The BJG

Spoke to trust They were the second cheapest for me. Arbinsure still haven't given me a price. Will try Lycetts tomorrow too. Thanks

I like it, it's a good site all in all. Nice pictures in the gallery too but once you've looked through them I couldn't see how to get back to the main site? Maybe I was missing something, I sometimes do. Good site though.

Getting quite big differences on my PL quote. Does anyone use or has anyone used a company called Blackfriars previously? They are loads less than my other quotes and I can't see any difference in the policy details. I'm not sure if I'm just being a bit too suspicious of a good thing maybe? But I feel like I'm missing something. Any help or advice appreciated as always. PM if you'd rather not be public with experiences. Thanks Ben

Seen this before, I think it's a wind up. The fact that it's titled at the top jacobs related incident gives it away, HSE not known generally for comical titles. Ben

Was chatting to local dealer who reckons the reps told him summer time before they hit the stores here.

Nasty hope it gets better soon. I had a small piece of metal hit my eye last year, the day before Christmas eve. Spent the evening at A&E where after lots of painful prodding the told me they snapped it and pushed a bit of metal into the eyeball, could I come back the next day to have me eye drilled to remove it! I did and it was pretty gross but not as bad as the drops that dilate your eye for 48 hours so it can heal. Worst headache ever and looked weird as hell.

You can use whois.com they will hold the current details of who is hosting owns the domain etc etc

Just a quick post to apologise to all the established tree surgeons on here, for not having been doing this for years preferably with my father doing the same before me. I have only really started doing tree work this year, Though I have been a gardener for a good while longer. ( A gardener with a ladder maybe?) I don't know. What I do know is my customers are pleased to have someone who turns up on time on the day they say they will, at the time they say they will. Who tidies up afterwards, who involves them with what is happening and explains the reasons for doing things if they want to know. I have been told many times, "We have had cheaper quotes, can you match that?" I always say no, and I rarely lose the job on price. More tree surgeons than before doesn't mean that you are having the meal taken off your table. Supply and demand means that when there are too many people doing a job then the worst ones will not find work. Just because you've been doing it longer doesn't mean you're not one of the worst ones. Being there first doesn't mean no one else can set up. Be good at what you do and it wont matter if there are fifty pages of tree workers in the yellow pages you will still have people come to you. Again I apologise if anyone thinks I have caused them financial hardship by expanding my business. My aim is to do what I enjoy, make a living and give my customers what they want.

Thanks for that. I did suggest that maybe a fell and replant would be the better solution. I had mentioned a beech hedge rather than hazel, when I went for a look. But Hazel could be an option for sure. They would like to keep the ones there, if it's possible to regain control a little bit on them. It's a shame they've been done the way they have to be honest, in the past. Like you say what I'd thought of doing was bringing tops back down to previous cut heights. Then taking maybe two of the stems off each stand down maybe another 6 foot or so, thinking if they were to resprout at that height that may fulfil the customers wishes for a bit more growth lower down the tree. Thanks again Ben

Hi all and firstly thanks in advance for looking, and any advice given. I have a job coming up that consists of two ash trees at the bottom of a garden. Both have multiple stems, one has five the other seven. They have previously been cut at around 12 to 15 feet high and have sort of pollarded at that height leaving quite whippy growth really at the top but the trunks are quite bare up to that point. At the back of the garden is a raised cycle path that is quite a busy route in the summer. My customer wants them cut back so they lose some of the height, (I would say they are maybe 20 to 25 foot tall in total.) But also wants them to grow out more, lower down, to provide some privacy from the cycle path. My plan is to cut back quite a lot of the whippy high growth, to reduce the height; but what I'm wondering is, if I cut back a couple of the main trunks, would that encourage regrowth further down or will it more likely damage or maybe even kill off that trunk of the tree. The trees look fit and healthy to me there is no sign of any decay or problems, and they are in a good position with plenty of light and room to grow. I hope you don't mind me picking brains a bit on here but you guys have a lot more experience than me and I don't want to risk the tree doing the wrong thing. Thanks again for any advice you have. Ben I know the title is wrong but I dont think I can edit it. Oops Oh yes you can Ha ha

Hey congratulations I started mine today. Loving it but never climbed before so lots to learn. Hope you get jobs soon. Whereabouts in Somerset are you? Maybe we could team up for a few bits of work? Ben

Tiki golf is good, and alio the woodcutter is quite good too. Ben

Just wondered if these are gone now?

Where's yours then? I think your fairly close to me. Just got mine through for 18th and 19th Jan then 25,26 and 27th. At Bridgwater Can't wait. Ben

Sent you a pm, If Alex doesn't take them, I'll take next place in the queue please. Thanks Ben

That's good to know, can't wait to get on it. Where did you do yours? Thanks again

Thanks for that. Yes I've climbed a tree before, but never with ropes, and I used to be a scout many years ago, so can tie a knot or two. But I've never climbed using a rope before so I wasn't too sure whether I should try and do a bit first. Thanks for that anyway. Just need to save some pennies now. Thanks again Ben

Hi there I'm Ben,this is my first post I think on here, but have been reading and lurking for a while. I passed my CS30 today and am now waiting to do the 31 when one becomes available. I have possibly got a chance to do a CS38 in January, So to get to the point of my post, do I need a basic knowledge of climbing beforehand? The college have said they will provide harnesses etc for the course. I'm just wondering if I should try and climb somewhere before to get an idea what it's all about. Any thoughts or opinions appreciated Thanks