TomFellows

Hello mate, I might be able to help out. You can find all my contact details and info about my Brighton based company Arbor Cura Tree Surgery here Tree surgery Brighton - Arborcura Tree surgery Brighton, Tree work Brighton, Tree surgeon Brighton, Tree surgeons Brighton, Tree pruning Brighton, Tree cutting Brighton,Tree surgery Sussex, Tree work Sussex, Tree surgeon Sussex, Tree surgeons Sussex, Good luck Tom

I'm pretty sure that's a Quercus petraea (Sessile Oak). The leaves are normally bigger than a common Oak and have a fairly long petiole, the acorns are stalkless (sessile).

I completely agree, I don't think a freshly cut hanger could remain active long enough for a successful graft to take place. My guess is that the graft had taken place long before the branch was cut and it was either overlooked and forgotten about or left in place as a novelty.

I've never heard of that Ben, I'll look into it! Cheers

I've never used a forum before so I'm not sure what the protocol is regarding responses? Should I respond to all posts? Anyway, thank you all for your input. It's comforting to know that I'm not the only one out there and your ideas are very helpful. If you're just starting out as a tree surgeon I strongly advise you to take long breaks from the job, from time to time, and just to be good to your body. It wasn't designed for the abuse we subject it to. Tom

That's all the same for me too mate. It's funny I used to love, and take great pride in, hedge cutting but the idea of waggling a power tool around for a few hours (often at arms length) really scares me!

No need to apologise, and I don't think you're being negative. You're being realistic. I am already trying to make the transition from climber/owner to manager/owner. It's proving very difficult, the practical side of the job is what enticed me into the industry in the first place. I'm slowly coming around to the idea. Thanks for your input.

Rob I completely agree, as hard as it is to accept, you can't keep going at the same level as you did in your 20s! It's reality. Something else I forgot to mention is that I was gardening for about 3 years before I got into arboriculture. I think one of the main causes of my injuries is hedge cutting, particularly trimming tops at arms length! I've been doing that for 16 years now, like many of you I'm sure.

Just a basic Yale climbing rope. The thing is fellas, I haven't really climbed properly for about 6 months now, but that's not the point anyway. The damage has already been done and whatever tasks I try and undertake at work (lifting kit on/off truck, raking, hedge cutting, dragging branches, feeding chipper etc. etc. etc.) just aggravates the injuries further. There is very little work on the tools that doesn't make the problem worse. To be frank, I know what I need to do. I need to stop all physical work altogether. I think what I'm looking for is help with removing the constant aching and also any specific types of therapy (or therapists!) that anyone can recommend?

What is Liquimorph? I'm struggling to find anything about it on web Tom

Thanks very much

Hello Arbtalkers, I'm Tom this is my first post. I am 36 years old and run a small tree surgery business in Brighton, I have been a commercial tree surgeon for 13 years. I studied at Merrist Wood College in Guildford and have enjoyed an exciting and varied career so far. In 2004 I noticed a sharp pain in my right shoulder which was at it's worst when loaded with an 020. I went to the doctors and it turned out that I had tendonitis. I visited an Osteopath for a couple of months and the problem seemed to pass. He was very good and gave me stretches and warm up techniques to try. I carried on working throughout the therapy. In the years following this initial diagnosis the problem in my shoulder (and now shoulders) has got worse and worse and I have also now got really bad Tennis Elbow and wrist damage on both arms. Over the years I have tried every conceivable treatment (acupuncture, physio, sports physio, chiropractic, osteopathy, massage, cortizone injections, anti inflammation steroids etc etc.). Although I rarely have pain in my shoulders and elbows they pretty much ache all the time and feel weak and redundant. It's very depressing. I have tried speaking to Merrist Wood and the Arb Assoc to see if they can help point me in a useful direction or maybe suggest some treatment or therapy that I have somehow overlooked but aLl they could suggest was going to my GP. Useless! They didn't even seem to think that these sorts of injuries were common in the industry. I beg to differ! So I turn to you, my fellow tree dwellers, for help, guidance, thoughts, ideas, inspiration. My injuries are very bad and I am getting worried and desperate about my future. Any help would be so appreciated! Many thanks Tom