Pedroski

Cool. I shall check out my local library. Mind you, it's a temporary building that was put up in 1950something and is about the size of my garage!

I'm not sure about that. One fault might be acceptable as a one off on a product that is fit for purpose and of merchantable quality. But if it fails again then the product clearly is not fit for purpose and of merchantable quality. If the supplier wasn't prepared to refund, and it was paid for on a credit card then I would be making a claim to my card company under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act.

Fricking hell - £78 and £96 for pdf downloads of these! BS standards for planting! What on earth is that all about. I just read a book and gained experience yonks ago and everything I planted lived quite happily! If anyone has got these as pdf files I'd like to read them though.

I'd try and get a refund. As you say, not fit for purpose, and also not of merchantable quality. Dunno what's going with Stihl - I was looking at MS261 and glad I didn't bother.

Exactly. And not many Indian ones either Anyway, you're off on one.... this thread isn't about landscapers

My 35cc Makita DCS3501 has 16 inch bar, and with the 91VXL chain it cuts without the slightest grumble even when the bar doesn't protrude out the other side of the wood.

Tell me about it - I love starting on a fencing or turfing job where the customer has told me that a tree firm has removed all stumps, only to find stumps covered in 1/4 inch of soil right where the fence posts or turf are going. Flaming cowboys, some of you lot :sneaky2:

How to spot a rogue advice is probably pretty hard to give.... considering I know plenty of rogues who happily fork out £600/year for a Checkatrade listing, and there's always advice dished out by the council and other organisations telling Joe Public to make sure they use tradespeople listed in Checkatrade. Flicking farce it is, to be sure!

Andy, you're quite right. But I think the main problem apart from the rubbish job was the pressure sale bit - one bloke giving misleading advice and saying what needed doing and that they'll do it for an extra £850, then the other bloke going in and saying "we can do it today while we're here if you like, and you can pay next week". That's like Anglian Windows and countless other double glazing firms who want you to sign up there and then. What really gets me is the whole problem of Watchdog sensationalising stuff. I remember a while back some expert on there (Bob I think) saying that some paving work was over-priced and nobody should pay anywhere near £300 for what had been done, when in reality it was half a day for two blokes, plus materials, and wasn't overpriced at all. The job wasn't that good, but it certainly wasn't expensive. That sort of thing makes it hard for us when customers quibble about prices. You end up explaining that the experts on Watchdog are talking borrocks, and have to go to greater lengths to justify prices. You don't see Watchdog complaining about the amounts executives are paid, and underground train drivers - they just always pick on manual workers who work like stink for cashews.

I assume this is same as DMM Patron treeAccess rope, except the DMM one is blue/grey/white??? Reason I ask is that Outdoor Gear Store are listing 50m of it at £89.95 INCLUDING vat and free delivery.

What I was getting at is that felling licenses are nothing to do with TPOs and conservation areas and private gardens.

Exactly

Felling Licences are a completely different kettle of fish to TPOs. While you don't need a FC felling licence to fell a tree in a private garden, that doesn't mean you can just fell it.....

Just setting it to record - kids have hogged the tele.

Time taken to start the backpack blower and get it on??? Do what??!! Crikey, couple of tugs on the cord, sling it on yer back..... wow, all of a few seconds! Then blow away with heaps more speed than a handheld to get the job done twice as quick. You're a funny bunch, some of ya Best to have the option of both backpack and handheld though - we use both all the time.

A few times over the years I have pointed out to the planning dept. trees that I think should be protected by TPO, and I know on at least a couple of occasions a TPO has been subsequently put on them. This is definitely something worth doing. Keep your eyes open for something that looks beautiful and try and get it protected - all you need to do is speak to your friendly tree occifer.

Make sure you can show them a picture of what a pollarded tree looks like, and explain why this is a pretty good option if they're not to be removed.

Beaut shots. Do you ever ski/board up there?

Proper name is "semi-static", and that's what arb lines are anyway, init? Arb lines are never dynamic are they? If they were then they get worn out in no time where they go over limbs and get a nice sawing motion as you pull them.

Don't think that's correct. He needs to register for a D7 exemption, which he can do here...... Environment Agency - D7 - Burning waste in the open

If you mean mine, well, you should have seen them before (I've got pics somewhere to dig out). They were in a really bad way with widow makers hanging there, very little aesthetic value, and lots of rot, woodpecker damage and dead wood, and very large stems pulling back over the boundary that the neighbouring landowner had expressed concern about due to recent wind damage. Alternative was to fell them completely, however they're in a remote location, and both client and FC wanted them to remain standing at least for the time being. They have been pollarded avoiding damage to the old pines, an oak and a couple of lovely beech trees that will now thrive. They are still providing a habitat for birds and critters. Lots of the wood removed is remaining on site, providing another habitat for critters. Some of the wood is providing fuel. The client is happy for a quick climb and maintenance with Silky in future years as growth develops. The options are now in place for a very simple and inexpensive fell with no risk at all to the other trees should the client want this at some point in the future.

If you haven't already, you've GOT to see these 2 Youtube clips - the original and the remix!

Here's the way to do it..... Poplars started off ~120ft tall, and loads of damage up top. Now approx 70ft and perfectly set up for climbing again to manage new growth when needed, at less cost that having to do mass reductions every couple of years. The 4th pop on the right had been affected by a lightning strike and will probably now be felled. Client initially wanted them all felled, but Forestry Commission preferred them to be pollarded. Trying to keep up with Reuben when he's dropping down 3ft diameter by 9ft length logs is a challenge!

Here's one for ya.....

I will - already got the cash in my pocket