AlexB

Save your pennies and buy a vertex, sooo handy, no maths though very expensive. Can do a fair bit more!

I use my saw all day 3-4 days a week. The only time I stop is for lunch or to re-fuel so at the end of each day the cover comes off, every other sharpen the bar is dressed/flipped and anything that needs cleaning/greasing gets done according to the owners manual. I find it quicker to sharpen a saw 15" bar than to change the chain. I normally last a day on a sharpen but if it needs it, it gets it. I'd much rather loose 15 mins in the day than suffer for half of it if something's not right. Though I always have a full set of spares chains/bars/plugs/bar nuts/all filters/oil+fuel caps/pull cord and spare saw. I hate the thought of having to stop work to go and buy something that I can order online and have it posted. Alex

I'd take a #2 in xl. And would def like a l/s one day.

I've used Thorsby Estates before, machine and operator. Don't have a number as all details are at old place of work. Very good job though, had them do a horrible fiddly job and were very good. Alex

No, that was his jaw!

I'm still in my first year of using a business account with Barclays so it's all free. However there are no account charges after the 1st year just transaction charges on cash over the counter and paying in cheques. I'm only paid so far by online transfer though that's the joy on contracting to larger organisations. I don't get involved with domestic work. On the up side cheques will be a thing of the past soon. My business manager in the Chesterfield branch seems nice and when I have poped in I like that there is an express lane for business customers. When I log in to either my personal or business account I can play with both at the same time. Transfers are instant, my debit card works everywhere and I'm given a seperate account for business savings and a seperate pot for keeping the tax man happy. It's ok but I'm a new business and I think they expect me to asking for loans and overdraughts which I have no intention of doing. I'm in the black and manage to put 40% of my turn over into my savings pot so all is steady and boring and I've no need at the moment to venture into the murky world of asking for assistance from the bank. but so far all seems rosy at Barclays.

Whilst I was at Newton Rigg their Euc trial failed 2 years on the bounce due to frost damage. Whilst Italian alder seemed to do ok, ash was ok and willow grew well but isn't really going to give you the end product you want. If it was my 11 agres I'd be looking at a wcg taking inspiration for species from the NVC planting at around 1.8m spacing with a first thinning of 20-25 years, allowing those to coppice whilst the others are thinned perhaps a little more frequently but a little more lightly to prevent shading the stools out giving a good initial crop and hopefully a continuious crop from then on. I like that you're happy for this project to have the time it needs to be long lasting and productive rather than looking for a quick buck. Speak to Cumbria Woodlands for advice as Edward Mills is very good with coppicing and Neville Elstone a pretty good chap too. Regards, Alex

Forestry, tonage rate felling. You start sweating at 7 am and stop half an hour after your shower in the evening.

If you're in northhants then not too far from you is Brackenhurst College (Part of notts trent) They're charging £590 including assessment for 30/31, Have fun!

Socks = Bridgedale winter boot socks Thermals = merino or polyprop but I get 2 days out of a merino. I've got a few though, once upon a time I was able to go kayaking, now I'm self employed.... Thermal bottoms.... I'm wearing chain saw trousers! Though I am doing forestry work, when you're paid by the tonne you never seem to get cold.

A new forestry grad will get around £20k to begin with though I suspect that will go down with the down sizing of the commission and recuitement freeze so the private sector jobs will be well over subscribed. Though once in if you're employable and work well £30k should be acheiveable. If you want more it is possible but you need to be working for yourself and be willing to invest a substancial amount in equiptment..... But as already said, tree work in general is not something you do for the money.

What are you using for extraction?

Good to hear, currently using a pair of Oregon boots, though after 4 weeks are showing signs of being spanked by brambles!

Not quite, it's a bit more on average. and the longer you work the more you earn.... Now, apply your calculations to every other offering and let us know what you come up with Phil. As i said, it's not for an arb groundie but what you could earn on the harvesting side of things with a 30/31 ticket. Alex

slightly different ball game but I pay between £9-11 a tonne depending on the site. £7 a tonne if you're using my kit. You should on most jobs with an 8 hour shift cut 10 tonne.

