sloth

well said Andy!

Have a wee look here http://www.treelifeac.co.uk/Pages/ShortCourses.aspx some good short courses. How far you take it is up to you I guess, you or employer paying, what you want to do in the future etc are all considerations. BS5837 course will be specific to you I imagine. If you are ok'ing apps for tpo'd trees/s211 notices you really ought to have specific arb knowledge. You mentioned you have an aboriculturist, why not pick their brains?

Yip

Excuse me if I'm being dense, are you working for an LA or as a TO? What tree based knowledge do you already have?

1, 2, 3, 5 & 6 are more benefits enjoyed while the tree is there. 4 could be nuisance, or not. I don't believe it is an asset in common, ones asset may be another's nuisance! If the tree is not subject to any statutory protection, the neighbour has the right to cut (roots included) to the boundary; and to hell with the health, stability or tree owners enjoyment of their own tree. Bizarre perhaps What would the law be in such a situation your side of the big pond?

I'll keep shtum then! *insert smiley for running with tail between legs*

lovely close up David. That fisti looks prime eating, what is it growing on, not ivy presumably?!

With the exception of seo vs adwords that's all common knowledge, and free, surely?!

sounds nasty, any idea of species? was it the Chinese lacquer (spelling?) tree, Rhus something or other?

A man walks into a restaurant with a full-grown ostrich behind him. The waitress asks them for their orders. The man says, "A hamburger, fries and a coke," and turns to the ostrich, "What's yours?" "I'll have the same," says the ostrich. A short time later the waitress returns with the order. "That will be $9.40 please." The man reaches into his pocket and pulls out the exact change for payment. The next day, the man and the ostrich come again and the man says, "A hamburger, fries and a coke." The ostrich says, "I'll have the same." Again the man reaches into his pocket and pays with exact change. This becomes routine until the two enter again. "The usual asks the waitress?" "No, this is Friday night, so I will have a steak, baked potato and a salad," says the man. "Same," says the ostrich. Shortly the waitress brings the order and says, "That will be $32.62." Once again the man pulls the exact change out of his pocket and places it on the table. The waitress cannot hold back her curiosity any longer. "Excuse me, sir. How do you manage to always come up with the exact change in your pocket every time?" "Well," says the man, "several years ago I was cleaning the attic and found an old lamp. When I rubbed it, a Genie appeared and offered me two wishes. My first wish was that if I ever had to pay for anything, I would just put my hand in my pocket and the right amount of money would always be there." "That's brilliant!" says the waitress. "Most people would ask for a million dollars or something, but you'll always be as rich as you want for as long as you live!" "That's right…Whether it's a gallon of milk or a Rolls Royce, the exact money is always there," says the man. The waitress asks, "What's with the ostrich?" The man sighs, pauses and answers, "My second wish was for a tall chick with a big ass and long legs who agrees with everything I say.."

wow, impressive!

no pic?

ahh thanks looks handy...

congrats all of you, good healthy weight!

and what is the single ring one for please?

Very good stuff, never too young! Here is my 2 year old learning how soil is made, and showing mum with the camera. They're like enthusiastic knowledge sponges, its great! She knows worms, insects and mushrooms eat leaves twigs and trees and poo soil! That buds turn into leaves to feed the plant/tree or flowers with pollen (that bees make honey with) which mixes with other flowers to make fruit. She knows a cherry from a sycamore, stinging nettles, honeysuckle, blackberry, raspberry fennel and a load of other garden plants. She knows what is and isn't edible, and if she doesn't know she'll ask before eating it! It's amazing what details a young brain can absorb if you take the time to talk to them. Does my head in when you see parents lagging miserable kids down the road listening tk an ipod and ignoring them, telling them to hurry up when they stop to look and ask about something, grrr. Sorry for the ramble, I love my kids!!!

Wow, what a snap! Not a lot of wood left untouched, surprisingly dense leaf coverage. Thanks for posting Was it windy? How far up is slice with the shiny new bar? Why do you say merip? Was the decayed wood soft or hard? Any idea what caused the damage which has occluded on the left in the slice shot? Sorry, you did say ask away!

Why is the water there now, if it hasn't been before, what (on or off site) has changed? Can it be 'un-changed'? As said sudden changes in soil moisture/water table are bad news. Any chance of ground works to divert runoff away from the rooting area? Contamination also a problem, perhaps planting of poplar or alder could help, though not ideal.

Wow, thick sperm! Or squishy mangos?

Only place I've come across it too. Wondered how it works, if it has ever been used on trees in a court case etc. Anybody?

As above, anyone use it? Know anything about it, or even heard of it? Ta muchly...

Rather than a loop, you would tie the knot each end of the rope directly to the crab. Ie a fisherman's in place of the eye splice, does that make as much sense in words as it does it my mind?!

Really?...

I thought Ab Fab!

Well done Rob, good luck with the nervous wait! I'm sure you'll be fine...