AA Teccie (Paul)

Hi all, APF is 18-20th September see APF 2014, the UK?s largest forestry and arboricultural exhibition is returning to the same location as its hugely successful 2010 event. n don't turn up too early! Paul

Have you got a copy of the assessor's report slip, or similar, with the COMPETENT box ticked? (This presumes it's City & Guilds 'NPTC' but it could now be with Lantra Awards too.) Best thing is to speak to whomever assessed you, and/or the assessing body NPTC or Lantra Awards | Welcome | Training Courses Qualifications | #LantraAwards Good luck.. Paul PS The above advice assumes you passed the assessment of coure

Forgive me, I know this is "Granny's, eggs and sucks" , but the following published guidance may offer some direction for development of your TRA system. Cheers, n 'good luck' Paul PS and this of course Management of the risk from falling trees or branches EnglishNatureVetTreesRiskGuide.pdf NTSG Common Sense TRM.pdf

Perhaps because he is a lawyer...dunno For me, where did I put that vibration risk assessment document Cheers.. Paul

I know this is 'hypothetical', and hence I'll doubtless come unstuck, but I thought the tree remained in the ownership, and ultimate responsibility, of the land upon which is was 'set' or planted. In other words even if it encroaches the boundary at some later date, it still remained the responsibility of the landowner upon whose land it originated. I acknowledge in saying this it doesn't align with Charles's summation (hence simply ignore me ) but it does seem to make at least some sense...I would suggest. In practice, one would hope adjoining land owners would sensibly discuss the matter and agree a solution. There...time to go back to the main forum n seek out some H&S or compliance stuff now...PHEW! Cheers.. Paul

Hi there, Sorry, we don't current have a WILDLIFE and ECOLOGY POLICY on suite of documents on the website but i would suggest trying Google we do have a wildlife disturbance assessment form on there and some other general info but not a policy statement cheers.. Paul

Hi Sean, Tiff's just informed me there are plenty of places left but still asks you book ASAP. Many thanks.. Paul

Hi Jules, sorry to hear that, hope its nothing too serious. Still, good tonhdar the consultancy is going well...long may it continue for you. I'm sorry you're not getting the engagement on your posts you hope for. I have to confess I'm a bit guilty here too in that some of the content of your posts I read with great interest but, to be quite honest, have limited time, and sometimes (often) limited knowledge, to contribute...sorry! Please don't be discouraged as whilst feedback may be limitedbthe greater benefit is considerable...thank you. Best regards.. Paul

I thought so too Many thanks Jules, and indeed for your many useful and informative posts. I hope you're well.. Paul

Excellent, thank you....I'll have an app form to hand "just in case" cheers.. paul

Yup, good point..."who's standards are you working to?" I'm not naive in expecting ArbACs never to undertake non-BS3998 standard works, but i do expect the client to be made aware of this and offered a suitable alternative (that is compliant, or compliant'er'). Thereafter, as is usually the case, if the 'informed' client wishes to stick to their original instruction then "so be it"...reluctantly you quote accordingly. ideally, on the quote where your footer states "all works in accord with BS3998" etc, the spec will have an 'NB' stating these works are "outwith BS3998"...or similar. cheers.. paul

Hi Tony, hope you're well, I share your frustrations here! I think, know, its often non arbs producing the specs and/or bringing previously un-pruned trees, in the higher crown anyway, into cyclical management regimes, ie effecetively a 'high pollard' for deemed ease of future management. the problem is the trees dont help themselves as theyre usually very tolerant and respond positively...a good thing i guess still "up the green party" cheers.. paul

Don't forget that you can make an application for repeat, annual, operations such as epicormic removals, e.g. for next 5 years...or even 10 yrs maybe, to avoid having to undertake repeated applications. This is only possible fro repetitive operations and can include re-pollarding, albeit a little more contentious than epicormic growth removal. Cheers.. Paul PS Have a word with the TO first to establish their opinion on the situation.

