ChrisG

Just relocated and was wondering if anybody would be willing to give me a bit of climbing training/tips/practice in exchange for some labour? Got CS 30/31, PA1 & 6, chipper ticket, Lantra strimmer brushcutter and am a licensed bat worker if anybody needs any bat consultancy in the area, also a full member of IEEM. General hello I suppose to everybody in the area & if anybody has any work goin round this neck of the woods for groundie stuff, bear us in mind. Peace & beers, Chris :-)

Wise words Paul, In my experience, disturbing a roost or destroying a roost (not that I have ever done any of those), even if the bats are not there, then claiming you did not know what you were looking for, is no excuse & more damaging to the business. This just shows the lack of experience/knowledge of the people running it, resulting in a very unhappy client, an over expensive job & possible legal action/fines. I am not saying everybody needs to spend 2-3 years becoming a licensed bat worker, just become aware through recognised training and know what to look for to avoid something that may cost you your business, have the relevant paperwork in place to show you have considered any risks involved, and if in doubt consult a bat specialist, Much better than stepping on the wrong side of the law.

Really sorry to hear you have had bad experiences with bat workers Dean. I know it's easy for me to say, but keep trying, we are not all like that and the work may be time consuming, there may be a lot to take in, but it is really enjoyable and worth the experience. Have you tried going through the Bat Conservation Trust? If there is anything I can help with PM me.

Warrington, willing to travel.

As I have said on similar threads in the past, if you are after a quick fix course that gives you the right to (and I quote) check a tree for bats, and possibly disturb them, forget it. I mean, would you expect to do a 2 day NPTC course and be a fully qualified, proffesional arborist, NO. As for some of the comments flying around about bat workers, I have in my own experience come across arborists who are just as wary, unhelpful, and unwilling to share information as some of the groups previously mentioned. I really don't think it helps anybody wanting to progress their career, or find out more about something that could potentially cost them their career if things went wrong, coming out with negative comments. I have come from an Ecology background and would love to learn more about arboriculture, but am having trouble finding a proffesional outfit to take me onboard, even after offering free time to try and progress. I am ending up having to do it all alone, without any assistance from somebody in the know, and this is after going to the Arb Association/other organistations for assistance. Sound familiar to those wanting to find out more about bats???? I am a Natural England & CCW licensed worker, so if anybody wants any FREE info, give me a shout, as I am more than happy to help. There you go, a first! 1 arb friendly bat worker :-)

Planning applications are a different kettle of fish, you would need to be licensed, or highly experienced for the report to stand up as part of the application. I mean, it is all job specific, so some projects may just need a visual assesment to confirm if the habitat is suitable or not, others may need a full blown survey over a large time period by a number of proffesionals, using a wide variety of survey techniques. Again guys, don't let any of this put you off getting involved with bat groups, or other organisations, time consuming it may be, but really rewarding work (not just in money terms). On the one hand, yes it did take me a number of years to become licensed, but like most proffesionals, I beleive if something is worth doing it's worth doing properly. I have been studying managing trees, conservation, protected species for many years and feel I still have a long way to go. But, it's a passion, not just a box ticked to get a job done.

That's really good info Doug and yes, you are correct. There is a lot you can do without a license, it is only when trees are highlighted as suitable habitat or bats are known to be present that licensing/extra caution comes in. Activity surveys at certain times of day and year are a good way of seeing if you have any residents. However, bear in mind that hibernating bats will not be active, so looking for the tale signs is a must. I don't mean to scare any of you guys with jargon, but I have seen trees felled that do not contain bats, but evidence of a roost in the tree exists. Let's not forget, it's not just the bats that are protected, it's the habitat also. Arb Culture, you can undertake activity surveys without a license, but this must not be invasive, so no prodding round in cavities etc. You would need to undertake bat detector surveys at the right time of year and at dawn/dusk, concentrating on key features of the tree from the ground, and if you are experienced enough, you could identify species, type of roost, numbers, commuting routes etc and make recommendations of the back of this. I must admit though, Natural England will usually want to see a written report from a licensed bat worker.

I know somebody who did an intense 2 week theory course, then a series of site visits/handling sessions in diferent settings and got their license in 4 months. It was a very expensive way of doing it and they are still learning but it got them there. If it is something you want to do as a career, then this route is a quick way in, but useless if you can't justify your actions to Natural England should something crop up you are not experienced in. As we all know, experience is priceless.

