Al Duffill

Nice one James, Think you've hit the nail on the head:thumbup: But I will keep on pushing for training and awareness, up until 3 years ago we didn't even have LOLER testing! I set the wheels in motion after passing the Cert arb course, it took a year or so but it happened(much to the disgruntled feedback from my colleagues when their kit got scrapped)! All the chain oil we use now is bio, thanks to me pushing for it. If you want change and it feels right, fight your corner. Am now looking at working for City Of London, Spain anyone?

Yeah, very good, so do you feel professional? Quick test on ur botanical- Quercus robur?

Thanks Bob, Work at heights regs, do we have regs for that sort of thing!? Only joking, thanks for the reminder, rigging plate and zip lines a no go then if i havn't been trained in the use of them. No one has, so no one can supervise either! We have a huge Pop to reduce by 40% that spans 5 gardens on the one side, was hoping to set up some kind of zip line to save lowering all the gear into the gardens and dragging it out, have studied them but not used them. Surely, we shouldn't even be lowering gear on a straight forward line then?

Thanks to all, I did write a reply much earlier on but lost my internet connection and message got lost posting. I can relate to you all and the feedback has been taken on board. I know what you mean about the Tech Arb, above my station, above my managers station too! I have Cert Arb and level 2/3 in forestry related course, for a while i was more qualified than our tree inspector, they now have Cert Arb. Maybe if I do present my aspiratons as an employee more professionally the penny will drop regarding training. None of us have a rigging ticket and i'm the only one who seems bothered about it, huge tree's are a minority in our workload, but when they appear its "sod that, how are we gonna get it all down?!" I know there are easier ways, I get the tree mags, read books and basically arm myself with knowledge and I wouldn't do anything to put myself, or others, in danger. We do use pulleys, rope brakes but thats about all, thats our most teccy piece of equiptment, a rope brake. I have just got a rigging plate and slings in a hope of making life easier and will possibly be using them this week, weather permitting! I will keep pushing and nagging. Thanks once again, will keep you posted

Can relate to the living local thing, same here. we just did a refresher 1st aid but some of our lads don't have Chapter 8 and they're working on roads!

Who out there works for a Local Authority and how many of you get frustrated about the logic behind there "thinking"?! I do both of these and sometimes I feel like quitting, am I the only one? We have just had a management re-structure and a supervisor from Refuse Collection (the bins) is now in charge of us tree surgeons/arborists, he knows nothing about trees or plants in general, doh! what a great idea!! Its not his fault, blame the management team, again, haha! I also asked for some funding to help towards me doing the Tech Arb course back in Sept, either full or part funding, I said I would " go halves". My request was submitted to Human Resources (HR), hey guess what, the course isn't relevant to my job, what!? How am I expected to develope my career and knowledge, with that attitude. I could go on and on....ammount of waste, lack of training, lack of plant.. so on and so forth. Thanks for helping me vent, I think my wife has suffered enough:biggrin:

I'm with the Salix school of thought...and yeah, stop biting those nails:001_smile:

Hi, looks like young Ganoderma to me, with the white underside and lip and brown top, have you ID'd by now or still wondering? We have a huge Copper beech in our town that has Meripilus, ID'd by myself and a tree officer, and the young were creamy, no brown on top. All the best in ID-ing it and subsequent actions to be taken.

Hi, the old fuel is probs causing smoke, as already stated, I take it it was fine before you switched to the works saw? Has anyone else used the saw in the meantime, maybe accidently put chain oil in petrol tank, as if anyone would do that?!!

Hi, what a great site. I'm a climber (and groundy, when i have to be) for a local authority, which is good but can get very frustrating, hoping for some interesting banter(to act as therapy,haha), cheers, may all your anchor points be true.