David Goss

that was like going to confession! i feel much better maybe i should become a catholic!

I had a similar situation last week in a conifer hedge, I knew it was likely to find nesting birds so i had a quick look before i started. Needless to say about 5 cuts in i cut a branch with a nest in it with 2 chicks which i think are starlings. I didnt see the nest at all even after having a look with the really thick foliage. I put the nest back as best i could and decided to stop the job, just as i did that i turned to start climbing down again and there is a pigeon chick staring at me from its nest in the next branch! So here is a question... I checked the hedge before i started and only found the nests when i had cleared some branches so should i be prosecuted for it? even after checking? Mistakes happen and are easily done when working in those situations where it is difficult to see through the thick stuff. Do we have any leg to stand on if some crazy fanatic kicks up stink because you cut a branch with a nest you didnt see? As it happens i felt real bad for the chicks and i hope they are ok, I guess the worry i had for them is worse than any fine i could get for it seeing as i love nature and everything in it.

all i can say is ouch! argh! eek! and many other types of yelp that i cant type have fun and cover up well!

crap!!! it really wears out that quickly? I just bought one after pondering over the massive price for a long time and now i find out i need to replace bits every 6 months!!!! i think in 6 months time my bin will get expensive and the prussic will be coming back out again! Thats shocking for something that costs so much! they should give you at least 10 free cams with it when you buy it if thats the case grrr

I am using a tree motion now and it rocks! If you try and steal it though i will cut your arms off:sneaky2:

just to let you see the rest of the tree here it is, and just out of shot to the left is the house... We took out all the dead wood today and the tree seemed stable enough. How long would you say before climbing is not an option and a mewp should be used? Or should we use a mewp anyway?

thanks i will give the lady the bad news asap, i already told her to prepare for the worst

Great thread guys Here is something you probably have seen plenty of and all know the name of and what it does etc but hey what the hell i thought i would stick it in here seeing as i cant be bothered searching through millions of photos of fungi to find the damned thing (really wish i had a good memory). Anyway my question is whats it called? and how long roughly before i need to cut this tree off the womans house? I found it on a lime with a lot of dead wood and crown die back, i am pretty sure its not good news for the tree but i was wanting some confirmation from the fungi experts before i start wasting my night and possibly tomorrow trying to confirm my thoughts.... here is the pics if i can figure out how to do it http://arbtalk.co.uk/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=64478&stc=1&d=1305145639 http://arbtalk.co.uk/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=64479&stc=1&d=1305145639 http://arbtalk.co.uk/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=64480&stc=1&d=1305145639 First time trying to put photos on here so i hope i did it right

I agree with that for sure, also the guy saying everything has honey fungus was out of order, if i see a fungus i dont know, then i will say i dont know what it is but i will investigate it before doing the work (now i can post a pic on here and pretty much get it explained without wasting a day or even 2, looking through books and websites). You cant blame the guy for wanting to make some cash but he is obviously out to rip people off and sell himself as something he is not!

So thats what all the union jacks and street parties blocking the works van getting to the job was all about! Glad i was working and not watching that boring tosh... oh no wait i dont have a tv so i wouldnt have watched it anyway whew... Good luck to them but cant say i give a sh.. You think i could get my taxes back that paid for some of that? seeing i missed it its only fair

Ok i await your mass of info. Just to say its not YOUR kitchen its everybodys kitchen and yea i am special

39 but i will be 25 again on my next birthday

Wow you really do have it in for me dont you? that wasnt the post you were quoting me on plus that post of mine with "suffering" in it was more a light hearted joke but it seems i am mr target for you so go ahead i can take it. I must say though you are taking your time to come up with any proof that pollarding is good... i have been waiting for you to prove it to me since i started in this forum but all you seem to want to do is attack me and misquote me. I want to hear the moment you went "ah pollarding is good" what were you reading? what was it that changed your mind? thats all i wanted from you but lets just play your childish games instead go on give me a hard time about something else its obviously what your wanting out of this...

Geez i should just keep my mouth shut when your around! I said "struggling" not "suffering" although the 2 words are very similar in this instance. I know these things happen in nature and i am just as amazed and intrigued as you are about it. Our role? Our role would not exist and trees would get on fine without us if we didnt force ourselves upon them. I dont want to argue with you because you have your points and i have mine and we are both stubborn as mules. If you prefer i will say no more on any of the threads regarding pollards if my point of view upsets you so much, i just cant be bothered arguing with you. Next time you feel like jumping down my throat just read your David Attenborough quote, thats where i am coming from.

Think i am understanding you guys a bit more... Its not that you like pollards, its more that you like how the tree reacts and adapts to it that gives you wood (if you will pardon the pun lol) Am i right? I can see in a way how your twisted minds like to study the suffering of these poor things but please for the love of mother nature (god in many others eyes) dont do it to good healthy ones! Thats all i am saying p.s. the twisted minds bit was a joke before you sacrifice my soul

Hear Hear Shame the poor thing has had to struggle on account of us evil humans!

Scotspine1 I can see your point but think your being a bit harsh. I freelance because i move around too much to be able to set up properly with vans and chippers etc, i simply cant afford it. If it wasnt for other companies "exploiting" me and my skills then i would be in trouble. Yes we are underpaid but this will never change unless we ALL put our prices up, thats subbies and contractors alike. The problem is that this will never happen because everyone wants the one that puts in the lowest quote! Very frustrating it is too because we will all remain underpaid as a result of this. We all need to band together and push for better pay for the work that we do but there will always be one that is willing to undercut the rest and mess it up for us all. What are we to do? i wish i had a solution...

Oh i also just remembered about another site you may find interesting and is kind of the same idea but with every living thing. Its called the "encyclopedia of life" and is still in its infancy but it is looking to become something fantastic in my eyes. Encyclopedia of Life is the address but like i said its still at the beginning of its life...

Great idea Steve i will make sure i have my camera with me at all times.

well at least it looks natural lol anyway i am done with this convo unless super hama or someone can come up with something other than another obvious question I LOVE UNTOUCHED TREES THEY LOOK MAGIC even ones with decay and dysfunction i just dont like that some of us give them the decay and dysfunction before their time

Amen to that

I completely agree with you but i can have a crack at anyone i wish because i know who i am and accept my faults. I am no innocent bystander just like everyone else. I do what i do because i love this job and i feel sorry for every tree i have cut. The only reason i do it is because for us humans and trees to live together then sometimes we have to control their growth in certain aspects (i would rather that i did it than someone who doesnt care), moreover in the urban environment where if a tree is left to its own devices it can take over and become damaging to property etc. I dont like the fact that we have to intervene but we do. I wish there could be such a control on humans as well. As for "proper pruning" that can still lead to rot and decay, well i try my best to minimise this by doing proper cuts and not cutting too big. I dont know 100% that this IS what is best but it IS what i THINK is best from what i have learned and seen over the years. I am still waiting on proof to the contrary if it exists, my mind is open as i have said and if i am doing wrong then enlighten me please

Good point, As you said we have to live somehow so i make my money doing what i think is best, What i see in my experience is rot when pollarding is done, when proper pruning is done the tree can close its wounds before any real damage is done. This is my reasoning and it is logical.

yes i can.