danshayler

Cant thank you enough for all the sound advice. Im going for it. Mainly because i know i will be happy in the work, if not i always have other skills to fall back on. If it really does all go tits up i can re-join the forces.

Thanks for the reply's. I didn't mention the fact I am in my mid 30's. Although I run and cycle a lot, very active and keep in good shape. Do you guys think age is an issue for starting this as my second career? I know everybody is different and attitude is the key but I admit. It's playing on my mind. For this reason I have seen the combined courses that kingswood do, fully qualified climber in 28 days! That sounds like the course I'm after.

Hi all, I am due to leave the forces in a year and intend to qualify as a tree surgeon. I was a landscaper before I joined (15 long years ago), always keep myself in good shape, enjoy the outdoors, honking weather and all that guff... Basically, I intend to take my newly learned trade abroad, possibly France or Canada and have a few questions before I take the leap: Can you earn the money abroad? With the French and Canadians alike using wood as fuel more than here, surely everyone has a chainsaw in their shed? Qualifications wise, before I commit all my resettlement grant to say kingswood for example, are the courses here recognised abroad? While I'm looking at courses, can anyone reccomend the basics I need to be legally employable to gain experience, including climbing. I am after being a monkey with a saw to begin with, earning some money whist looking at education in conservation, forestry in the long run. Any help would be greatly appreciated or advice from anyone who has gone down the same route as I intend to do, thanks! Dan.

Thanks for all the good advice fella's (pun intended), Stephen, you hit the nail on the head, monkey with a saw is what i want. If ive got it right, i need all the basic chainsaw, small tree, medium tree, climbing courses etc to get me started, start with cs30 and keep going up? With those and some experience i can pass the assesments with ISA and get certified, this will give me a better chance of work abroad??? Si, a mate of mine just did the one at Kingswood, in Kent for his resettlement, he was really impressed too and he aint easily impressed. I'll probably go with them but was just wondering if there was one down here (Cornwall). That said, if anyone down this way wants a grafter to work on weekends or every other afternoon, then drop me a line. Im used to hard work (the only form of heating in my house is a log burner, so i can saw&chop wood!) Dan.

Hi all, Im am after some good advice before taking the leap. I am due to leave the armed forces in a year and would like to pursue a career in tree surgery but have quite alot of unanswered questions. Would be very grateful if you could give me some advice. 1) What courses/quals do i need to get me started, employable and insured? 2) Can i also do quite advanced courses early on or do i have to gain alot of practical experience? 3) Can you recommed a good course centre, cost and location are'nt that important as the MOD pay for 're-settlement' courses on leaving the forces, South West would be preferrable but not essential. 4) I would love to be able to take my trade abroad (either europe, Oz, Canada, States) so are these qualifications internationally recognised? This is quite important as i dont plan to stay in the UK. Also can you earn good money abroad? Lastly, if it helps, im 28 and had a couple of years experience as a landscape gardener before i joined the forces so i am slightly familiar with the work and have used chainsaws, chippers etc before although not qualified. Oh and i have been told so many different things on what you can earn in Arboriculture, can anyone give me an expert opinion, aswell as abroad if possible. Thanks!! Dan.