Gary Prentice

On 06/07/2020 at 18:47, benedmonds said:

It can be so demoralising writing AMS. I have been asked to prepare a report on this lime tree by the residents of a new build close.

An AIA and two AMS' were written (not by me in this case) but completely ignored..

TPO'd lime tree. There was an AMS prepared in 2014 which was ignored, I had a look at the tree in April 2019 where it looked fair but suggested returning in the summer to check

In the winter of 2020 they had to redoo al the block paving as they were having drainage issues.. Another AMS was written (and again completely ignored) they pulled up all the block paving and replaced with cellular confinement system, air spaded, added new drains and repaved..

 

Who should get the blame. The original developer? The contractor during the initial build? The contractor replacing the block paving? Or the council for failing to insist on proper arb supervision...  Has anyone ever had a builder follow the plans written in an AMS?    Why do we bother...?

 

I learnt long ago to just be pragmatic about all this. In all of the planning process the Arb Method Statement is provided (objectively) to demonstrate that the build can be completed without detriment to retained trees. If it can, the box is ticked and the process moves on.

I generally outline the build stages and propose a signing off of each stage, in that the MS has been adhered to. Planning includes a condition that the MS is followed, so technically if it isn't there's a contravention of conditions, exactly the same as changing the brick colour or whatever.

I've never had a client object to getting the building stages signed off, but then again I've never been asked to sign off either, so the fault has surely got to lie with planning itself. Maybe it's just that the system has become a box ticking exercise and as long as new housing quotas are being filled that has become the main target.

It's frustrating to see AMS's trashed but you just have to get over it, - or start stacking shelves in Tescos, while hoping that somewhere there's a proactive TO, planner and Legal department that'll do their jobs as legislation permits.

Might be worth checking every connection/ground that you can find. Worked on a few different machines in the past, with intermittent faults, that have 'come right' before replacing expensive electronics. 

Can't remember what it was on now but one issue looked to be a voltage drop caused by a corroded lead on the alternator. Fully charged machine worked as it should, but then acted up as the battery voltage dropped during the day. 

9 hours ago, openspaceman said:

Oh so not even black and tan?

Now that's a brew I'd forgotten about 

I can appreciate how frustrating this must be, having been involved in similar situations myself - pricing semi-mature replacements after the fact.

With the absence of 'evidence' as to the perpetrator there's probably little that you can do, apart from make it plain that you're taking it seriously. It would probably be an uphill battle but have you contacted the police? First job is to get them to take it seriously, but considering the cost of felling, grinding and purchasing and establishing another similar sized tree would be approaching £5K (at a guess) there's enough of a loss to push for some intervention.

At best you might just a community officer to ask the neighbours if they saw anything. That way you are least giving notice that you'll pursue (as far as you can) things and not just be a doormat to be walked over.

19 hours ago, spudulike said:

After all he says he is the biggest Rock star ever, bigger than Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, David Gilmour, Brian Johnson, Robert Plant, Richie Blackmoore, Angus Young, Jimi Hendrix, the more reserved Mark Knopfler........what did this Kanye West actually do, does he play an instrument, does he actually create rock music???

you do realise Spud that the generation this guy appeals to probably doesn't even recognise anyone you're mentioned.  at best they'll recognize Hendrix from the front of a T-shirt.

I might be wrong but I thought Massaria colonised the tension wood to the top of limbs- causing failure of quite big limbs.

Some of the dead limbs in the photos I'd just attribute to less competitive branches being over-shaded. (I can't actually see any stabilising. 

I think that @DavidHumphries has some hands on experience with this.

On 26/06/2020 at 12:10, kevinjohnsonmbe said:

Your 3 examples are equally foolhardy ??er. 
 

The key difference between 2 of your examples and the 3rd is that it’d be a fair bet that 2 WON’T result in riot, destruction and extreme lawlessness.  
 

The 3rd, inevitably, DOES. 

 

I’ll leave you to put the pieces in the appropriate places. 

Hindsight says that there is no difference in any of them.

Who could image that when Churchill was talking about fighting on the beaches..... 

3 minutes ago, eggsarascal said:

Well it seems if everyone followed the misguided rules I wouldn't be able to take the lass down the pub on Saturday.

You could always ask her to move in 

45 minutes ago, eggsarascal said:

Apparently I can't go to the pub and sit at a table with people who don't live in my household

Not a good time to be single then!

After market blade?

5 minutes ago, difflock said:

I could be offended on their behalf if you like Gary, such irrational behavouir being all the rage at the mo.

You could always start a march of 1. 

2 minutes ago, eggsarascal said:

Might just be me over thinking it, or maybe because a lot of Asian family's live in 2/3 generation family

It would be interesting to see more detailed figures.

