Doug Blease

Be aware of nesting birds utilising the dense crowns or cavities in the stem.

I free-climbed them all extensively in my youth. I recognised them immediately. Hope you're keeping an eye on them for me- I'm a long way from them now.

Is the industry now settled on Kretzchmaria rather than Ustulina? Last I heard it was still undecided. I personally prefer the latter.

Tony, where are the old Yews? They look a little like the yews at Kingley Vale in West Sussex.

I would say, find an area where the otter is regularly frequenting. You'll maybe see prints, spraint, couch or an unusually green stone amongst other normal coloured ones. Scope out a viewing position (your bedroom window!- you wont get much better than that!). I often climb a small tree and sit in the canopy. Arrive a couple of hours before sunrise, get yourself into position and be extremely patient/quiet. Other tips would be not to wear deodorant, and use a scarf to stop the moon reflecting off your face. Your otter may have left the main river system in order to give birth. So with any luck, she may return with a couple of new arrivals! Otters are known as one of the most difficult species to watch but when you get a chance it will be breathtaking. Have you thought of contacting your local wildlife groups? They might have camera traps and other toys to play with. Also we should all upload sightings to local biodiversity recording departments and the National Biodiversity Network. That way ecologists can use accurate background info to inform surveys and management of habitats.

I listened to Henry present this at the BCT Scottish Conference. An absolutely brilliant key for all those considering bats in trees. I very much look forward to using it. Thanks Henry, if your reading this!

I totally agree. I hadn't seen the post requesting comments so I think I will pass them on, thanks. HCR, I think we're on the same page here. However I think that the habitats regs course is probably a higher level training course. I thought the RA one was ideal or people who had never tackled risk assessments before. Anyway, I believe it's AA subs time again. So ideal time for a chat.

I have done the AA risk assessment course. It's a good course for the money but I don't think it's a comparable subject to the Hab. Regs. course. For reference, I have attended both AA and IEEM courses and found that I get much more value for money from the IEEM ones. But my cynicism is biased due to the AA not running Scottish courses. Even the Scottish section AGM this year is on the Border (rolling my eyes!). Doug

You can't just get an EPS licence. You need to demonstrate knowledge, competency, CPD record and references. Also you don't need an EPS licence to undertake most phase 1, non intrusive surveys, such as bat activity surveys. Honestly, all you need to do is affiliate yourself to a good organisation or cause, start reading up on a subject and get networking. Simples.

Many thanks.

Join the IEEM. Its a positive network of ecologists and it will open new CPD opportunities to you and expose you to other ecologists. Doug

I am a member (Tech.Arbor.A). I enjoy the periodicals, the staff are helpful over the phone. Adam Reidi is an excellent scottish secretary. However as a scottish member, we do not benefit from a healthy CPD calendar and the scottish section had to ask nicely if a BS5837 seminar could be held north of the border. Prior to that, the scottish membership appeared to have been ignored in the seminar roadshow. I note that the recent CPD calendar announcements in the publication still lacks any Scottish events. It makes the membership fee of £140ish per year a bit of a bitter pill. Basically a very expensive seasonal magazine? I compare this too IEEM (I am a member for my ecology interests). My equivalent grade membership costs £50 per year. The publications are bigger and better and the other benefits are equal to the AA. Their CPD calendar is still dominated by the English sector however there is at least one event in Scotland most seasons. IEEM is more of a community where members are encouraged to share knowledge, whereas I feel the AA is a following. In 2013 I will likely re-join the AA however I would like Scotland to be granted better access to the wider resource. After all, I could take the £140 and spend it directly on CPD courses which make me practically better at my discplines. I could pay for two IEEM courses every year for that price, or spend the money increasing my literature collection. The AA isnt currently helping me be a better Arboriculturalist. Doug

Hi chaps, I have thoroughly enjoyed this thread and others. I always learn something new and I like to think that I am of the 'retain and manage' camp rather than the panic and fell. The scientist in me naturally questions situations and observations. Could the mycologists recommend some literature on this type of thinking/managment. I have a selection, but you may suggest some good reading which I havent found. Doug

Can anyone help me find a copy of this? Mine has disintegrated. I knew the AA had taken over sale of the reseach series but TSO say it has fallen out of print because the copyrights have lapsed. Not sure if this means that here is a new edition on the way? I read the previous thread about it and was surprised to see that there is still a lot of petty bickering over nothing on this forum, the reason why I no-longer really check in on it too often. Is this really the continued general philosophy of a network of arborists? Anyway, if anyone can give any new info on the subject, I would appreciate it - without the bickering please. Doug