JaySmith

Yep thats the course, it includes an NVQ Level 2 to cover some of the theory side

Hi Paul, I work at Epping and I'm on the apprenticeship scheme that David is refering to with the City of London. I can't recommend it highly enough. At Epping I've been given a lot of exposure to the different sides of Arb. We work mainly on the veteran trees but the work varies from climbing, forestry clearance, wood pasture restoration, MEWP work, using arm fed chippers and forwarders etc. I think the apprenticeship programme is spot on as it gives you an insight into the industry from all diffrent sides. By doing the apprenticeship I will finish up with CS 30, 31, 38 & 39, Ipath MEWP ticket and possibly chipper and stump grinder. I personally didn't want to take a year or two out to do the ND course so I have opted for the apprenticeship to give me some experience but am also doing the RFS Cert Arb course as well to develop my knowledge. If you are struggling to find an employer then it may be worth contacting Capel as they often have details of employers who need to be matched up with candidates. I've got the appplication pack for the City of London from last year if you want I can PM/email it to you and if you want any info about the City of London (Epping) then send me a PM with any questions and I'll be happy to help you out. I think the apprenticeship's at Epping will be advertised around July time so keep an eye on here and ArbJobs etc. Good luck mate

Count me in! Sounds like a good crack

I'm only about a mile or two from Meopham and didn't hear anything, went out on my bike last night around the lanes and didn't see anything going on. Nothing in the local papers or news websites yet. Very sad news indeed

Good opportunity for anybody wanting to get into forestry/arb. Basically a taster week to see what it is like before you undertake an apprenticeship. Taken from the FC website: Are you interested in a career in forestry? Are you aged 17 or over by 1 September 2010? Are you interested in undertaking a challenging 2 to 2 and a half year paid apprenticeship based in the forestry industry in the Wyre Forest, Worcestershire? If YES to any of the above then read on......... Forestry Commission - current vacancies

Going both days looking forward to it:thumbup1:

Myerscough do the RFS level 2 Cert Arb via distance learning but it won't start again until September I think. The HCC gets some good reviews from others who have done it

Stihl type c's. Had some of the new Husky ones and not that keen on them, seem heavy and not very flexible

I've looked around and can't find anywhere that does the ND via distance learning but quite a few do the RFS Cert Arb and Tech Cert, such as Myerscough:001_smile:

Well done mate:thumbup1:Was at Capel today didn't see you there though you must have been gone by the time we started

Yeah I know it mate, we've done all of our tickets up at Northampton so far, not sure if we're going to be using the same site as you when we do cs39

Good luck mate, I'm sure you'll breeze it. Where's the assesment at Capel or you got to go up to Northampton?

Steve, just out of interest what make and model is your little loader?Looks like a really useful bit of kit:thumbup1:

Ok cheers mate, was looking to start in the next month or so if poss but maybe worthwile holding out until Sept as I would prefer the classroom side of things as opposed to online:001_smile:

Is this the RFS cert arb theory?? Also do you know when the course starts, I am looking to do the RFS cert arb online but would prefer to do it at Hadlow part time if it starts soon

TQ413956 will take you to the entrance gate of the site, walk 500yds down the track an you'll see the tree

Yeah have at work on the RA which I'll get for you if you like. There's a bunch of around 20 large Veteran's that we are working on at the mo in the same area which I'll get some Pic's of. Stange one across the plain....

Epping Forest - behind The Warren:001_smile:

A nice Oak from our patch - named Quist's Oak

Yep that's correct David, the lottery funding/bid paid for the Teupen as well as a new Chipper and the addition of us apprentices and another 3 arb's as well. As you've said the money is part of the 5 year plan in which COL receives funding for work on the Veteran pollards, wood pasture restoration as well as education and training within the local community. Part of the money has also been used for the refurbishment of listed buildings and vistor attractions. If anybody is interested the link below gives a break down of the HLF funding/project:001_smile: Branching Out Project (HLF) Bid

A lot of the Veteran Oak's and Beeche's that we work on have large amounts of decay and aren't always safe to climb so the Teupen is useful, we've got a truck mounted one as well but the reach is only 16m (Iveco) and isn't 4WD so can/will/does get stuck:001_rolleyes: There's a second hand one for sale in the link below, 4 years old and a snip at £100K There's a few pics on there as well 2006 TEUPEN LEO 30T Lift - Boom For Sale At MachineryTrader.co.uk

No probs, I think it was between £120 and £140k new or there abouts! I work for the City of London same as David but I work out of Epping and the terrain we track it across is pretty sketchy at times but it copes well and has been used all through the winter in the slush and the mud. The tracks can chew the ground up a bit but if it's in the woods then it can be smoothed over - obviously a different story in Mrs Miggin's garden! If you hire the machine with an operator then they'll be able to advise and get it to site for you easy enough, we sometimes have to set up on steep banks/uneven grounds and it always self levels well - it also has a manual overide for each leg as well. We transport ours on a flat back trailer pulled by a Valtra (about 100hp) and is yet to get stuck or struggle. The Leo 30 has a gross weight of around 4 ton from memory so is a big lump. Like I say if we are out in it tomorrow I'll try and get some shots/video of it being tracked through the forest so you get the idea and can see the ground clearance.