Gary Prentice

I've had my own contracting business, been a subbie climber, been an employed climber and was until recently managing a contracting business. I don't understand some of the attitudes that exist at all. While I was managing a business I explained the costs of running the business to everyone, the staff knew the prices of jobs and they weren't poorly paid. If they wanted particular equipment to make life easier, I asked that they made a case themselves to show how if would make life easier, safer, improve efficiency etc and if it was valid we'd get it. As particular lads gained experience and could do more, I'd make a case to the owner for wage increases, which were usually agreed. Because I was timing work for them, the job sheet had a section for them to complete for the time on site - feedback for me that I was somewhere near on my times and not being unrealistic in my expectations (No-one ever filled that in, even after I explained that it wasn't a witch hunt to cause argument or recriminations) The attitude that the business was making all the money still persisted, I didn't know what more could be done.

In London a transit can probably keep up with a supercar most of the time, average speed is something like 6 mph don't forget.

Who, driving?

What do you mean 'assumption'?

Obviously you're not committed if you don't come to work with properly secured boots and need to re-tie them, when you could be running back to the tree from the chipper.

I dunno, what about a Gillian Taylforth?

What colour, and where can I get one

Personally you don't. But all the fixed overheads that have to be paid whether work is being done or not have to be covered, repairs and replacements still have to be accounted for, various taxes, NI contributions etc still have to be paid. The list goes on and on. Then wait for payment for 90 days on the big jobs. Running a business is easy and the employer just rakes the money in. When I was managing, the climbers earnt more than the owner and me, and finished work at four PM, job done. No weekend or evenings pricing work, catching up with paperwork and getting back to people.

Phones, email, texts, It's non-stop. But you could buy a house for £1000 back then

I went for three days as a subbie climber, married the bosses sister started to manage the business totally due to circumstances and stayed for over ten years. And it is/was stressful.

In an attempt to help some of our staff, I printed information out once a month for them to read and learn, with a short test after a few weeks. Top scorer got a choice of a crate of beer/bottle of spirits, which I was paying for out of my own pocket. The first test for winter tree ID, ten twigs to identify. Bear in mind that they'd been provided with printouts of photo's, drawings and key identifying features. Top scorer was my missus (secretary in the office) with 7/10. Next best was 3. One identified five twigs as common ash, but not the common ash sample! One excuse was that they could always use Google... Maybe I've got a competitive nature, but if I was offered beer or Jack Daniels to learn something (that I needed to learn anyway) I'd put the effort in and would want to win. After the second go with similar results, I binned the idea and stopped wasting my time

Is that a stock image? It's not Aspen Blue.

Don't have any experience of this machine, but have you checked fluid levels and the engine speed sensor.

I was kind of hoping that my comment was going to pass unnoticed because to be fair to Landmark writing a short article is really difficult, merely because of all the things that should be considered when you're surveying.

I noticed yesterday that more of these are fruiting around the first one that I spotted. But, only in the areas where the previous fire has cleared all the heather and herbaceous vegetation. I couldn't find any where there's still grass present. It would seem an obvious conclusion that the fire has initiated fruiting but I can't imagine why? I'm thinking that the heat and intensity of the burn was unlikely to have killed the underlying roots, so it's unlikely to be 'panic fructation', but otherwise haven't a clue. Any thoughts David?

Can't you print it?

Looking at te plastic around that self-girdling root, I'd think that it predates the brickwork. All those fibrous roots would have been better left covered, they will have dessicated now and be dead/dying. I think that that the original ground level was at the base of the stem, regrading has occurred outside of the brickwork to some extent. As the damage is probably done and the trees have adapted (or not) to it,re-mulch the surrounds without piling mulch against the stems. If you don't like the brickwork, carefully dismantle it as much as you can to below ground and just continue the mulch over the top.

Yes, there are some in the nearest group of trees, with some self-seeded saplings nearer to the shrooms (there was before they got burnt anyway). IIRC, this particular little patch was covered in hearher.

This one?

Came across these in a local quarry. Before the LA planted the site I think that it was pretty bare with probably little in the way of mycorrhizal presence - very rarely come across any fungi. These have cropped up in an area that was burnt by recent fires.

You couldn't make it up!

I think he's got wise...

Wish I'd never got involved...

I'm sure you haven't, it's amusing watching the feathers getting ruffled with the differing opinions though.

Having spoken and or corresponded with the pair of you, I believe that you'd get on in a social setting over a pint or two. (maybe avoid politics if you ever do though)