AA Teccie (Paul)

Sorry all, again See ARB Approved Contractor Preparation Workshop for further details. Hope to see you there.. Paul

SORRY, this should say Wed. 12th February, not March "Less haste = more speed!" Paul

Soooo, who'm I gonna have the pleeeeeasure of at Houghall? : biggrin: Please come along to this FREE event, and bring a friend, see ARB Approved Contractor Preparation Workshop for further details. Cheers all.. Paul

My view is, that whilst there has to be an acceptance that this sort of work will be required (probably, said a little bit through gritted teeth) where dictated by others, our role as professionals is to ensure they understand why it is not recommended, why it does not accord with industry standards (BS3998) AND the consequences of doing it. With all due respect this work will hasten the decline of the tree in my opinion. the other thing that struck me was the possibility of using natural fracture pruning, i.e. coronet cuts, to soften the visual impact. Good on you for posting and making us think and please keep questioning things as it is through be challenged we learn and advance (very philosophical statement for me ) Cheers all.. Paul

You know what...I'm not surprised, you can gauge the generosity on here from the amount of time, effort and 'wisdom' everyone gives (me excepted of course, the 'wisdom' bit, ha)...BUT I am really. Topping £10k is a phenomenal achievement and, as someone who's cause The Children's Trust is very close to, I too would like to pass on my sincere thanks to all sponsors, ticket buyers, partakers, supporters and to Steve personally. Thanks all and incredibly well done. Have a great weekend all. Paul

Hi Ben, Whilst the reduction is quite symmetrical, and thereby aesthetically pleasing to the clients / tree owner perhaps, unfortunately it does not accord with the industry standard BS3998(2010) Recommendations for Tree Work as it is deemed excessive. This means there are no suitable secondary growth points, i.e. smaller side branches which are at least 1/3rd the diameter of the parent branch, for sustained / continued growth. The likely response, provided the tree has good vitality and adequate energy reserves, is a proliferation of regrowth which will create future management problems. Now, provided the client is fully aware of this and doesn't want to follow your best professional advice otherwise, i.e. a lighter crown reduction overall and maybe 'heavier' over the houses (or phased pruning, very difficult to convince) AND, ideally, you point out the work doesn't comply with the BS, then its your choice whether to accept the job or not. Hope this helps the understanding a little. Cheers.. Paul

Usefully, the new TPO guidance makes reference to dangerous 'branches' as an exception as well as trees. See Dangerous trees and branches | National Planning Practice Guidance Cheers.. Paul PS I hope this url shortens on posting. PPS Thankfully it has...PHEW!

Thanks all for encouraging remarks about the AA field guides, and indeed for contributions to ('Mr Humphries'). It's really good to get confirmation that it's useful and helpful to practitioners. Can I also make a plug for Mathecks "Manual of Wood Decay in Trees" which gives a deeper insight to trees n fungi and explains modes of decay etc. very well indeed (highly recommended I would say.) See Manual of Wood Decays in Trees Cheers.. Paul

BUMP...BANG...CRASH...whichever reminds all. Cheers.. Paul

Gents, as I have previously "cross-pollinated" industry forums where appropriate, and as I can offer very little contribution here, if there are unaddressed issues you are keen to pursue it might be worth widening your 'range of engagement'...if you get my gist (if not try here tree-care.info :: tree-care.info ) Regards.. Paul

Significance...looks, n sometimes smells, worse than it is? Thanks David. Paul

One for 'Arbocop' me thinks...Kevin where are you? Paul

Hi there, apologies for my delay. In terms of re-training, as you say refreshers are often useful, but unless you hold the actual Street Works Licence, which I'm sure probably does expire after 3-5 years, I believe the training remains current. The 'book', as such, is electronically available as posted so maybe you don't need to buy one...maybe even you can't, I'm not sure yet. Thanks for your response. Cheers.. Paul

Amazing, thank you. I noticed Tony Croft (AKA Hamadryad) inferred in a post yesterday that he is looking to invest in something similar so may also soon be able to contribute. I recall meeting a HC Leaf Miner 'face to face', at least on screen, at a previous conference where Bartlett's where using a very strong electro-microscope. Again, thank you for taking the time and for explain the slides...fascinating. Cheers.. Paul

PHEW...don't feel quite so 'inadequate' now Cheers Tony Paul

Excellent news...a RESULT. I'll 'pm' you. Thanks Iain. Paul

Hi Will, I would generally describe this as a 'canker' but it could be referred to as a bud proliferation too...I think. In my experience, whilst I have seen it on Sycamore, I have ore commonly seen it, or something very similar, on the Red Chestnut (Aesculus carnea) where it sometimes completely girdles the stem causing cambium dysfunction and associated decay which can result in stem failure...and often did during storms. Still, not sure how that compares on Sycamore so let's wait until someone more knowledgeable comes along and enlightens us both. Cheers.. Paul

I can highly recommend the AAAC accreditation scheme AND I would offer the pleasure of myself as the assessor...provided you start my day off with a hearty full 'Yorkshire' breakfast Cheers Iain. Paul

Not gonna tel... T'b'onest nothing significant really. We have included specific reference to the Welfare Regs in terms of what arrangements in place which was raised during the SSiP audit. Other than that just some reformatting and clarifications. The update link in the first post expands a little more. Thanks fer askin. Cheers Iain. Paul PS Not rec'd your 'Teccie' application yet?

Hi all, ARB Approved Contractor Standards ? Update - - Arboricultural Association Just for information really and particularly if anyone is 'working towards' ArbAC status and/or uses the standards to benchmark their business (remembering that HSE recognise them as an industry benchmark for compliance...more particularly as the scheme is now registered with the national safety schemes forum 'SSiP'.) Happy reading (and, as always, I'm happy to field any questions, concerns and/or criticisms) Cheers all.. Paul Standards-5-or-more-employees-FINALv3(131011).pdf.docx Standards-less-than-5-employees-FINALv3(131011).docx

BUMP...THUMP...CLUMP...STUMP! Simon's at the Bartlett's Lab all day today so please hold your 'job' calls for him til tomorrow. Cheers.. Paul

This 'FoC' workshop is running at Wythenshawe Park, south Manchester, on Tues. 14th Jan. (2104) and we are currently taking bookings. Please email my colleague Polly ([email protected]) to book a place. Thanks all n hope to see you there. Paul PS Don't forget you get to choose your own lunch too...that being whatever you pack up before you leave home (NB tea, coffee n biccies will be provided.)

Hi David, thank you for this. However, if you wish to formally register your interest as a peer reviewer, which would be great, could I trouble you to do so directly to Simon ([email protected] ). Alternatively, as part of the process, it is intended to go out to industry consultation once a draft document is produced (which has been peer reviewed as part of the process.) Hence it will come to this forum. Cheers.. Paul

Hi 'Lancstree', thanks for your interest. I have copied the document link in a post below, hopefully this helps. The reviewer criteria, I would suggest, would be someone industry based with a good knowledge of the legislation and industry good practice aspects of treework at height, ideally both as a practitioner and a manager. However it is acknowledged that both aspects may be individually provided by different people. I guess what needs to be borne in mind, at least in part, is that this document is not, for example, a review of the Guide to Good Climbing Practice, i.e. an industry technical guide (review/production of which will come later,) but a high level management document, akin to the IRATA CoP (see Industrial Rope Access Trade Association ), which will cover legislation, regulation, risk assessments, safe systems of work etc. etc. Hoping this helps but please don't hesitate to contact Simon also as he is project manager for this. Cheers.. Paul