Not all bat workers are narrow minded, would you expect somebody to do CS 30/31 and be advertising as a fully qualified arborist?? Bats in trees is a complex subject that a 2-3 day course can not give you the experience you may need to deal with every situation you come across. It's not just about getting a ticket to check a cavity, as responsible arborists, we all have a duty to understand and undertake good practice when it comes to European Protected Species.

Try these for starters. Training - Bat Conservation Trust Training and Events IntroductionAAAC Enquiry Form Local bat groups are a good place to start also, usually friendly and willing to pass on some info or provide training days for a small charge. I am a licensed bat worker and have attended numerous courses over the years. It all depends on what kind of course your mate is looking for, but feel free to drop me a line if you have any questions. Chris

Did a job earlier this year where a client was very reluctant to have surveys re-done (previous survey was done a long time ago) on some trees that somebody else had deemed to be low potential, but I highlighted them being an important linking corridor between suitable foraging habitats for bats. After a lot of heated discusions with several different parties, the surveys had to go ahead to please planners. The surveys I did showed that three different bat species used these trees/hedges for commuting from roosts to other suitable habitats. In the end it saved the client a lot of money, time and a possible court apperance/conviction if the trees/hedge had just been grubbed out, suitable mitigation was put in place, Natural England were pleased, the project went ahead and everyone was happy. I am saying this just to highlight that it is not just bats and tree roosts that are protected, it is also the habitats and commuting routes that they use.

Hi Nathan, Have you tried calling round all your local tree gangs? Yellow pages etc. Worth a try just to build up some experience, don't expect to be earning mega bucks to start off & expect some hard days work, perserverence is the main thing. GOOD LUCK. Chris.

Still got Tues & Thurs available next week if anyone has anything goin? Cheers, Chris.

Thanks to all who have been in touch, I am still available for some work if anyone is needing a groundy. Got a week free for work 19th-23rd of this month. Thanks again, Chris.

Congratulations Robin, glad things worked out for you :-)

I have been hedgelaying for a few years now and stil do annual training days/courses to keep on top of styles I don't practice all the time. Try looking at your local BTCV group, I did a two day course earlier this year as a registered volunteer, it cost about £18 and resulted in a NCFE certificate! VERY CHEAP. Also try contacting your local hedgelaying group as they often have training days and regular competitions (in season of course) which keeps you in practice & are good for meeting like minded individuals.

Hi there, I don't know of many careers where you can get paid for climbing trees unless you are managing them, which usually involves chainsaw use. Wildlife surveying is a posibillity, usually tree inspections for bats. This is something I do but I must admit, is is not an easy route to follow. You would be expected to hold a Natural England Bat License before you can consider surveying in roosts, a relevant degree in Ecology, or full membership of a professional institute is also expected before paid work comes knocking on your door and even then it is very competitive. If this is something you are interested in, check out The Bat Conservation Trust website for some info on how to begin life in bat work. Hope this helps, Chris.

Sounds good, I will keep my eyes peeled on here for dates etc. Cheers.

Hi there, are there any people in the Lancashire/Cheshire are, or anywhere close by who undertake recreational climbing? I would love to get some practice in and learn new skills with experienced climbers, both for pleasure and to get up to good standard before doing CS38. Cheers, Chris.

I am fairly new to the forum, so hello everyone & excuse me if I post this on the wrong thread. I have learned s0 much since reading on here and am looking forward to any replies. Has any body had any trouble with Stretchair Type c trousers? Just bought a pair and on chatting to few people, I have heard that zips pop on them easily, Anyone had this trouble? Also just bought my first harness, Antec Abies, has anyone used them, or any feedback as to wether this was a good/bad choice? Cheers, Chris.

Hi there, I am currently looking to increase my experience in climbing and general Arb work. I am a reliable, friendly, professional individual who is based in Lancashire but is willing to travel for work. I am initialy only looking for a few days a month, with fridays, mondays and weekends being preffered. I would appreciate it if anybody would bear this in mind for last minute work, small jobs etc, where a hard working, reliable person is needed. Qualifications include: NPTC CS/30.31. PA1&6, Woodchipper. Foundation degree in Ecology & Conservation management, including tree & woodland management. NCFE level 2 hedgelaying. Natural England licensed bat worker (bear this in mind for any surveys you may need) I am arborist friendly! Full member of IEEM. Network Rail PTS card. I have experience of working in and with, local government, private consultancy, volunteer groups and freelance work. I have my own saw, PPE, van & driving license with no points (Pre 1997 unfortunately). I am currently in the process of doing my CS38, with a view to doing 39 at the end of the year. PM me with any question. Cheers, Chris.