Warren Stirling

I finished a degree last year, it was a full time degree but just two days a week so I could work at the same time although didnt have a life! The work load increased each year plus a double dissertation so some people went part time. Do you have this option for the last two then you work and get a degree which would be good to have under your belt for the future? Maybe with less assignments you might enjoy it?

My advise to you would be that if your not enjoying it you wont do well in that degree and will be a wast of money. If you want to work as a tree surgeon or in forestry get your tickets and go work for someone to gain experience. Or even better find someone to work for that will put you through the cs's(this might be difficult though unless you pledge you future to them for a few years) there are plenty of diplomas and other courses you could do at the same time as working without getting into dept once you have a feel for the game. Then you can relate what your learning to your experience and you will know that its exactly what you want to do. Best of luck whatever you decide:thumbup1:

I will do it with Treelife, dont know who Apexarb is doing it with but a couple of people on here are doing it, one that I know with Treelife. Someone was kind enough to pm me a suggested reading list for this course, I had some of the books already but have started stocking up on books that will be of constant use anyway. Let me know if you want me to pass it on to you, quite extensive!

A big bonfire would cure a lot of things in that area. Yes the transfesa side of paddock wood, just a bit worrying that the beetle they found in 2009 there was obvoiusly not alone! As I have heard it takes two to make babies.

Yes its about 5 miles from where I live, apparently next to the hop farm where the War and Peace show is on the A228 at Beltring. Apparently all stakeholders have been informed and asked for help in detecting the beetle, hope that Food and Environmental Resarch Agency manage to get across how serious this is. If they found one tree with larvae theres bound to be more.

Exmoor trim £38 for the two front seats from John Craddocks. More seats more money:001_smile:

Exmoor trim, fantastic quality, good fit and fairly reasonable price I think. Waz

Seeing a tree that size up close would give me a warm feeling in my tummy!

They didnt mention that. Its the first puncture I've had since fitting bfg's 40k ago. Only just replaced the rears as were worn. If it goes flat I'll go down that route. Ta

Yes I did bring up the fact that the tyres were designed to be tubless therefor the lining wouldnt be that smooth but was assured by the fitter that he had done the same in his defender and 20k later all good. But I will keep an eye on the pressures. If not I'll put a warning on here not to buy single bfg 'good condition' off ebay! Of course I wouldnt do that! Fingers crossed

Had a flat today and obviously it was the rear which is only 5k old. Expecting > £140 bill from the tyre garage I was very pleased for them to tell me that they would put a innertube in it at a cost of £20. As the tyre says tubeless I checked with insurance who said 'no problem'.

I will probably be doing this in September as well. I have'nt done the level 2 but when I spoke to Treelife and explained the degree I finished last year in landscape management they seemed happy that I could go straight into this. As stated on the website it will qualify you for assistant tree officer so with the 3 day PTI course I would certainly think public indemnity wise you could survey and inspect. Might be a while before the level 6 is tackled though.

Forestry Commission - Planting and Managing Woods - Plant Health Current Issues Everything you need to know here I think

It was only a matter of time I think but larvae has been found in Paddock Wood Kent, keep your eyes peeled as this poses a serious threat to broadleaf trees.

I've had the same Felco No.2's for 15 years. Waz

I totally agree, if we dont protect whats there, replanting will be a like peeing in the wind

When I worked for my first tree company 15 years ago we had the tree planting contract for the council and it is very satisfying to walk through the streets and park next to me to see the trees that I planted thriving and standing there inconspicuously. I do think that whilst it is important to plant and maintain the native species of tree in this country, after all they have proved to be the survivors over the years in this climate, other habitats can be forgotten. Here in the south east for example chalk grassland and lowland heathland. There is 5% left of the latter remaining from 100 years ago. On the Ashdown forest every year when the annual clearance begins there is always an outcry that native trees are being felled, oaks and birch. They say, 'its a forest, why are trees being cut down?. Off subject but education on what the word forest actually means is a start.They dont read interpretation boards on the heathland and presume that because trees are bigger that they are more important. I studied this subject and peoples awarenes of the importance of maintaining a mozaic of habitats throughut the landscape last year. 75% of people that I surveyed think that woodland in the UK is decreasing. Yes carbon dioxide absorbtion is an extremely important role of woodland, and woody forests! But we need biodiversity and so do trees. Fortunately government policy makers have cottoned on to this, stewardship scheme grants for beetle banks and pollen and seed strips for example. Basically, yes of course its important that we do our best to protect the area covered by mature natives for the reasons discussed but we need to educate on the importance of the less conspicuous plants that maybe dont have the same striking majestic effect that a 1000 yr old oak might. In class rooms you see a poster of a mature tree with pictures of some of the wildlife that it supports dotted around it but you dont see a poster of a tatty piece of heather and what it supports, would'nt have the same effect would it. Its the developing countries that need to pull their fingers out on education for a sustainable environment issues, yes the rain forests for example. So its in all our interests that pressure is applied to reduce this loss of C02 and harmfull metals reducing plants in these countries instead of sitting around watching timber foating down the Amazon on telly documentaries, complaining about it and doing nothing. Rant over!

Hi Jon Try MM4x4 £90 plus vat for a pair of heavy duty springs. Know people who have them and say yes, heavy duty! Pleased with my light duties and they're all silver and glittery! Waz

You'll probably have to make afew mods for that as the snatch chassis is quite different. Have you thought about helper springs to fit inside your existing.

I know someone who'll know for sure, will get back to you

Any heavy duty spring upgrade should be fine, I've terrafirma light duty on my 90 with their shocks. Heavy duty would have meant that I had to extend my brake lines as they lift by more than 2" and I dont carry too much weight in the back. Could be wrong but I think the snatch has shorter HD springs judging by the ride hight with a heavy duty non standard chassis. To cope with a load of chip most HD springs should be ok as long as you dont go for Britpart, I've had a spring sag before along with other issues with their stuff.

I sent out a questionaire last year for my dissertation, from the feedback that I got I had too many questions, there was 20. Depending on your target group dont use too technical words but if its for here you should be ok. Also if your putting results into graphs or charts think about the number of answers you have for any multiple choice q's. It makes it easier to do the maths and percentages. Good luck

If you saw this lady, you'd give her whatever she wanted. Unfortunately she has a stinking rich husband who does that and guessing by her body language a dirty tree surgeon doesnt do it for her. And as she pointed out, she doesnt have workmans tea! Kjames your right, you have to put principles before pound notes sometimes.

Yes that is what I meant by formative pruning, deciding the tree shape from planting instead of selecting something which naturally has the shape wanted. But your right, its not my garden and the customer gets what the customer wants.

Sadolin superdec, paint straight on and no primer. 2 or 3 coats will last a lot longer than any oil based paint. Warren