Spruce Pirate

Done, comments same as others.

I spoke to the guy at the FC today. Basically he said if it looks like a garden then they'd class it as a garden, if it looks like a wood they'd class it as a wood. He also mentioned OED definition and maintenance being a large part of this, so if trees are maintained in a garden like fashion (private arboretum?) then they'd class it as a garden. Not sure if this helps, it seemed a bit wooly. The links to the cases above seem more concrete than my conversation.

How much noise does a van idling actually make? Unless you're sleeping with the windows open (in the middle of winter ) I can't see that it would disturb anyone. If it's doors slamming and kit being thrown in the back with associated loud clunks and bangs then fair enough he's got a point, but just a van idling - the guy must have bat like hearing.

If you were to (and I don't think you should, but if you did) get a yard and work from there, you would still be entitled to go out a 4.30 in the morning and start your car/van for 10 mins to let it warm up. You would also be fine using the saw to cut your own firewood on the weekend. In my opinion there is no problem with doing either of these things, your neighbour is just a PITA. So long as your not having clients coming around or punting firewood from the front lawn I don't think your "running a business from home". As far as the RA stuff goes, even if you were you needn't show him a copy of it - ask him for a copy of his RA the next time he cuts his grass. Good luck, hope you get it resolved.

What a horrible situation to find yourself in, feel very sorry for you. Was your sister-in-law involved in the business before? You say she's an accountant, did she do the books? If this is the situation do you really want or need to cut her out of the business completely, or could she carry on doing accounts and admin work. I think 50% is a bit much for doing this, unless your business grows well beyond being just yourself, but some sort of agreement could be reached - either a wage or a smaller percentage of profit. I have to agree that impartial advice from a proffessional would be best.

Just did! Always been happy with Dixon-Bate, would reccomend them over non-branded which I have also run.

Finally, I've found the centre seat. It was removed from a 2000 Td5, seat base in good condition, top of the seat back is split right along so the foam is poking out the top. Could be repaired if you're handy that way or covered with a seat cover. If anyone's interested in it let me know.

Don't know if it makes any difference, but is it urban or rural location? Rural location to me would suggest woodland, urban more likely to be garden. Probably has no basis in law, but that's the way it seems to me. I know an ex-woodland officer with the FC. I'll ask him his opinion, see if I can get any ideas how FC would view it.

Did you get a new packet of highlighters for easter? Aforementioned Huskys in Stirlingshrie are for forestry.

Forgot, didn't I! Did you get sorted?

I think I've still got one kicking about in the shed. I'll try and remember to look tomorrow and let you know. Think it's in good condition, price would be very reasonable, don't know about postage costs.

Did a job at the end of last year with traffic management which included a bus stop in the coned off lane. The TM boys just put a bag over it and effectively cancelled it for the duration of the works. I thought they'd have to put up some sort of temporary bus stop, but apparently not. That was the TM company's choice though, not mine - that's why I get the proffessionals in to take care of that side of things, they have the answers to these questions.

In this case, all FISA members appear to have agreed that to work for them chainsaw operators will need to have carried out refresher training by Oct this year. So, simples, if you don't want to do the refresher training don't work for a FISA member, or anyone who works for a FISA member. As far as I'm aware this will apply to arb, forestry, fencing, anyone who operates a chainsaw. If you only do domestic arb and garden work then it is still only and HSE recommendation that you do refresher. So, the risk is yours. If you don't do it and you never have any contact with HSE you're fine. If you don't do it and HSE come knocking for whatever reason you have to justify why you haven't done it. As said before, there is more than one way to demonstrate refresher training and it can be carried out in house. FISA is different, they will insist that it is a refresher course that they recognise, so can't be done in house unless you have an approved instructor working for you. I've said before, the big problem with the FISA model is who is paying for it and the content of the approved courses.

Yeah, but its really white with orange. And Huskys are pure, unadulterated, orange (I'm ignoring new silver bits and older white bits).

Nice motors them. Lot of space in back, especially with seats down, comfortable, not too bad on fuel, very capable off-road, good bit of get up and go, plenty towing capacity. Good choice. Land-rover haters will list a load of faults or potential faults, but even the newest of them is now 9 years old so a few faults can be expected. If its basically sound then any faults can be fixed.

So, site will be mounded? c. 3000 stems per ha? You say its not deer fenced, so presumably its deer browsing your worried about, therefore minimum of 1.2m tree guards? I wouldn't recommend planting conifers in tubes, so presumably net guards of some sort? Trees to be 20/40s, 40/60s, 60/90s? Bare root I assume?

Its traditionally a hardwood / softwood divide, so yeah, probably follow the north / south divide quite well.

I wear specs anyway and have always found them useful for keeping things out of the eyes. I cant see (no pun intended) why anyone wouldn't use safety glasses and a visor - visor keeps big stuff out your face and specs keep dust out of your eyes. If I go to a site that insists on safety specs or I'll be told to go home how does that fit with the need for me to wear my prescription specs?

Husky and Stirlingshire But also do have a couple of Stihl, and cover most of central Scotland (and beyond if the price is right).

Any ground prep? If not does it need screefed? Does included mean that you need to supply plants etc or they are supplied? If we need to supply what specs? Do they really need staked and guarded?

Couldn't agree more. Refresher does have some merits, who pays is one of the biggest problems with it, that and content, it should be tailored to the individual which is difficult to translate into a cover all box ticking exercise which is what those pushing it will want.

Well done. In light of recent threads and posts on here, was there more emphasis on the actual felling or the legislation surrounding felling? I hope you don't mind me asking.

Salt spray from the roads after all the gritting over the winter?

A RA only needs to be recorded on paper if its for 5 people or more, unless the client demands it of course, I presume this is the case here. I agree, we all carry out mental RA's every day. What you need to assess is - what the risks are, who could be harmed, how they could be harmed and how you are going to prevent said people being harmed, the fifth step is to write all this down. Don't forget to update if situation changes. You can get some pretty swanky templates or copy books, but it can also be done on an old bit of scrap paper or the proverbial back of the fag packet (don't forget to assess the risks of smoking and associated fire risks if you're on the back of a fag packet ). The important thing about a RA is that it is relevant and carried out, not that it looks shiny, although I suspect a lot of companies prefer shiny to relevant.

Between this thread and the mandatory refresher thread, I am beginning to worry that the world really is going to Hell in a handbasket.