Hi Andy, did you have a conversation with the land owner/agent etc? What was their reasoning behind the decision? In some cases I can see it as a bonus. Repeat work for removal of tree shelters micro climate etc. I can also understand if you were not clearing the vegitation and needed vole guards/stock fencing but when spraying for vegetation removal (Assumption) fencing and guarding....... really? That's a lot of extra cost. Dave, sorry for the hijack. Alex

2000 trees isn't alot. if you expand this to 30,000 (Still not huge Keilder forest replants somthing in the millions I think) then it's looking better. Why did you fence and tube? that's a very expensive way around things. If you're spraying then voles etc are unlikely to break cover for the trees. If you fenced I'm guessing it was for stock? maybe rabbit fencing with rabbit control once the fence was up would have been more effective (No need for tubes) As for the transport you could have carried plants and fencing materials for a much larger site for a not much more fuel. perhaps on this scale it's not great but it doesn't take much to become an impressive carbon store. plus all of the carbon in the canes/stakes/fence posts which is locked in for at least 10 years. Good question, I'm sure there is a carbon geek who has all of the figures down somewhere...

Alp kit are great, I love the genius jeans! (Water proof) but as an alternative to the NF bag mountain equiptment make a similar one too and it's always on "sale" in cotswolds. If not try kayaking kit bags by companies like nookie or palm. I've had my nookie bag for 10 years and it's still going strong.

i am currently researching into different methods

Perhaps create a survey and re-post? I'd be veryinterested in your results. Though not an Arb business start up issues can be pretty similar. Alex

As a business I'd look into leasing the paddocks out. As some one who loves trees I think you'd be eligable for the highest level of grant funding under the woodland creation grant scheme. Get in touch with your local woodland officer, make them a cuppa and give them some biscuites. They will talk you though the process and what you can/cant do. If you're up for the paperwork, if not you could get intouch with a forestry agent... Ahem....

ATC, Good on you for sticking with the thread. A few harsh words here. As has been mentioned give the fuel tank a rinse with mixed 2stroke fuel a few times. maybe a new spark plug would be a good idea. You could even replace the fuel filter as this might be a tad gunky aswell. (Get a stiff piece of wire, make a hook and fish the fuel line out of the tank to change the filter) I only passed my cs30/31 a week ago and the only question I was asked about fuel was "What fuel does the saw use?" and the only answer the dude would accecpt was 50-1 we were not shown how to mix fuel and neither was there any dialog about what issuse you could have with your fuel. That said I carry a 20l jerry can marked "Clean fuel" and mix 2-stroke fuel in a 5l combi can. but this only lasts me a day maybe an hour into the following day at the most so no degradation issues for me really. Let us know how you get on, just try and give your system a good flush first. Regards Alex

By the sounds of things it really depends on the office and the person you speak to in the office. I made an online enquiry, I was called the following morning by the chesterfield branch, had a conversation was called in the afternoon and quoted £550 for 2k in kit, pl to 5 mil. No climbing, just planting/fencing/taffifing and ground based felling but was then recomended to try a local broker as the chap from the nfu thought this was too expensive. He was right. £250. Will ad kit and vehicles and El as needed. With rough quotes (With a 10% each way possible variance) in writing. Not a great business practice but excellent customer service.

During christmas tree sales I used to knock out 10k bags at £5 a bag. The city folks on holiday snap em up. Would easily get through 5-7 tonne depending on the weather.

Think I've got a couple floating around. If you are going to use them you need well preped ground, almost branchless plugs. I found it easier to use the putki to make the hole then drop the plug in by hand rather than down the tube. But easier still with a good spade. Most of the planters I've met/know still use a good planting spade instead though being mechanised it might be a way around the GMLA...