Arborjim

They were up there all day. Spent a good couple of hours filming with us while doing some aerial rescue update. Interviewed both me and the candidates. We were trying to push the experience and qualification bit and not to employ cowboys. Then didnt show it. My Kids were gutted and kept telling me that i looked nothing like Tim. Quite happy as it was cause i messed up my footlock and cant really remember what i said it was probably C***.

I probably wont be back on line till Monday but if anyone watches country file on Sunday and see's and interview with a climbing instructor who messed up what was going to be a really good footlock demo and then talks nonesence about training and assessment, it was raining like a so and so (Ha hose pipe ban in the north west) and he hasnt got a clue what he said it was all a blur. Well thats his excuse.

Bloke in a pub 20 odd years ago asked if i fancied a job. I was going to be James Bond, Bo****cks

Hi Jon, the last lot of cobra we got was from Honey Bros. We been using the treesave system from Drayer. Jason at BTS ART got it for me i found it a little easier to instal and it uses slings rather than wrapping the rope around the stem. Have a look at tree save® cabling system. Jim

I may be wrong but as i understand it as soon as the tree officer has given his comments on a planning app it is then taken out of his hands. The case officer then holds responsibility. A strongly worded letter has already been sent to the planning department detailing the councils responsibility. I did have a bit of a Victor Meldrew moment. I've got to admit that the town council involved are usually very good at protecting trees on development sites and I've been involved with several sites where i have been the qualified arborist on site and worked very with all of the tree officers involved, they all have a positive real world outlook to the work that they do. As with all the tree officers that i deal with i have a good working relationship with them and will be following up with them what the outcomes are for the future of the tree.

On my way to a site visit today i drove through a very posh little village just outside Harrogate and drove past this(See photos). Sorry about the quality of the pics as i was trying to take them without being seen by the big ugly builder types that kept giving me the evil. Apparently planning permission was given to increase the sight line for a new property as an ammendment to the original planning app and went straight through the root protection zone. I spoke to the tree officer who is not very happy with the planning officer in charge who approved the amendment and now cant do anything about it. He did suggest that all the Arborists that had called him about this (I'm not the only one) should go and visit him (the case officer) and also suggested something about a horses head. [/ATTACH][/ATTACH][/ATTACH]

Went last summer. Fun day for the kids. Dont queue for the go karts though i spent an hour with our lad and i dont know who was more disapointed him or me.

There are no pre requisits however after speaking to the Instructor he recommends that a candidate has a minimum of three years experience, and NPTC units 38, 39, and 41. The most important thing is a good working knowledge of climbing and rigging equipment. Jim

Hi All, Is anyone intrested in joining a LOLER course in Leeds. The course is running from 23rd-25th August plenty of places available. The cost for the course is £290.00 plus VAT and £140.00 for the assessment. If your intrested PM me or ring Claire Stiff on 01449720330. Jim

This is really sad news my thoughts go to his family, freinds and work mates. this is the second death this month, I know we all think it wont happen to us and the majority of us work in a safe and efficeint manner but lets not forget that just one lapse of consentration and thats it. I can't belive i will be getting the lads in for the second time this month to let them know about this awfull accident and to make sure they know what a dangerous occupation they've decided to get into. In my 20 years plus in the industry as a climber, instructor/assessor and now manager i think this year has been the worst for injuries and fatalities, correct me if I'm wrong. I know health and safety is the responsibility of the employer and the employee and i dont think we need to have H&S legistlation rammed down our throats after an incident like this but to all managers whether one or one hundred employees make sure the lads and lasses are safe and if not DONT put them to work.

Got to agree with woodpicker. Merrist Wood 10 week course is v good if you are already experienced. If your new to it I'd try and get an apprentership with a good local firm. Then when you have 12-18 months work under your belt then think 10 week course.

Well done. Now be safe.

