AA Teccie (Paul)

Really?..OMG, I need to go back to (ARB) school...."Ian!!!!!"

Really?..OMG, I need to go back to (ARB) school...."Ian!!!!!"

That would be my (educated ) guess too...but are the leaves arranged 'alternate' as I thought Acer were opposite. Paul

Sorry if answered later in the thread. Can they?...if you mean are they legally entitled to, then I think the answer is 'no' as they are not the neighbouring land owner. If this is a public highway footpath, then the Highway Authority as the neighbour can either exercise their right to cut back to the boundary any encroachment OR serve a notice under Sect. 154 of Highways Act 1980 to force the owner to clear the obstruction and achieve unimpeded passage. Believe it or not, as said previous Highways Officer, owners often don't use the footpaths around / abutting their land any may not be aware a problem existed...or at least that's what they often told me Hope this helps.. Paul

Excellent thread here, thank you to all contributors. I often promote the forum for CPD, not to be overlooked, n this applies equally to myself. I cannot add anything more to the theories aired, it seems a combination of very large, often over-extended, limbs, i.e. poss. bio-mechanical failure, and moisture / water movement related as discussed. As an aside, I was previously delivering a PTI (Prof. Tree Inspection) course at Bicton College and whilst surveying some trees on the main driveway, on a very hot dry day, we heard a very loud, sharp crack (akin to a shot-gun sound) and identified a lower limb on one of the Oaks which cracked a further two times before then being shed across the main driveway...of course that gave an opportunity to use the classic Blue Peter phrase of "here's one I prepared earlier" (thankfully, and luckily perhaps as we were directly in situ, no harm nor damage was done.) Keep it coming and thanks again. Paul

I agree in principle here, and very good points well made, but as most drivers of company vehicles have to be aged min. 21, and often 25, for insurance purposes they may as well try to get a few more tickets / experience in the interim yeah? The issue of getting yourself to work on time is absolutely correct Paul

Nathan, I would suggest taking another year at college and getting your basic chainsaw and climbing qualifications in place. As many will tell you experience is everything in this industry and so if you can get any weekend work, even voluntary, then go for it. Be POLITE but PERSISTENT and stick at it! Good luck and I wish you well. Paul

Cheers Steve, obviously too much in my 'dim n distant' past...but not sure I cud'av ever got out there before something gave way, my nerves or the branch. In part, and in some situations, I guess that contributes to the temptation to remove the inner crown rather than working at the tips. Hats off to you guys who undertake that kinda work, I wholly admire you Paul

Spot on...but how ever would you get to the tips of something like that other than using a MEWP? (I know I certainly wouldn't / couldn't...n yes I know why that is thanks ) Joking apart, accessing the crown extremities of such a spindly tree would be very, very difficult...and 'risque' yeah? Cheers.. Paul

BUMP...oops! Still places available if you fancy escaping the sun for a day....can't believe I'm saying that Cheers all.. Paul

Aaaaaaaa, "DITTO"

Hi there, Might I suggest there is a little confusion here (at least there will be once I've finished ). The RFS Cert Arb (level 2), as was, is now the "ABC Awards level 2 certificate in arboriculture"...so not much change really. On the new QCF (Qualifications and credits framework, which I too am still struggling to get to grips with) this course attracts '21 credits' and hence is a level 2 certificate course whereas if it attracted 37+ credits, which is essentially a course at the same technical level but 'more of' (or greater breadth maybe), it would be a level 2 diploma. Hoping this helps...kinda! cheers.. Paul

Find out more at Lantra House, Stoneleigh Park, Nr. Warwick (15mins off M40 jn.15) next Wednesday 10th JULY...not to be missed!!! Cost £50 (+VAT = £60) but refunded on application for assessment. Hope to see you there...BUT you do need to let me know in advance. Thanks all.. Paul

No apology needed, not at all, Refresher training, and benefits of, altho I have heard many who have done it (with the 'right' training provider) say it was actually useful. AND, if as part of that process, you can pick up another 'qualification', i.e. CS32 (as was), then it can be worthwhile. I wholly agree, competence is workplace / industry based and not the training ground. Enjoy yer weekend...sory if I've put an edge on it Cheers.. Paul

Hi Tim, hope you're well. Will this carry the '+F' to denote industry specific as required by FC these days. Regards.. Paul

Exactly, it relates to the tree diameter, i.e. upto 380mm (approx. 15"), not the size of the saw, or rather the length of the bar. Paul PS 10 yrs old, have you done any refresher training? If you work on 'FC / forest industries' land it is now mandatory (contractually I guess) to have refresher training. If you're 'ARB' I would suggest up-skilling to CS32 (as was) now felling trees greater than 380mm...just a thought!

A couple of useful leaflets from the lyme disease website at Lyme Disease Action — Lyme Disease Action: Striving for the prevention and treatment of Lyme disease and associated tick borne diseases. to help recognition and typical symptoms. Hope these help. Paul LymeDiseaseA002-4.pdf LymeDiseaseA001-3.pdf

BUMP... Places still available and remember the standards are equally applicable to all businesses in terms of demonstrating compliance. Go on, you know you want to! Cheers all.. Paul

The requirement under the FA Regs. is for the employer to do a FA 'needs' assessment and it is from this that 'adequate arrangements' will be dictated. FA is always a good thing to have and even better if it's with an industry specific provider (that's what denotes the '+F' required on FC sites...and, ideally, refreshed at least mid-term on 18 months. The outcome of the needs assessment, typically, is to have a min. of 2 people on a worksite with the one-day ticket 'Emergency First Aid at Work' (EFAW...+F). Hence if you hold this training certificate / qualification you are probably better positioned to gain work. Just my thoughts.. Paul

Thanks Andy, very valuable feedback n no doubt inspired by the Countryfile 'WoodFest' coverage, but that demonstrates there is an appetite for it on TV. Again I'll make sure it's fed back. Thanks again.. Paul

Excellent, glad to hear the trip was worth it. Thanks n hope to see you next year. Paul

Pruning is a generic term covering a whole range of tree crown management operations, inc. crown reduction / crown thin / crown lift, as explained in the industry standard BS3998 (2010) The attached seeks to highlight the difference in a crown reduction between a 'volume reduction', BS 3998 indicates 30% volume equiv. to 12% linear, i.e. an average radial spread of 10m will be reduced to just under 9m, and linear / length, i.e. average radial spread of 10m will be reduced to 7m (this exceeds the 'implied' max. of removing more than a third of the foliage bearing material and so if specifying you should state these works exceed BS3998.) Hope this helps...at least a little. Paul PS Credit to Aspect Tree Consultancy (Devon) for this illustration TreeCrownVolumeIllus.pdf

:congrats:

Fair comment 'Mr Bullman', I'll try harder to be around and join in...not that I usually know any more than the next person tho Cheers Steve.. Paul

Hello Les, Thank you for your post here and I will ensure your comments get fed back before the review meeting, very useful. My understanding is that nos. were around the 2k mark with about 1200 on Day 1 and approaching 800 on Day 2...this is comparable with previous years (if final info indicates much difference I'll let you know.) All the best and thanks again.. Paul