beechwood

The Gefa system is a good one, use it a lot. They do both Static and Dynamic systems. Far superior to Cobra or Boa and a lot easier to install, in my opinion. Cable bracing is a fascinating resource which is general under utilised in this country, as a way of retaining high value trees with defects. If your going to spec and install it I would strongly recommend that you go on a cable bracing course, as installing it is one thing but understanding and specifying it is a whole other thing. I've often thought about trying to find out how many people hold the NPTC ticket, I'm guessing not many. Kev Moore runs a great course. Regards Neil

Redwood now sell Forst as I'm sure your aware. We like you had an excellent experience with Redwood with a tracked Jenson 540 purchased from them, so when it came take to upgrade we stuck with them and brought 2 Forst TR8's. So far they have been great and any problems have been promptly dealt with. I don't see that there is not much difference between the Jenson and Forst machine, not sure how Redwood managed it to be honest, and the small differences are generally improvements. Long winded way of saying if you were happy with Redwood why not stick with them and buy a Forst? Regards Neil

Big chippers are great on the right job but I've found in most cases a hand fed chipper is more adequate, especially when combined with a skid steer to eliminate dragging. We have a range of chipper including a big tracked Bandit which we feed with a 360 a combination we find works really well. That said our operator is highly skilled and it's taken him man years to get that good. There are down sides. The initial purchase cost, transporting it to and from site and if your taking the chip off site what do you use, our Bandit will fill the back of one of our trucks in 20-30mins. As mentioned before you might be better off just hiring in one when you need it but I'm sure Dean and Andy at global would be quite happy to take your money! Regards Neil

I can't say I agree with that statement, although you will hear it said by a lot of people within the industry that 'climbing is a young mans game' (general by those who did once climb but now no longer do). Tree climbing and tree surgery used to be a lot about physical grunt, dragging your self up trees and carrying large loads to the chipper by hand but now if you embrace new techniques and equipment you can work smart without screwing your body and therefore there is no reason why you shouldn't be able to keep working on site till you retire. So there is no reason that being over 30 would mean no one would want to employ you, one of my best climbers is well over 40. That said tree climbers are normal light weight and as fit as a fiddle but even if you not right now, with the right attitude and perseverance you soon will be. Sounds like sour grapes from someone who couldn't make it in the industry to me (very judgmental of me) or maybe they were just having a bad day. I'd be a little worried about spending £3000 with someone who is already talking down your ambitions before you have even started the course. Surely if they are a good instructor, they should be confident that they will set you on the path to becoming a decent arborist. It's surprising because I've heard nothing but good things about Kingswood. I'd advise you to talk to them again, ask them why they said that? Perhaps you should look at other training providers. Maybe someone like Tony Derbyshire, who like me is a little north of 30 and might be more suited to help start you on your new career path. Just my thoughts and opinions. I wish you the best of luck. Regards Neil

You do need to be aware that either the SMH10R or 10R versions are not as good at noise cancelling as the unit Don has, which is the SMH10 Universal microphone. So when someone is on the saw or chipper you will need to turn volume down. We never really got to bottom of why but the microphone on the old units was a lot better. When we were selling them we included a different microphone but you can't source this as a spare part, it was someone we arranged in bulk from SENA. Your only option with good noise cancelling is old style ones like Don has but you have to find someone with them still in stock and they have there downsides. You could go for the 'Tufftalks' which are the dogs bollox but I don't know of anyone selling them in this country, added to which they are twice the price of a 10R and you have to get creative if you want to have a visor as well. I'm pretty sure Sherrill still sell them but I think they are $400 each.

They are the old units, the control unit is black not grey. Still pretty good unit but the speaker wires don't split up into individual units, the thickness of the wires is thinner, it works on a older version of Bluetooth and it doesn't work with the SENA app. If you haven't already brought them go on amazon and get 10R not the SMH10R. It's all a bit confusing and I don't why SENA didn't just give the new product a new name. Top tip is to spend a while figuring out how to take your Vertex Vent apart as the more bits are out of the the easy it is the fit the SENA neatly. Any way good luck with the fitting and post a pic of your finished results.