Hi John, With a multi-office/depot/contract business such as Glendale we start off with a systems / procedures audit of their Head Office, i.e. Chorley, Lancs. Thereafter we only assess, and approve (hopefully), those offices presented and when the certificate of approval is issued it reflects this in the title, e.g. Glendale (Solihull) or Glendale (South Shields) etc. Currently there is no opportunity for a company wide approval 'per se'. You are right, we do see a variation in standards but works presented for assessment must be to a min. standard of BS3998...overall. To be fair, with contractors like Glendale and other bigger businesses undertaking predominantly Local Authority work, the works they undertake subsequently often don't align with BS3998 because of the specs provided. Regardless, they must again demonstrate min. BS3998 works at reassessment. The rationale being IF a client requires them to do works to this standard they can still perform. Thanks for the question Paul

Hi there, I'm not sure to be honest as I'm not in Head Office. My colleague Tiffany may be loitering and able to advise otherwise 'check-back' Monday. Alternatively if you book online it will only accept you if there's place available. Sorry not to be of more help today. Paul

...or 'fragilis' maybe (Crack Willow, be careful when climbing if so) OR Salix 'spp' Good luck with your search. Paul

Sorry, that wasn't very helpful, just speaking metaphorically (I think ) There are various business sizes and the qualifying criteria / standards, nos. assessors, assessment duration and costs etc. vary accordingly from circa £500 per year to £1500 for ARB Approval. INCLUDING the employer they are: 1-5 people (small) 6-9 people (small-medium) 10-19 people (medium) 20/20+ people (large), and multi-office, e.g. Bartletts / Glendales Hope this helps clarify things a bit. Cheers.. Paul

Nope, you're reading that correctly, current nos. are circa 250 arb contracting businesses, some big, some not so big n some small (circa 42%, ie about 100.) For the first 5-6 years I managed the scheme we had circa 150 contractors 'year-on-year' so, relatively speaking, the scheme is growing significantly...albeit some considerable way to go yet! Cheers.. Paul

There's an FoC prep workshop on 2nd July at Capel if any use. email '[email protected]' to book a place cheers.. paul

Hi there, at an event where Lynne Boddy (cardiff uni fungi expert), was speaking and highlighted saproPHYTES should actually be saproTROPHS, ie saprotrophic, but i can't remember why she said it was...sorry:confused1:..."MATRON!!!" Doubtless David or Tony will be along shortly to give the full story....PLEASE cheers.. paul

Hi Craig, nice to hear, hope you're well. To date we've only had 2 new, small business, ArbACs leave the scheme at the 2 yr :reassessment. Hence circa 5% (if my calcs are right.) I honestly think ArbACs feel better supported, and better promoted, ie "partnered", than before and hence worthwhile staying...i hope so anyway not to be complacent tho as i know ther's still work to do! cheers for the post.. Paul

No shooting down at all and hearing things like this is always concerning. i can assure you that all ArbACs show they are capable of undertaking BS3998 compliant pruning at initiall assessment and every 2 years thereafter. To be fair, some just make the grade and others are excellent, hence there can be a variance in standards observed. However not to the extent of being "horrific!" The responsibility fot maintaining standards in betwen times is the 'approved' manager and the safeguard is the complaints procedure...not perfect but the best we can do currently. i would add that often, as with others, ArbACs are often asked to undertake substandard works which we can't control but willninvestigate if it comes to my attention. as i say not perfect but improving alnthe time...i hope. cheers.. paul

Hi all, thanks for your earlier comments and i look forward to seeing you at the show....guddo! paul

Not at all...good call! Yeah, the contractor scheme is moving in the right direction I believe / hope (not before time I know) but numbers are now in the 250 region, from 150 3 years ago. Also encouraging is the fact that the small businesses account for 42% of that 250 where it was previously only 18%. Still, onwards and upwards as they say Thanks again.. Paul