Arborowen

No you are right, I did mean to mention AA however was at risk of rambling. It is my ultimate goal to be an AA Approved Consultant Paul. Perhaps we can speak about this at some point if your still involved in that end of things. Cost is a big factor for me currently with the annual cost of something like SMAS being around £200 its a first step. Regarding OP, construction line itself is NOT an SSIP as I guessed above. They promote their own SSIP scheme as part of the application process for an additional fee so its worth thinking what you hope to gain. I would question wether its better to go down that route or start with CHAS? bit of a mine field for the un-initiated. O

Realise this is a little old now with no replies. I'm just getting back into Arbtalk after starting my own business. I have experience managing accreditations for a large commercial tree surgery in Sussex. During this time they were neither Chas nor Construction line. Bearing in mind this was around 5years back things may have changed. Chas was a bigger deal for us. CHAS is an SSIP, (Safety Scheme in Procurement) Construction line is more of an paid index which carries out similar checks to an SSIP. What you may find is that if you were to gain an SSIP, (CHAS or SMAS) this may cut out some of the paper work to becoming a member of Construction Line. Back when I worked for the un-named large Tree surgery. I realised I might be able to just Pay for CHAS if i was already SMAS. As we were already operating SMAS which was an SSIP as well, after some communication with CHAS we just paid up and they granted us membership of the back of our other SSIP membership. Worth getting in touch with the people at Construction Line to discuss this. It's my understanding that all three schemes operate a directory service so it difficult to say which is more popular. Depending on time and budget, my advice would be to check with Construction line to see if there are any shortcuts for companies with existing SSIP accreditations then get either SMAS or CHAS (or both) then approach construction line. The annual costs for all these sites are geared toward company size so it may not be financially worth while for you to take this approach. It is my intention to gain SMAS, (SSIP) and then approach Construction Line. As a self employed arboricultural consultant the annual costs are low and requirements from each scheme is relatively easy to address. I think the cheapest option from my perspective as a consultant with only myself as a 'member of staff' is to go for construction line directly. This approach is also likely to yield less paper work although Im not sure precisely what checks they make or what the forms are like. Hopefully this is of some help although I appreciate it doesn't exactly answer your question.

Found this on a beech last week, after initially thinking it was Oyster mushroom, i then began to think it might be dryads saddle. However based on the current combination of books on the desk neither of them persist for a very long after degrading. This is clearly a seasonal bracket thats either still attached because it's a sheltered spot or a late (early) second fruiting but no idea quite what it is. Thought would be appreciated

I have been tasked with looking into this old chestnut again. My general approach is to work out what software would achieve our needs then select a device with the required ruggedness and spec. This time were coming at it from the reverse. It has been suggested that we get some Windows 10, (as in desktop OS run on a rugged tablet) Rugged windows tablets. We have a device in-mind (MESA2) which looks very impressive however I have absolutely no knowledge of data collection software for windows platform. Previously all my forays have been either Android or windows mobile based. I'm aware a lot of desktop style software tends to focus on asset management style surveying for Local Authority. We do not typically have much use for long term asset management style software. In terms of usage we would mostly be looking to use the software for condition surveys on large rural or remote locations. The ability to plot tree potions with a reasonable degree of accuracy just so they can be found again and add attributes to something like and attribute table and export the resultant data to DXF SHP or similar is essential. It has also been floated that we try to source some software that has the flexibility to carry out BS5837 surveys. I am infinity dubious as to how effective a single piece of software may be in both scenarios. It may be the case that two separate approaches are used? What ever the software, the output would need to be 100% customisable in order that it can fit into our current report presentation / style. Any one with some thoughts here please do let me know. I've found that much of the software still on offer uses Windows mobile which is tragic in my view given how far things have move on since 1997. Thanks in advance.

Thanks, DT> No obvious Glands and Prunus was one of my guesses based on the pics. Some samples have arrived in the office now and it does look to be Prunus, with one mature leaf there that looks to have a small singular gland. Difficult game when they've been bashed around huh.