I personally think it's a good thing that you have to be a member of the Arboricultral Association in order to access reference documents and forms they have spent time and money creating/storing online. The Arboricultral Association need financial input to be able to operate and this is just helps the case for saying if you want this resource to available then you need to be a member. Might be an unpopular view but I don't have a problem with the cost of the British Standard. Like any publication that is likely to sell in very limited numbers the cost is likely to high in comparison to something that sells in large numbers. For example look at the cost of a chipper compared to cost of a car and how much more you get for money with a car. I wonder how many Arborist who say 'All work carried out in accordance with BS 3998' in their quotes actually have a copy and have read it?

What SENA have you brought? Don is right about protecting the wire where it goes into the ear muff. I found some more photos that might help you. The below photos show installation into Protos ear muffs but the principle in same for other ear muffs, also show speaker lead for 10R. As you rightly said the speaker wires for 10R do disconnect which allows you to route the wire out of the vents on the Vertex Vent. I prefer to put speaker behind the foam as it's held in place better and does sit against your ear. These photos show a good place to mount your microphone on a Vertex Vent, it allows you to tuck it away when your not doing real noisy stuff but the cable tie holds it really securely. Hope this helps and you find SENAs change the way work for the better. Regards Neil

It depends on what SENA your going to get. We have stop selling SENAs but we did a tidy installation of a 10R on a Vertex Vent for the arb show. There is a video on our Instagram page 'beechwoodtreecare' which was posted on 11th May. Have a look. It's the best way we came up with installing them and keep the wires away from potential damage. Regards Neil

Simon Holmes at Tree Surveys or Jasper Fulford-Dobson at Fulford-Dobson Associates

Came across the same problem a while back. When we lifted the block paving we found a mat of fibrous roots in the sand that the block paving was laid on. Concluded that tree had exploited the sand base as a great place to take up water and roots could be removed, without destabilising the tree, and paving relaid. Fully expect to be back in couple of years to do same again. Tree wasn't subject to TPO, so didn't have to get it past TO. Hope this helps. Good luck Neil

In my experience nothing is sudden with trees. So whatever did for it probably been happening over several years. Once tree is leaked other things move in and have a go, sending tree into terminal decline. To me it looks like good lawn under it so probably been treated with selective herbicide, not good for trees and not very much flare on buttress roots so levels have probably been changed, not good for trees. Only my best guess. Be careful of those powerlines when you fell it, make sure they are turned off or sheafed. Good luck Regards Neil

Been so impressed with SENAs we have become an agent to import them and to sell them in the UK. If your interested in buying a set a reasonable rate from someone within the industry with practical experience of using them in the field give us call. Details of the 3 product lines we stock are on arbtrader now. If came and had a try at the ArbShow you will know all about them but if you want any information or advice feel free to Send me a message on here or email/call. Great product and a must for the every arborist. Neil

'this threads about average working wages, what it should really be focussng on is the business model of firms in the uk. This is where the problem clearly is. More education is needed regarding running a business. This is more important IMO than any CS course in running a chainsaw, any diploma in aboriculture. This industry is formed from the ground up by passionate arborists who love their job and the lifestyle that goes with it, but thats not sustainable. The sooner people realise that the better.' Steve Bullman These 2 comments are spot on. Been in business for 16 years and spent the first 10 bitching and moaning, spent the last 6 working on offering a better service and selling that to my customers. I now have a great group of guys working for me and a fantastic loyal customer base. We never run out of work and we are never the cheapest (quite often double the price but still win the job). You can blame everything and everyone under the sun for why your not getting what you want from your business but the only person who is going to change the situation is you. Arboricultral Association run a good 2 day course Arb business course, I would suggest it's a good place to start. Good luck Regards Neil

Some rather aggressive/rude views on here. I know the expert personally and he is a very knowledgable arborist. Not to mention a nice guy. I thought the original work discussed was about £500 worth and they were quoting far more than £2k. The program was about highlighting a shocking practise from some scumbags. Well worth the BBC spending £2k if stops someone else failing victim to that sort of scam. Well done the BBC.

