AA Teccie (Paul)

Congratulations and well done to three new, small business, 'ARB Approved Contractors' in Norfolk, namely; 1. Mr Tree Ltd (Nick Perks) 2. Norfolk Trees (Ashley Barnes) 3. South Norfolk Tree Services (Simon Giller) The 'pruning' bar certainly went up a few notches during this week. Excellent work guys and thank you for supporting the 'ArbAC' scheme. Cheers all.. Paul

Hi there, yeah, sorry about that, don't worry tho as we're actually around at the 'old' place this week and all post is to be forwarded anyway...no problemo! Sadly won't see me at Taunton, I think my colleague Simon Richmond is doing that event. I'm at Callington (Cornwall) on 4th July. Hope you enjoy the seminar and find it useful (I'm sure you will.) Cheers, Paul

Hi Tom, As there is no current provider for this service to the arb industry I am in the process of applying for the Association to become such. Hence, watch this space. Cheers n have a good weekend Paul

Hi all, hope yer well. Are you looking for an oportunity to 'benchmark' your arboricultural knowledge, perhaps if your thinking of the 'ARB Approved Contractor' manager role, or considering the 'Professional Tree Inspection' (PTI) course, or wondering if the new 'ARB level 4' would benefit/improve your arb technical knowledge? If so why not join me at Myerscough College on Wed. 2nd May on the AA 'Arboricultural Knowledge' event, a one day taster / 'sign-post' course (see Arboricultural Knowledge for further info.) PLEASE complete and submit the training course booking form below, by the end of play tomorrow (Fri. 13th April), to assure your place. Thanks and hope to see you there. Cheers.. Paul PS You'll note it's worth considering membership at Ordinary level (£55) to qualify for a significant discount on this, and any future, AA courses. aa_training_booking_form_010212.pdf

From an 'ARB Approved Contractor' perspective CS41 is a 'must have' and CS40 a 'nice to have'. Critically tho you should get some dismnatling and rigging expereice under your belt before you go forward with the assessment in order to give yourslef a better chance of showing real competence. trouble is the training / assessment process often doesn't easily accomodate that approach but I would say it's more importnat for CS41, and CS32, than any others. Good luck.. Paul PS Employability = CS41.

All depends how hard you wnat to push this I guess but you could mention the DETR publciation 'Tree Preservation Orders - A Guide To The Law And Good Practice' (March 2000) which states: Accessibility of TPOs 3.49 A TPO is a charge on the land on which the trees are situated, and as such should be recorded promptly in the local land charges register.41 The LPA are required to make a copy of the TPO available at their offices for public inspection at all reasonable hours, free of charge.42 In the Secretary of State's view, LPAs should also be able to let members of the public know, over the telephone, whether or not particular trees are the subject of a TPO or situated in a conservation area within 48 hours. You could also mention the Local Government Ombudsman IF it's a regular occurence. Otherwsie just sit back and wait for the call...with your client getting increasingly frustrated! Cheers.. Paul

Hi there, There is no 'national database' of TPOs but many councils do put them on-line so worth checking. IF they've recently purchased the property then the LA land search should have disclosed a TPO but would not a Conservation Area whihc affords the tree the same protection...albeit only for 6 weeks one a notification to remove or pruned is lodged with the LPA. To be sure you need to speak to the planning dept. and if the tree officer is absent someone else should be able to check as the 'blue book' (indicates 48hrs for a response.) Good luck.. Paul

Cherry Laurel giving off cyanide gas when chipped / shredded...apparently. See Prunus laurocerasus, cherry laurel - THE POISON GARDEN website Another one to steer clear of. Paul

Chinese Varnish Tree (the clue being in the botanicla name of Toxicodendron vernicifluum) was reported a few years ago in the HSE bulletin below and causes very similar phytotoxic reactions as above. One to steer clear of..! Paul PS London PLane leaf hairs, in early summer, and Leylandii sap can also be problematic. arboc06.pdf

Manual of Wood Decay in Trees see Manual of Wood Decays in Trees NOT because the AA supply it BUT because it's a bloomin good book and it wasn't til I read the section, and viewed the very 'user friendly' illustrations, on how the different decay types affect the wood structure that I really understood this...despite years of previous study (but then maybe I'm just a 'numpty'...comments on a postcard?, ha!) happy reading.. Paul

Awww, did no-one read mine previoulsy posted (and with a summary doc of major changes)...boo hoo! Paul

Hi Marco, As Terry (BTW 'hello mate, hope you're well!') has said the level 4 arb will indeed serve you well in your present and future career in arb as it will both give you a much better understanding of the practices you are currently undertaking (making an assumption you're a craftsperson currently) and is alos the entry level qual, in effect, for tree surveys etc. later. Go frit whilst you can...enjoy! Paul

