Tom Mabbutt

I've since discovered that Josephine Hedger (2010 ITCC Women's World Tree Climbing Champion) was doing the demos. Massive thanks to you Josephine.

Thanks Paul, can you PM me your email address/number please so I can pass it onto my friend? Cheers.

Hi all, Anybody know if this is available up in the north west? I'm fortunate enough to have done mine a month or so ago in Surrey, I'm just enquiring for a mate. Cheers.

Just came across this useful pdf, just thought it might be good for those new to the hitch climber. I found the demonstrations and talks at the arb show (last friday) relating to the hitch climber really helpful - whoever that chick was she knew her shizzle! Went for a reccy this weekend with my new found hitch-climber knowledge and had a blast. http://www.sherrilltree.com/site/pdfs/Hitch_Climber_Pulley_Usage.pdf

P.s. I'll be at the Arb Show in Cirencester this Friday (15th) if any of you Lancashire business owners are there and want to meet me.

Hi all, As of September I will be looking for part-time work in the Lancashire area, ideally around the Preston area but I am willing to travel. I am moving back to Lancashire to finish the final year of my arboriculture foundation degree (Myerscough). I will be returning from one year away working full-time as an arborist at the Royal Horticultural Societies Wisley Estate in Surrey. Prior to my year at RHS Wisley I worked for a Manchester based firm doing commercial tree work. I’m looking for any tree related work, preferably with climbing and rigging (because I love it) but groundie work, forestry, surveying/inspecting, tractor-driving would be equally welcome. I’m a good worker, 28 years old, I graft hard, I’m reliable, I like getting dirty and getting a sweat on, I’m punctual, I work safely, I won’t swear on a job, I don’t moan, I love what I do and always seem to fit into a team well. I’m not one to blow my own trumpet either but in instances like this it’s pretty essential so please forgive me......anyway, during the first year of my FdSc I got distinctions in all eight of my modules - hope that gives a little indication towards how committed I am. I have my own climbing kit & PPE too. References available if required. Qualifications: cs30, cs31, cs32, cs38, cs39, cs41, pa1pa6(aw) Lantra Stumpgrinder CSCS card Lantra Basic and Professional Tree Inspection C&G Tractor Operation (with front loader) Lantra MEWP operation RFS certificate in arboriculture (theory) RHS Specialist Option Certificate in Estate Management & Arboriculture (award pending) FdSc Arboriculture (award pending) NVQ 3 Advice & Guidance (comes in useful when dealing with the clients!) Full, clean driving license. Please feel free to get in touch. 07773676465 [email protected]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZ-slvv_ZT4&feature=related]Opening Beer with Chainsaw - YouTube[/ame]

I'm not so sure mate, it was paid for by my employer. I think that the prices will depend on how many people want to do it?? Anyway whatever the cost I can really recommend him, hew didn't just help me with rigging but climbing technique on a whole. I came out of that week a much better climber.

Give Mark Brewer a call, cracking bloke, cracking trainer, 30 years + experience. I did my cs41 with him and it was great. I think he could offer the whole package... La Forestal Limited trading as MGC 25 Chelston Avenue Hove, Sussex BN3 5SR T: 01273 410339 M: 07971 783962 [email protected] m-gc.com

Yeah, the infections can expand beyond the current seasons growth and cause cankers. You may also be looking at Bacterial Canker of Cherry too, the leaves of the cherry look like they have been shot with a shotgun, which is tell-tale. Are there any oozy amber coloured blobs anywhere on the stems of the cherry? And is the ' leaf scorching' just on the Apple?

Could be Fireblight?? Whole sections of leaves are dying, there are necrotic spots where the bacteria may be entering. Its most prevalent when the weather is hot and wet, like it has been.

XTC = bombproof.

I'm writing a dissertation on soil compaction amelioration at the moment. This paper shows how effective air spading can be. Perhaps you should print it off and have it on standby, then shove it in the face of anyone who gives you grief. It will shut them up I'm sure. http://www.gwri.gatech.edu/uploads/proceedings/2009/6.7.4_Morris.pdf

Onopordon acanthium?? They get pretty big.

Speedy recovery chap, scary shizzle this tree lark.

I'd strongly advise doing a theory course to compliment your tickets mate. A good starting point is the RFS Certificate in Arboriculture which you can do online, pretty sure Myerscough still do it and I believe you can pay it in instalments, I think it was about £500-£600 ish when i did it. It's what I started with and I believe it gave me an edge to get onto further courses, get work and also a great placement which I bagged too. You sound very keen and eager to learn more which suggests that you've got the right level of commitment to be able to manage your time and get through such a course. Keep looking for work too, if you get knocked back don't get disheartened. Take every opportunity to get some experience, for example; if you see some contractors out and about introduce yourself and ask if you might be able to get stuck in for a day, stuff like that. Then when you get your lucky break can prove your worth by totally busting your balls and being enthusiastic for a day, and then thats all it takes to get more work. The fact your a labourer will help too, as I'm sure your in good shape and not afraid of graft...keep using it as a selling point. And remember that we make our own luck, so keep at it, don't give up under any circumstances and good things will happen. All the best.

PM sent.

Had the same issue mate. Was using 8mm Ocean polyester and just couldnt get it spot on the way i wanted, also tried 10mm OP and still wasn't happy. Then switched to 10mm Yale silverstreak and its great, just keep the legs of the cord as short as you can above the pully. I don't use sewn ends on it either but fishermans instead, this allows me to adjust the length of the cord ever so slightly which is almost like fine tuning the set up - I doesn't look as pretty but its a darn sight cheaper. On a distel too.

Had a dangle in the Navaho in Honey Brothers just out of interest not long ago, to be honest I'd rather floss my arse crack with barbed wire than wear it again. I've felt your pain.

I love mine to bits, but they can get a bit schwetty tho.

Saw a mature Acer davidii today, bark was very similar to the pic shown. Could be a possibility. I'll get some piccys when i next go past it.

Makes me think of Poplar too, but the colour just seems a little too funky! Where did you find the tree, in an amenity type collection/arboretum or just out and about? Any pictures of the buds or twigs??

Make sure you've got a couple of tool-clips/caritools on your harness so you've got plenty of spots to clip on pulleys, lowering-lines, saw, etc. Without mine I would have found it hard keeping things organised. The more your stuffs organised up there, the less stressed you'll be, and the better you'll do. Take up a spare prussic/split tail so you can haul up the end of your climbing line and make a secondary/supplementary anchor if needed. This will help you get out to the arse-end of difficult branches if you need to. However, chances are you won't be given a hard tree to do on your assessment, but you may get pushed a little on the course. Best of luck.

I know its not an arb specific example but it might help a little??