Locally it's been noticeable who does and doesn't  (has or hasn't been practicing) practice the distancing and protection regs. We've, wife and I, concluded that because of multiple generational family homes the Asian families almost all were masked outside. (except for an element of younger men)

Another consideration is also what jobs people do, lots in nursing and care home - in relation to the overall staffing levels.

Any idea what the cause of decay is? Once you know what fungi it is you can start to hazard a guess at the trees potential longevity. 

4m isn't particularly high if the stem is plumb - not much leverage on a good diameter stem. No good carving though if the fungus is decaying the heartwood though, in time the carving will start to deteriorate from the ground up.

You've loads of things to consider so I'd be involving the carver and the client as early as possible. You never know, the client may spend the money for a carving with a less than usual life expectancy.

2 minutes ago, kevinjohnsonmbe said:

What is the copper pan angle?

Higher scrap value?

4 minutes ago, Khriss said:

Glad to hear you so chipper , Mr Prentise ? giving Mr @Stubby a run fr his money today  ?   k

Don't tell anyone, but I'm conducting a social experiment to see how far I can bait misters eggs and Johnson before someone gets offended on their behalves. I have a hypothesis that I'll offend others before I offend them 

Just now, Khriss said:

 

 

Though that was going to be infamous porn video that was doing the rounds

13 minutes ago, eggsarascal said:

She won't be knocking any of mine out, I'm way to long in the tooth for that carry on.

What, too old for the act or too old for the consequences of the act, i.e bring up kids?

4 minutes ago, kevinjohnsonmbe said:

I’ve considered having a buzz all over but concerned people might mistake me for a right wing thug.... ?

I'm not sure that  would actually make any difference...

If you let it grow, I'm sure you'll never be mistaken for a peace loving, eco warrior, hippy type. 

24 minutes ago, Khriss said:

can get their big arse down to the seaside like Kim. K

So which Uk beach has KK been spotted on? 

With more and more things going online, I think that that's the future. I'd just be wary of sinking a load of cash into getting a website at the top of listings, cos you'll find you'll get dozens of companies promising to do that for you. 1st page of Google most list ten thousand entries, judging from the spam I get.

Sign writing is good, advertising you even while you're parked in Tesco's. Business cards are cheap, hand them out to customers like confetti.

You can have something on Facebook for nothing, run it basic and don't pay for anything but you have to work at it. I think FB reckon you should be adding posts at least 3-4 times a week. Hard work to keep it interesting enough to be shared (whatever the term is) but the analytics are useful to see what's getting looked at, so you can tailor your posts for visibility.

Getting your company name out there is a slow process, word of mouth is the best introduction so capitalise on that and don't lose out by being late for appointments, be professional in all your client dealings and you'll get there in the end. 

Fascinating, the similarities and differences in successive layers, even in closely situated fruit bodies.

12 hours ago, RobUk said:

I can't figure out whether it is leaf-miner damage or leaf blotch.

Not much that you do whichever pathogen it is, apart from good hygiene, removing fallen leaves to help re-infection the following year.

Officially the threat is a reduction in the photosynthesizing surfaces, but bare in mind that this becomes a greater stressor when it occurs year after year. Reducing the trees energy production and reserves.

It wouldn't hurt to improve the trees rooting environment, to allow it to capitalize on the soils available moisture, air and nutrients. So a good mulch using a well rotted wood-chip etc, covering as much of the root area as the surroundings allow.

Both of the pathogens currently affecting horse chestnuts seem to come and go, as you said good years with little infection, bad years with lots. A few years ago it was a bad year and Manchester council marked up loads of highway trees for removal. Some didn't get done and now (well last years) the remainders where thriving. So over reacting or rushing to act probably isn't for the best. 

2 hours ago, Khriss said:

I like them. Defending one on the Rail, from yearly complaints. ....it's the Only one there tho'  ?  K

I think that they're classed as 'invasive' here and are problematic in many countries. I've seen a few that were forming small copses, but most that I've worked on were singletons.

11 hours ago, PeteB said:

Same as the various protesters,  beach goers, liverpool fans etc. Forget that there is a serious killer pandemic and do what they want to do!

But it's over now Peter! In many folks mind it's history and things are back to normal. 

It's ironic that we're talking about closing beaches when Florida are now closing theirs. I went to a supermarket friday, my first outing in three months. All the signs are still there; ,one out/one in,' 'two metre distancing and follow the arrows' I was the only bugger wearing a mask (staff not wearing them at all'. Walk which ever way you want. 

I just don't get the lack of concern about it now, it's as if none of it ever happened, no-one got ill and no-one died from it. So let's get back to normal. 

3 hours ago, john meehan said:

I’m fairly sure you give your notice and then after the fifth day has gone if the you have had no response from the LA you are good to go.

I tend to have a copy of a 'work to trees' app to hand when composing a '5 day notice',  to makes sure that all the pertinent information is included. (cos I can be daft enough to leave something stupid out)