janey

Are you thinking of deserting us here in London ? Mind you, Ashton Court is a beautiful place, so I couldn't blame you if you were

Demand Five | watch How To Take Stunning Pictures, Series 1 - episode 1, Episode 1

Good tip. Have you been watching Suzy Perry's new Ch5 programme on Tuesdays on how to take good photos?

Yes and yes Unfortunately, it's the first day of my new job (if you can call it that on the pay they're offering), so I don't think it'd go down too well if I had a sudden sickie. Otherwise I think I'd be tagging along with the rest of you. Just to keep you under control

Good luck with it when you decide to enrol. It may be a year of study, but because it's usually only one half day at college a week (unless you go for home learning) it doesn't really interrupt your life too badly. From experience, if you want to do any LA TO work, this is generally the qualification that is most sought after.

And you're still going?

I have to agree with you on that. The botany, P&D etc modules are designed to give you a basic understanding and don't go into anything at any great depth. The Tech Cert doesn't really cover things like botany as it assumes that you already have that knowledge and relies on you having that already covered. I personally think it is a good "next step" from the ND both educationally and professionally. Even if you intend to remain working as an arborist, it will give you a much better understanding of the legislation on so on behind what you do and will give you the opportunity to progress to a more office based position. If you already have the ND and want to continue with your education then there is really only the Tech Cert before either going for the Prof Dip or a degree.

Could you base any provisional dates solely aroung me and NOT book a saturday or Sunday? I might have to deprive the good people of Fulham of their petunias with my new job, otherwise. Whatever the date, I'll sign myself up to it now. I've been to HH many a time, but it will be great to be taken on a proper tour with The Gov'ner and all the extra bits of information you can impart. The company last time was quite good, for a bunch of alcohol supplying fag obsessed tree blokes, so I'm looking forward to more of the same.

Subtle... I'm getting some quotes myself at the moment and the two companies I'm trying - after recommendations from other AT's - are Arbinsure and Trust.

Having done both the ND and the Tech Cert, albeit many long years ago, the two course are completely different beasties. Briefly, the ND is more geared towards those who want to be "on the tools" and will give you good practical experience, your basic tickets and and an underlying understanding of the science behind the whats and the whys of the work that you are doing. It is a full, or nearly full time college based course and the study is split between practical and theorhetical. The Tech Cert is aimed at those who want to be in a more managerial position and is entirely theory based. The practical part of the exam is several management exercises, so there is no actual hands on tree surgery involved. It is a part time course either college based or home tuition. But don't be fooled by this - the amount of learning you will have to do exceeds that of the ND from my experience. Both courses have their merits and it all depends on what you want to achieve and where you see you career heading as to which one is more suitable for your requirements.

The geeks gallery - I love it . I knew you'd get me eventually.

Those old sweet chestnuts are great. I like the way that they have been mulched, even it it's only a small amount.

Hahaha, I'm fubar'd . To see you in full on hunter mode would be quite an awsome thing to behold, methinks. If I could keep you in focus long enough, that is

If you do want to go to Kew, there is always something of interest in any season. Autumn's good for the foliage colour (but nowhere near as good as Sheffield Park) and has a good collection of Sorbus' and other Rosacea in fruit. Winter's good if you want to do your head in with your twig idents . As Kew is a botanical garden, not solely an arboretum, you will always find something to look at if you have horticultural or architectural leanings. I think the mention of the word "train" may scare some people, tho!

I'm looking forward to seeing some of the piccies from today posted up with their idents. I've been going through the ones I've taken and my brain is too overwhelmed to even try to label them. I think you broke my head...

Never been to W'birt???? And you call yourself an arborist. Tsk... I'd be up for that, even though I'm not overly impressed by the place. (I've worked for the National Arboreta, so I'm allowed to gripe ). TBH, Kew has a much better tree collection and is a lot nearer to yous out in the wilds of Essex, if it's trees you want to look at. And it's got huge, warm greenhouses to hide in when it's peeing down.

Is it just me that finds it slightly worrying that as soon as we've all got in, we're all straight onto AT???

... And a big, special thanks to Sean, aka the human Truffle Hound I thought it was best to give some other, lesser hunters some praise for once.

Oooh, that's lovely. It's going to make a gorgeous something

I've just got back. As above really: thanks to everyone (especially Tony + David, the fungi smartypants) for a great day out and I'm looking forward to Fungal Foray # 2

I've become so accustomed to the early leaf fall on the chestnuts here in W London that it takes a piccy like that, with the chestnuts contrasted against the other trees still in full foliage, to remind me how abnormal it is!

A lot depends on the qual's and experience of the person doing the report, what the report is for, the number of trees, the depth of info' required... You get the idea. It can vary widely and I've seen anyhing thing from £50 to £250 for a day rate. I bet that's not much help to ya and hasn't given you a clearer idea, has it?

It must be the way the light is catching them as they look a different colour. Specsavers time?

Great piccies as always, David And of course, I can name every one of 'em...

I've never seen a k'rab used for climbing fail like that before. Scary stuff. Good post