I've been reading this thread with much interest. Many people have given valid feed back here most of what people say is true, yes its a hard job, yes you need to practice, I could go on but i think you've probably had enough of that. At your next assessment explain to the assessor about your condition and that you may need to take more breaks than most. As someone has already posted be methodical, felling trees is a number of operations repeated remember that and do one at a time. There is a maximum time limit for an assessment but the assessor will take everything into acount if he knows your background. Also remember that the assessor is working on behalf of NPTC and at the end of the day you are paying NPTC for the assessment, if you think the assessor is rushing you, in as a polite a way as possible tell him, he/she is human and will respond to that. I've been an assessor since before i would like to say and I have found that all who go for this assessment are a bag of nerves but dont be. As i say we are all human and if you talk to the assessor they will make allowences without reducing the compenancy level you need to require. Good luck with your next assessment and let us know if you pass. Jim:thumbup1:

Yes its a HB special they came out mid to late 90's as a competetor of the Komet range sliding D's etc. It wasnt a bad harness but the sliding D's were too small and with cold wet hands they were a pain in the backside. One of the training providers i used to work for had one aerial rescue was also a pain. If i'm not mistaken is that the one from the same training provider Bob i cant remember seeing another like it anywhere.

We have an oportunity for a UA team leader working in the north east. If you are interested please PM me with you quals experience and contact details and i will get back to you.

Hi All, We are looking for a UA surveyor in the north east. The right person would need to have a clean driving licence, a UA background and some surveying experience. You can PM me or leave a message on this thread and i will reply. Jim

Hi all, We are looking a 2nd Climber/Groundman to work in the Leeds area. Although based in Leeds we work all over the North of England. Predominatly a utility company the right person would be working on the domestic/commercial side of things. Must have a driving licence CS 30, 31, and 38. Training will be given to if you dont hold CS39, Chipper cert, MEWP, first aid, UA1 etc. PM me if your interested. Jim

Alot will depend on where you are and the age of the person. I know that Craven College in Skipton were offering CS courses at a really low price as they have a Bradford postcode and it was seen as an area of high unemployment. Askham Bryan College in York run an NVQ in Forestry/Arboriculture and part of the NVQ are the CS units. We are thinking of sending one of our trainees there. Hope this helps

If you speak to Jason Clark at BTS ART (01449 720330) he has just started to import a massive range of work gloves called ox-on. I've been trying out two pairs the first Ox-on dark, are v good and stay grippy in the wet unlike the majority of rubber gloves. The only problem and its the same with most gloves is they wear out quite quickly. The cost isnt to bad either. The second pair are more expensive but are lasting alot longer. cant remember the name of these but Jason will be able to tell you.

Most Training providers that I have worked for offer 2 days training and then assess on the third day. If you are an experience climber the training could be done in one day. The assessment should'nt take more than 3 hrs but it would depend on the tree to be climbed. I did one yesterday on a mature oak that took 2. The cost of training and assessment varies massively. From around £250-£500 for the training and from £90 - £180 for the assessment. My advice is to shop round all over the uk if you need to. We had some guys come down from Inverness to Suffolk as the could'nt either get a course near them or when they did it was too expensive Hope this helps

The Leeds one, still here on a friday at 5.40 need to go home and have beer.

Im Here sat in the office waiting for the lads to come back with the stump grinder. Wetherby's bigger than you think call 0113 2296006.

A good pair of walking/hiking boots. Practice with them and ware jeans not chainsaw trousers. Once you get used to getting a lock with your feet the type of boots dont really make a difference you'll be able to transfer the technique to be able to footlock in anything. The main trick with footlocking is not to look at your feet whilst trying to take a lock as you'll end up swinging the rope which makes taking the next lock more difficult.

When my wife was pregnant she snored like a chainsaw and i ended up getting up in the middle of the night going out to the truck and grabbing a load of ear plugs. they worked a treat only problem I had was hearing the alarm in the morning. There great if the kids are up in the night too.

Hard Luck Mate, as everyone has said with your quals and experience you should'nt have many probs finding work. If you want to move North we're looking for a charge hand, give me a call if your interested. Jim Trees Unlimited