes then moved on to the VT. I love the way of climbing with a hitchclimber and VT, but too many times during work the knot would fail to bite and needed constantly looking at and dressing. This had the reverse effect and began to slow down my work. With this i moved back to the blakes. The ergonomics of a blakes leave a lot to be desired so ive started messing about with some new combinations of hitch and knots. Ive moved away from blaze (which i think is well overrated but thats another thread ) and gone back to a 13mm rope, combine this with 8mm hitch cord, distel knot and hitchclimer and hey presto the knot grips everytime. Im going to give it a good try over the next few weeks at work so we'll see. Im not going to discard the blakes as i think its a top knot. I think different knots and climbing systems should be treated like tools and used for the correct job in hand. You dont have to stick to one system or knot, use the right one for the right job.

is it bats using an old woodpecker hole (quite a bit of staining on bark)

fantastic images, well worth a look, cheers

Got a hive and colony of bees this week. hopefully lots of nice pots of honey in the future mmmmmm Me and the missus have wanted to keep bees for sometime and help keep numbers up but were unsure how to go about it. A mate whos well into bee keeping helped us out for a percentage of the honey. Heres some pics introducing the bees to the hive. Is there anymore arb talkers into keeping bees?

Cheers mark was a big tree about 65 - 70 ft got a bit of disco leg in the crown not had that for some time its all good though Had some big branch walks, mozza took great pleasure in getting me to go right out to the ends "youve missed a branch there danny" LOL. The owner wanted all the ivy removed, i guess it didnt fit with her big house and garden, was a good job, bit sick of ivy by the end.

Its a funny one this as arborists we respect and admire trees but often we earn our living by cutting trees down. If this disease takes hold (god forbid) there could be a LOT of work. A bitter sweet predicament...................

cheers for the reply monkey. Not sure about habitat survey as i was subed in, but i get where your coming from.....................

VERY worrying anybody else come across this or know anymore

Heres some pics from last week. Had to take the ivy off this big ash tree and reduce some of the end weight from some of the end branches. It was a good climb got some foot locking practice.

if its any help you can get them in france, thats where i got mine from.

Awsome trees. When people age trees at over 1000 yrs i find it hard to get my head round it, how can somthing living last so long, gives me a head ache thinking about it all the changes that have gone on around it. All of the historic events and this beast has weathered it all. Top pics

started climbing when i was 28, now 30. Just starting to feel like things are "clicking" into place. I climb most days. I do ache after a hard climb but no more than a "young gun" would. Tree work keeps you in good shape and if anything i think it may help keep you supple and stamina levels at an optimum. Most people can be trained to climb trees but to work in them takes time, strength and natural ability. To be honest i think that somebody who enters this game a little later will have a more mature "head" on them and more general working experience.

wow that sounds like HARD work. Dont we get enough of a workout when climbing and grafting. When i finish all i can think about is putting my feet up and chilling. Surely our job keeps us tip top.

Quality spot by the river, and great job! As the others said river looks top for a bit of fishing, what river is it?

great sett of pics in the last few posts. Weathers been great for a change!!! Love the bonfire, cant beat a good fire at work

none there all a nightmare. Just have to get on with it

Like the haix, best boots ive had but................... After 6 months the soles are going, laces on thier last legs, dont think there are many clothing/boot products in arb work that will last more than 12 months. Its a dear do this game.

on a farm up near oldam. could have done with you in the afternoon, went to a churchyard to do some "bits", turned out a MASSIVE drag as couldnt get the chipper in between the gravestones, just what you need on a friday afternoon totally peppered now but enjoying a beer so its all good. Be good to have you on board next week fella

nah was a good safe distance. I reacon you could have dropped it in a oner but you know my felling skills Just playing it safe by knocking the top out.

a few more..............

Nothing amazing. Took this leylandi down today. A fair bit of dusty chip. Couldnt drop in one as there were power lines nearby, a prize winning veg patch and some small apple trees. Used the 26 to "get in" then the pole saw and finally spiked upand knocked the top out, jobs a good'un. Nice to be out in the sun