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The whole stem came down in bits like that. No harm done, but thats why I stopped subbing as I was often working very close to the limit to line other people pockets. I try to give myself a little more time these days.

This was way before grcs. Bent the capstan, knackered bearing on pulley and scorched the rope. But then that groundy never could let it run!

Is this any good? Its an oldy and probably a good example of cutting a section a little to big for the system

Stress less Winston. I did the FdSc a few years back after being out of the education system for more that 10 years. My spelling gramar and all that has never been great and I struggle to write at all with a pen and paper. I was never too in the education system and got out asap. Yes its a alot of work, but if you've got no kids and you are interested in trees what else are you going to do of an evening? Studying is not my strong piont and I went self employed, moved house, had a child, got married and got 90% of the work done for the AAAC assesment in those 3 years (and still got a very good mark). I'm sure you will blitz it. Finding the motivation was never a problem, once you start you really get into the learning process again. You seem to be up to speed in some areas already so that will free up time to work on the stuff you struggle with. If nothing else a qualification draws a line under what you know. A formal acedemic qualification will add weight to your reccomendations Alot of industy/tree experience followed up with this type of Qual is a powerfull combination and will either give you the confidence to establish your own business plan or make you a very desirable employee for others to consider. Go for it, I bet you don't regret doing it

I took a few limbs off, but the photo doesnt show the rest of the tree. It was still quite a beast even though it had been reduced alot. Still a healthy enough crown too. It was Ok to climb and reduce, but I would not have dismantled it. from 4m and up it was solid then there was a huge union. I think it would have been wreckless to shake it around too much, but in the end it supprised everyone with how it didn't fail

Yep just a flat cut into the live wood then pulled it with the land rover winch. I think with both winches it would have maybe gone if left, but that wasn't really an option. My battery died but my mate has some more shots and a video from the other side of the stem. It could be a while before I get a chance to get hold of those.

Both winches were tied off about 15m up. With both cranked to the limit there was just a little crack. I cut half way through the only piece of live tissue on the stem which was about 10 inches in diameter (on the right hand side of the 1st shot), but was being slowly seen of by HF. The tree was about 20m but had been radically reduced 4 or 5 times in the last 15 years. I reduced/veterenised it twice in five years. It was hard to get photos due to all the laurel, but heres a few to get an idea of how bad the decay was. It was beside a footpath, burger van and avery. I could have stood up in the cavity.

A little video of an experiment we did last year. An incredibaly decayed large beech we tried to winch to destruction. 1st we tried a 4t landrover winch and 3.2t tirfor but the old girl resisted. In the end she needed to have the last remaining piece of live wood cut then we dragged her down. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKRAKkHIpWA]YouTube - beech winchin[/ame]

No, I did my fdsc with them though and they seemed pretty good. I wouldn't want to name the college on this forum, as my experience with them may be an exception. Thanks for the other comments so far they have been very helpfull. I'm sure an apprentaship is a much better way to get a start in this industry than a full time course, I just need look into what grants are available before I take it any further. If I need to pay for the whole lot I can't help but feel that he may be better just having a job on the condition that he works towards the isa cetified arborist scheme.

Looks like he's got a very good opportunity with you there David. I've had issues with my local college in the past so I'm not suprised with this set up. The fact that on an 18 month course he only gets pa6, cs30 and first aid concerns me. I may chat to his dad and see if they would consider looking at a different college. Both yours and Deans set ups look far superior.

Go to the Darien instead. Cheaper, wilder, less tourists and more exciting. Romania's awesome.

Thanks Dean. Paper work should be no probs, I hope and our guys are all paye anyway. I would have thought the college would give some sort of employers pack but they don't. They will not pay for essentiall tickets either other than cs 30. I think an apprenticeship is a good idea, but to spend money training a 16 year old seems a lot riskier than say a 19-21 year old. I am really struggeling to see whats in it for me at this stage?

I meant I nearly always have too many commitments. If I'm not away with work it has to be a family trip these days. Nice idea, though.

Use a second line to secure a pulley through a fork then tie it off at the base of the tree.

Too many commitments I'm afraid. I shall be in Morocco in April though if anyone knows of anywhere a tree geek might find interesting over there.

Does anyone have any experience of employing an apprentice? I have been asked to take one on and would like to know how the scheme works? We have had inhouse trainees in the past but this is part of a college scheme. The college were unable to give me any useful information at all when I asked for details. I would like to know whether there is a set wage for a 16 year old apprentice? Who pays for training, ppe? Do I pay when they are at college? How often do they go to college? are there grants available to employers? everything really. All I could get from the college was that he goes in for the 1st week and learns about health and safety. The 2nd week he gos in gets cs 30, I asked when this is and was told "when they show commitment, we cant give you a timetable. He might not like it and it would be a waste of money". Thats all the info they gave me. He then told me "we give him an NVQ too. Do you know what an NVQ is? have you got one?" I felt like telling them to stick it as they were so unhelpfull but I know that its not this lads fault, he just wants a break. I would like to think that there is some structured scheme out there and would like to find out any info.

Portawrap, grcs, 2 x 16mm lines, 3 blue 3000kg blocks, swing cheeck and a few small slings, a few short lengths of 14mm line and a few prussiks for balancing. But I want to add a 150m speedline to that now.

Dropin some man size chunks there!

Your boss would have to be a real twit to do that. If my guys want to work on the weekend they have full access to any kit they want for free. It would be a different story if I found out they were on the sprots at the weekend though.

We've been using a grcs now for a few years and the guy lowering is very good I hardly feel it. We'd usually go bigger but this tree had quite a lean and the previous inspection claimed it was on the move. I dont't think it was though.

Call Nick at carter crane hire and carter training he will do it for you 01395 446446. I will send a guy along if you want to make up numbers

Wistmans wood is different. Killerton has lots of champions and oddities, Bictons nice, Prescott Pinetum has some giants. Give me a shout if your heading through

You stopping in Devon on the way through?

last 2

Just the sticks to fell now. Was a long but fun few days.