Wise words from 'tree life' says it all. Then follow simple report structure Clients brief Observations Conclusions Recommendations Your qualifications and experience. If your uncomfortable with doing/not capable doing any of the above get someone else to do the report for you.

If your upset by the price do what we did. Order them from the states and fit them to you existing lid. Cost £110 per unit.

It's tricky to right the people. We have been very lucky in the past and had some great guys. Some years we get loads of interest others, like this year, we don't get many applicants. Ref your apprentice in my experience, give the kid an appraisal pointing out where he's going wrong and if he doesn't come good, give him a weeks notice on the grounds of unsuitability and re advertise.

We are currently looking to hire some new apprentices but interest for this years intake has been slow. If you know someone who might be interested, pls ask them to get in touch. We are based in between Reading, Maidenhead and Henley in Berkshire. The money is not great but it gives you a great start in the industry, a raft of qualifications, lots of practical experience and the chance of a full time job at the end of it. We take the training our apprentices seriously, in the last 3 out of 4 years one of our apprentices has won the 'apprentice of the year award' at Caple Manor College. If you want to see what we get up to follow us on Instagram BEECHWOODTREECARE Beechwood Tree Care Ltd are a family run tree surgery company based in Wargrave, Berks. 3 Apprentice’s Required 18 month apprenticeship in partnership with Capel Manor College. The successful applicant will need to have an interest in working in an outdoor environment. Preferably live in the area and a Full Driving licence is essential. All training and full personal protective equipment is provided. Starting salary will be £150.00 per week plus 20 days paid holiday and bank holidays. With the opportunity of full time employment after the successful completion of the apprenticeship. To apply please email your CV to [email protected] or alternatively contact the office for an application form at: Beechwood Tree Care Ltd, 4 Spring Meadows Bus Cntr, Wargrave, Berks RG10 8PZ Tel: 08000 323636 Closing date: 14th August 2015 Interviews will be held on 21st August 2015 Starting date of 14th September 2015 No Agencies

I brought one because I was fed up of the hire machine breaking down/intermittently not working, that and I was spending a small fortune on hiring them. Problem with mewps is they have loads of sensors to stop you using them in an unsafe way but when they play up you can't use the machine at all. So it's not that they get abused but that they get temperamental. Looked at a second hand machine but it was 7years old, had 2500 hours on it and was still half the cost of a new one. Hence my assumption that one for £25k will be well passed its best. Hoping if we look after ours it will last for 10years. Looked at lots of mewps Teupen was simply the best and as some else mentioned the boom set up gives great out reach, which is perfect for tree work, keeps what's holding you up away from what your dropping to the ground.

No one does injectable in this country, the chemicals are not licensed to be injected. There is supposed to be one coming out from Syngenta but they have been saying that for ages and still no sign of it.

We run a 21m Teupen and it's the business. Cost best part of £80k inc trailer. They are a relatively new model so don't think you'd find one for your budget. Maybe a old 23m version but not likely to be any good IMO. Save up for a bit and buy a new or newer one.

I've done numerous jobs for new clients, after a recommendation from various TOs. Never thought it was wrong for them to make a recommendation although always assumed they recommended me and couple of others. I you do good work, offer a good service word gets round and you get recommend by all sorts of people.

Only had problems with 261s. We run whole range of Stihl saws. Not been a massive problem to be honesty just an inconvenience and some thing to keep an eye out for.

I just fill in a printed off copy of the form and draw a sketch on a bit of graph paper, guess I'm old fashioned. My office manager submits them, don't know if she uses the planning portal. But I take your point about the sketch taking longer and your way looks far more professional. Which websites do you 'borrow' the screen shots from? Neil