Haven't posted for a bit. Usually I'm the tree ID monkey here but this one has me stumped. Buds look a little like willow, leaves look a little like prunus, bark looks a little like hawthorn. Very confusing. I offered to try to key it out but no samples were collected during visit. Thoughts very much appreciated as its the only thing on my colleagues survey he has to ID!

I did wonder that with fall approaching squirrels can be getting feisty scraping thin barked trees too so that may account for the colour. Sent from my SM-J320FN using Tapatalk

Some photos from a site visit that one of my collegues carried lut yesterday. Ive seen ganoderma high up in beeches before. But cant make this out for him. Any thoughts.

Yes well that's he tricky one. I've been asked to re inspect three HCs following a comment by a knowledgeble member of the public. The tree with the rigi is not the one they are concerned about. They're seeing scaring from bleeding canker and getting anxious on another tree which is further and weighted away but still close enough. This one with the rigi had 2 mtrs out top only in 2014 leaving the entire remainder of crown toward play area. Previous tree office denied permission to carry out 6mtr height reduction specd by previous consultant. Which now I've met the trees can see would have been overkill. My initial concern before the rigi on this was the historic dog legend prunnig wounds common on HC when low branches are heavilly prunned back. Plenty to think about. Not sure of significance of the fungi. HC is fully on my one to watch list given its tendency to lack much warning signs or indicators in foliage vitality and to be peppered with bleeding canker often making things look pretty break but might not be. Very difficult to judge much beyond these two factors using just VTA. Any thoughts? I've done several HC jobs this year all with the same collection of issues. Although not quite on this scale. Sent from my SM-J320FN using Tapatalk

Pretty sure Ridgidoporus on Horse chestnut here on a nice site in west sussex. Sent from my SM-T713 using Tapatalk

Would ypu beleive me if I said that was my first guess. :-) with the form and white spores. The cross section seemed a bit too brown though. Ok. Thanks David. Do you have any comment on the significance on oak. Maybe not as dramatic as ash? Sent from my SM-T713 using Tapatalk

Been a while since I've posted on here and equally feels like an age that ive actually had to ID a fungi being that the majorty of work presently appears to be BS with a lack of mature defective trees. Anyway. This white spored fungi on an oak is foxing me. Its likley a usual suspect but can think which. The shape and spore colour is wrong for ganoderma? and the cross section does not match other brackets such as ridgioporus. Your assistance here would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance. Sent from my SM-T713 using Tapatalk

Ace work very nice finish. how and what did you use to shape and what was used to stain them? Great work. particularly like the end grain one.

Here they are

Found on an oak today. To late for the dryad what about Merip? Oh. For some reason I can't upload photos. Sorry

I did the same recently. I didn't feel like it was my place to mutilate the fruits without some attempt to make good. Even in the pursuit of knowledge it seemed wrong to leave it looking sad.

Out currently near Chichester, but found this on a site earlier on today in Surrey. My thinking is Armillaria.spp? thoughts please was on a False acacia and looks a little degraded didnt think was orang enough for Mellea.

My thoughts exactly Sloth. We all poke around so carefully at buttresses looking for the tiniest sign of KD and then one stumbles accros this. I almost laughed out loud, then instantly realised how sad that seemed.

Best Kretzschmaria deusta shot ever? on a lime next to a house and pub. probably the most I've ever seen in one place.

Oh in that case I've seen it loads Ha! Cheers

That makes sense david. I'm not sure I've really come across Psuedoinonotus previously. Thanks v muchly. Your photos are v similar.

As promised David. Definitely feels like ganoderma. And a many legged little chap taking in some sun.

Going to pop back today to take a cross section through the bracket. That should clear things up. Should have done it while in was on site really. Will post when back here.

It was on an oak, and I'd come across oak bracket the same day and a stark difference was clear. I have however seen tiered brackets like this before on a tree and thought oak bracket but could not be so different from a tree just round the corner? Picture taken two weeks ago