petestarbuck

This might sound like sour grapes and probably annoy a lot of you out there, but i have had a gut full of the way the arb association and their affiliates are trying to force the smaller companies out of the industry. I looked at a job a few weeks ago for a land owner looking to thin out a small plantation of ash and oak, leaving the better specimens in place. He was told by the relevant council department that this would not be possible unless he used a 'legitimate arborist', and then proceeded to point him in the direction of a much larger local company that happen to be arb association approved. This stinks of nepotism to me! This is the 5th time in the last few months that this kind of thing has happened, and not just to me, to a few other guys I know. I understand that local authorities are going to use arb association contractors for their own works, but to refuse consent for private works on the grounds of non arb association approval seems wrong to me. I would love to be able to join and get in on the act, but cannot afford the fees involved, even at their new, reduced rate.

Im based in Mortehoe, working in woolacombe tomorrow, what is it you need a look at?

Oh yeah, forgot to say, ive lent my pests and diseases book to a mate doing his level 2 at merrist wood. im kinda flying a bit blind with some p & d idents at the mo.

cheers felllas, im going to have a closer look at bit later, I'll try and get some photos uploaded if i can figure it out, not too good at the computer stuff. The thing that has got me concerned about the tree is the speed with which the needles have gone brown. Its only been about 7 weeks since i looked at it and it was showing no signs of any problems then. Cheers

Alrite folks. I need a bit of advice regarding an austrian pine im due to crown raise in a couple of weeks. I quoted it about 7 weeks ago and just got the go ahead from the council to do the work. when i looked at it, it looked perfectly healthy. drove past the house today and saw that about 50% of the needle area has browned off. There is a macarocarpa about 40ft away which is very healthy. It is in a coastal village, so could the salt air cause this, or possibly the cold weather lately. I have looked at other pines locally and they all seem fine. Any advice on this would be gratefully received, im a bit stumped. Cheers then.

alrite folks, i managed to recycle a few this year, it was a bit of a last minute thing, so didnt have too may takers. still managed about £60 for the local kids hospice. The problem was that i was collecting and asked the people to tape the donation in an envelope to the tree ( everyone is honest in devon) but the binmen had already taken the trees. reckon they thought the envelope was a belated christmas box for them.

An occasional groundie of mine had it done in november, and had a really quick recovery. Apart from the wierd sensation around the scars, he had a pain free recovery. He reckoned the physio told him to excercise them as soon as possible after the op to break up any scar tissue. I can think of one excercise that might help!

thanks folks, I'll give the, a go.

Alrite folks, Spent this afternoon sorting through some health and safety stuff, and discovered that i need some kit testing. Does anybody know of any loler examiners in north/mid devon or west somerset. Cheers then.

Alright there, I got hold of a timberwolf tw18 gravity feed a couple of months ago, it took a while to get hold of. apparantly timberwolf were holding off delivery to the south west until they had a full truck or something. anyhow, long story short and all that, its a quality machine, and cost around your price range. It takes upto 4 inch stuff no probs, and as Ty says, anything bigger is good for firewood. I just used it to recycle xmas trees raising money for the local kids hospice, and it didnt struggle even with those springy things.

sorry mate, just read further down the list, i see you are in exeter. give me a call if you fancy a chat.

alrite mate, where in devon are you? I'm up in woolacombe. give me a ring some time, number's 07920 127449 or 01271 871069 evenings. cheers, pete

im trying out a pair of 2mm neoprene surfing gloves today, plenty of feel and tight on the hands, think they will be pretty good