Nope, not that I'm aware of. Hence the current 2009 Regs., and presumably everything before that as applicable, are still relevant. Paul

Hi all, Someone mentioned this info was particularly useful, I know "that's a first!" (ha), and hence as you may have missed it first time round I've resent it. Cheers all.. Paul

Listen in to hear Nick Potts talking about the AA 3ATC climbing events...not to be missed! Cheers.. Paul

HI all, Just a quick 'heads up' to say we're back on the road, not quite 'Max n Paddy' tho, at South of England showground on Wed. 27th June 2012. Will post more later. Hope yer all well n enjoyin the sunshine.. Cheers.. Paul

Indeed, many LPAs now show these 'on-line' as Conservation Areas have much wider implications than just trees, i.e. buidlings and structures. To some degree sounds like you've been subjecetd to an over-zealous planning 'admin-er'...perhaps a previous Doctors receptionist...ooops! Speak with your TO...nicely, n I'm sure you get it sorted. Good luck.. Paul

Hi folks, Just something I pulled together which might be of interest/use (posted with the caveat of being 'my' interpretation rather than a legally definitive one.) Apologies if this repeats any previous post. Hope yer all well n enjoyin the sunshine. Cheers.. Paul T.P.O. new regs 2012..pdf TPO Regs. 2012.doc

Thanks goodness he's okay...ish, and hopefully will be able to return to work when he's good and ready. Perhaps then, if there are any lessons to be learned to better protect everyone, we could hear more. In the meantime take it easy and hoping for a 'speedy recovery'. Cheers.. Paul

Hi Nige, under the circumsatnces it seems perfectly reasonable to me that the Housing solicitor wants a report, i.e. your professional opinion on the condition / state of the tree. Hence I think you are 'duty bound' to send a report, and why not, you've nothing to hide and, under the very unfortunate circumstances, you've been subject to bad luck IMO. The blame is one thing, and clearly there is much scope here for a message to get diluted or lost all together, but unfortunately IF (and in many instances they don't, sending a letter of caution instead) the LPA choose to prosecute they usually aim it principally at the 'axe-wielder' and then seek to prosecute others involved as 'aiding and abetting', or similar. In this regard I would be wholly cooperative and remorseful to the LPA. In terms of likley outcome, difficult to say, but LPAs don't usually prosecute unless there's a clear public benefit in so doing. I know this is open to interprpetaion but this, from what you've said, seems a genuine accident / misunderstanding, and I would hope the LPA would be reasonable, and they usually are. In summary, co-operate and make sure you get the opportunity to explain directly to the LPA your side of the story (in parctice this may end up being an interview under caution, whihc is a bit daunting, but just be honest and open.) Good luck and try not to worry too much as these things often run for months..! Paul

Hi Alex, thanks for posting. Is there anything I can help with, in terms of answering questions or concerns, whihc might get you nearer that 100%? Cheers.. Paul

Hi Rupert & David, THANK YOU for your posts here, and indeed others who have done so, and I'm really pleased to hear the approval is already bringing new enquiries, great news..! Thanks for supporting the ArbAC scheme and I hope to see you soon. All the best.. Paul

Fantastic news with another 5 new small businesses achieving 'ARB Approved Contractor' status..! 1. Ian Trueman Specialist Tree Services - Chesterfield 2. Hillfort Tree Care (Mark Ashman) - Melton Mowbray 3. Landscape Maintenance Services (Simon Kirkland) - Ashbourn 4. Greencut Horticulture (Navin Sehmi) - Kent 5. Tag Trees (Mark Carey & Gavin Evans) - Kent Congratulations all and I sincerely hope the 'ArbAC' accreditation serves your businesses well. Thank you for supporting the scheme. Paul

Hi Andy, I reckon more people, contractors not really the public, know about CHAS as: 1. I've mentioned it here before 2. Increasingly contractors, inc. many construction related, have the logo on their vehicles 3. Increasingly clients, in the commercial sector (AKA 'service buyers'), are requiring it at the pre-qual stage 4. It's a H&S scheme is probably as far as the understanding goes in many instances Interestingly as I mentioned previously I was with a group of contractors at Easton College on Tuesday, none of who were CHAS and none said their (commercial) clients required it....this is certainly not the case nationally! Cheers.. Paul

Fair comment, and something whihc is forming part of the considerations, i..e a 'common' base logo representing the organisation but with different footers, i.e. Member / ArbAC / RC. Of course most, if not all, ArbACs & RCs would alos be entitled to use 'Member'. Not pre-empting any outcomes of course. Cheers.. Paul