Mark Bolam

Just a basic timber frame and some ply for mine.

Pinch bar and a block might do it then.

Can you not punch it through from the other side?

I reckon you’ve got a steal there mate.

If you have more tea breaks you can fit up to eight working sessions into the day. #efficiency

Redneck.

That’s the top answer.

The trick is to drop the height of the stem just below the height you’ve reduced the sides to. They all look shit anyway. Trying to turn trees into shrubs rarely ends well.

I never joke about throwing.

Is it FC land?

Your customer will be disappointed. It’s flat top or nothing initially.

Quite possibly a Turtles Head for the assessor though.

No. Or a Turks Head.

Can you get a shot from the other side of the fence? If there’s a footpath there, whoever is in charge of that must know who is responsible for the trees beside it.

If you want to become a climber you can’t just say ‘I’m crap at throwing’. You need to practice till you’re half decent at throwing, or forget becoming a climber. It’s an important part of the job. Forget poles, slings, throwbags etc. Yes, they are all useful, but you need to nail the basics to progress quickly. Coil the rope as in the pic. No idea what it’s called. It should take under 5 seconds. Keep the coils small when you’re in the tree. Grip the loop at the bottom and the rope beside it and throw it over the crotch or branch above you. It will unravel and drop back to you. Get up a small tree till you’re suspended above the ground. Doesn’t matter if it’s 2’, as long as you’re off the ground. Then practice throwing the loop above you. If it’s not working, change your body angle. Change your arm. Change your hair colour. Change your gender if you have to. Just make the changes necessary to make the throw. Then practice. Then practice more. Twigs and branches in the way? Trees can be like that. Deal with it. This isn’t an easy game. Put the graft in and see how far you can go. If you aren’t prepared to put the graft in quit now. It would be good to keep us updated on how you get on. I would say good luck, but it’s not about luck. It’s about effort.

Truth. All the bollocks we’ve had to put up is because houses have been built way to close to some really nice TPO trees. But it’s always the trees fault….

Two intercontinental moves and a couple of labs later eh Herr Schimidt? We will have beers together very soon my friend.

I used to use Sadolin Clearcoat on my old house, and that seemed to last quite well, but was quite pricey.

Girth every time, just use strong enough slings.

We work on loads of TPO trees in private gardens.

Are those rears fixed together?

Why would you still use a flying capstan?

Red all day Pete. The way I see it is white on road and red off.