Arboreal

Please ignore any offensive posts - this is a great forum with loads of useful info. I, as many others clearly do, really admire you wanting to broaden your knowledge and be informed about your role. Regarding courses, it entirely depends how you want to approach this: there are many short courses you can do or if you prefer extended ones which can be done as day release or on-line. Short course wise, Treelife and the Arb Association run a variety of good short courses (Home and Arboricultural Association). As for good all around qualifications, the RFS level 2 is a very good introduction and well taught at Merrist Wood Adult Courses Good luck with whatever route you take and keep us informed - it's really nice to see people develop and succeed and, despite some rudeness, this is a great forum from which to learn

We feel truly privileged to have have been taught by the arb-god that is Jack Kenyon - a loss to the arb world but he's certainly put in the time. He will be sorely missed, but I'm sure all will wish him a happy retirement. Enjoy!

Good luck with it all and most importantly enjoy it! It's a great job, with it's ups and downs, but we'd never leave it! Keep us posted Sent using Arbtalk Mobile App

Definitely give it a go - there's nothing like getting to know all sides of the industry but it might be an idea to get some vocational qualifications, like the RFS cert in conjunction with your tickets. Or if you've got a wee bit of money and 9 weeks to spare I'd recommend the very very good Tree Surgery For Craftsmen course at Merrist Wood - you'll get your basic tickets (CS30, 31, 38 & 39) and a good solid foundation in arb knowledge. The better you know trees the better your work will be Also, the more qualifications you have the more employable you'll be or if you go self-employed, you'll be more eligible for better paying contracts, etc. And when, or if, your body gives up you can move into consultancy. Good luck with it all

Know exactly how you feel - we'd been hanging on a thread for about a year and that thread broke about 4 months ago so we've had to reinvent ourselves but things are starting to come together now. And the main things that got us through? Being realistic, being positive and sheer bloody mindedness! So you've definitely got the right attitude. Good luck and keep going!

Thanks very much Michael & Mike - good to know a few places especially Stihl dealers. We're moving to Oxford as it's a good central place for our jobs - or at least trying to as rental prices a a wee bit steep! Thanks again

Can anyone recommend a good saw & ppe shop in Oxfordshire? I'm moving down that way and need some new cutting trousers. Thanks! Sent using Arbtalk Mobile App

http://www.arbaid.co.uk That's the link for the arb-aid website - the guy's name is Greig Sutherland and he is really helpful. He might also be able to recommend some courses for you

It depends who you are looking to work with - for example with the Forestry Commission you need a first aid cert that is forestry or arb related. There are specific forestry/arb courses available - I can't remember names off hand but you should be able to google them and they often advertise in the arb mags and the Forestry Contractors association journal. A good first aid kit will also help with audits and is just good 'insurance' if you get what I mean. Arb-aid is a great wee kit that covers everything you need and I know that the guy that devised the them is developing arb specific courses but I don't think he's finalised them yet.

Your basic options are using your AIA to put 100% of the cost of equipment against tax or putting a percentage in every year until the full cost of the equipment is covered (the percentages can often change in the budget but for 2011 - 12 was something like 20% the first year then 18% until all accounted for). The logic is you can spread the joy of a big purchase against tax for a few years rather than using it all up in 1 year. It also takes into account depreciation but that bit is hazy in my memory 'cos I tend to use AIA as it's a million times easier!

Good on ya - well done and keep aiming higher Gale & Dan

Can highly recommend Chris Simpson and he might have space on cs40 at the end of this month.

Hello folks, We are looking for some arb work abroad - surveying/ inspection/ treework - we can do any and all! We are used to working together so make a great team, but are happy to work as part of a bigger team too. Below are are credentials and contact details. We are a pair experienced ISA Certified Arborists with NPTC CS 30, 31, 32, 34, 38, 38, 39 & AO 6, Emergency First Aid at Work and Outdoor First Aid and both studied at Merrist Wood for the Tree Surgery for Craftsmen. I have an HND in Arb & Urban Forestry and we both have Professional Tree Inspection qualifications along with surveying and inspection experience. We've also had training on spills and fire prevention and have our own PPE, climbing, rigging and surveying kits and a selection of chain- and hand-saws. Contact details should be below in the signature, but just in case, they are: Gale: [email protected] 07842 268830 Dan: [email protected] 07516 486997 Any pointers and info are very welcome as obviously are any work opportunities Thanks for your time and look forward to hearing from anyone that can help. Gale Ward & Dan Burgess

Hello folks, Looking for some arb work abroad - surveying/ inspection/ treework we can do any and all! We are used to working together so make a great team, but are happy to work as part of a bigger team too. Below are are credentials and contact details. We are a pair experienced ISA Certified Arborists with NPTC CS 30, 31, 32, 34, 38, 38, 39 & AO 6, Emergency First Aid at Work and Outdoor First Aid and both studied at Merrist Wood for the Tree Surgery for Craftsmen. I have an HND in Arb & Urban Forestry and we both have Professional Tree Inspection qualifications along with surveying and inspection experience. We've also had training on spills and fire prevention and have our own PPE, climbing, rigging and surveying kits and a selection of chain- and hand-saws. Contact details should be below in the signature, but just in case, they are: Gale: [email protected] 07842 268830 Dan: [email protected] 07516 486997 Any pointers and info are very welcome as obviously are any work opportunities Thanks for your time and look forward to hearing from anyone that can help. Gale Ward & Dan Burgess