Tom10

Get your point now Albedo. This suggestion is only applicable to certain circumstances and can see how it could be taken out of context and agree, would seem very unprofessional.

Maybe its me thats had the long day The idea of ringbarking was suggested as an option when we first got suspicious of the TO slapping pointless TPO's on the trees we were due to take down. This way it would have ensured we could of carried on with our job. It didnt have to be ringbarked. We could of knocked the tops out of all of them then dismatled the rest, again, meaning no TPO could of been realistically served. I am not out to 'stop' our TO's work in general. Im not saying everyone should ringbark any tree before they work on it. After getting approval verbally that your work can go ahead ringbarking / topping / generally doing something prohibitive will ensure no bad decision can be made on site, and bugger up your job like ours has been.

Erm... Does everyone reading this get that the tree is being removed. not ringbarked and left.

If a homeowner looked at this thread what are they going to be unhappy about. I dont get it? I am a professional, and i cant tell you because I dont get your point. The reason behind the ringbarking (if you have read the posts relevant to it) is because my local TO has stopped a job due to stupid reasons. If we had ringbarked it we could of removed the tree which we had clearance to 2 weeks ago before he arrived and made himself some paperwork by TPOing them. Am I missing something?

What a strange reply. Tell me whats not professional about ring barking a tree that is being removed anyway.

Very very good idea - one I will be passing on to people I work for, and remembering for my own work. The only things is its a shame to have to do this because we cant trust our local TO

My thoughts too.

OK, I get your point. The gap between the phone call to the Conservation team at the council and the job starting was about 10 days to 2 weeks. Most self employed arbs I would guess are booked that far ahead so in this case the contractor had no option. Cheers for feedback.

Thanks for the replies everyone, glad I'm not alone in thinking this kind of action is out of order. Huck - good reply. In hindsight I should of done exactly that, ringbarked or knocked the tops out but while at the property he didn't mention anything of TPOs, in fact said we ARE allowed to get on with it he just thought the trees were nicer than we did. Again in hindsight he was never going to tell us what he was going to do, because I would of made them un-savable by the time he was back in his car. Theres something quite sad and sneaky about what he done, and the way he done it. Especially as he clearly went out of his way to ensure we were stopped. (the notice was put on the door at half 7pm!) Pedroski - I don't know how you manage but i cant see how that works. In order to plan the job and book subcontractors like me the contractor needs to know the job can go ahead on the day he wants, therefore needs to check restrictions allowing enough time to book people. If he checked the day before there could of been restrictions and the job would of been cancelled anyway, and I would of been unimpressed with cancelling my days work after booking me. Tom.

Dont hijack with a knowledge argument. treemans comment was right. Some TO's need stronger coffee to put it politely Tony knows his fungi and stuff, I think we all know that

I don't. He is right in the majority of cases. This country employs SO many people that do aimless jobs, or at least waste their time filling a good job with aimless crap, which is all justified by other aimless crap that someone wrote in their aimless job.

I think you have hit the nail on the head scotspine. Im not really happy the TO can now sleep at night at a cost of me and colleagues losing money though maybe he should get a hobby. Also glad the majority agree with me, and the vast majority would I'm sure after seeing the trees. May try to photo. Cheers all.

You can see anything sensible in protecting ageing Silver Birch trees on a boundary holding dead wood with no apparent value to anyone or anything? I cant help but think you would agree after seeing the trees in person. I appreciate you haven't. Good feedback though - I understand amenity value. These have none. In terms of trees to gardens this area must be holding a high percentage, including lots of nice TPO'd trees that DO have amenity value. Move on is the only answer. I feel appealing is a waste of everyones time.

I take little comfort that theres more of these short sighted TO's working in the industry - but I feel your pain

I never said they weren't - though i see how it reads, apologies. I just meant we will replant English trees (not to mean Birchs aren't) What about the already TPO'd trees plus conifer hedge and shrubs in the rear garden also? Plus our replants. Thanks for feedback.

Beat me to it

Of course - but either outcome wastes someones time and money. We appeal against it and win and the TO has wasted hours of his and our time, and the councils money for no reason. We lose and we waste hours appealing full stop.

I am contract climbing for 3 days this week. Today, tomorrow and Thursday. The spec is to remove one pine and 5 Silver Birch trees from a rear garden of a house with NO tree restrictions. So, I get the pine on the floor and the first silver birch when the local TO arrives, assuring us he has not been 'tipped off' and was just passing and wanted to see what we were up to. He goes on to say how he knows we have to earn a living but removing the trees on the spec was ludicrous and they have great amenity value. He also assures us we are legal to do the work and cant stop us at that point. We point out the Silver birch trees still standing are all far too close together, are all completely Ivy covered, are holding lots of dead wood over a boundary and are nearing the end of their lives anyway being not a very long lasting species. They have no crown shape, they have nothing that any right minded person would say is good about them. We point out the idea of replanting an English species in a more suitable location within the grounds. The front garden which we are not working in has a lovely TPO'd oak and a TPO'd beech so the property has tree value without the ageing scrubby ivy clad Silver Birch trees. He warns of no action simply leaves a card and asks us to give to the customer to contact for advice and a chat. I have just received a call after work hours from the contractor saying the remaining Silver Birches have an order on them so we have to stop work. This is the biggest load of bull I have ever heard of. I SO SO support TO's work and they have the power to protect our many specimen trees which someone needs to. This really is a jobsworths act with NO arboricultural thinking AT ALL. Not to mention our lack of earnings now. Lastly, the council were informed of this work several weeks ago when the contractor checked the address for restrictions. Who governs these people? Someone should, or they should give the job to someone who will respect their power. Shocking.

Deffinately Acer Negundo. AKA Ashleaf Maple or Box Elder. There is also a variegated form with white and green leaves that change over the season. Very pretty.

I dont get why they would of died after dismantling them... how odd

You can use any diameter hitch cord as long as it has a smaller diameter that the its host (the climbing line) but these 2 variables will effect how the system operates. 10mm hitch cord on 11mm host will work but not as nice, and smooth as 8mm on 13mm host, for example. It also depends on the make of hitch cord. Different stuff takes longer to bed in but usually tying a knot differently will cure this to a degree. Tom.

Hi Paul, I use 8mm OP rather than 10, much prefer it in many ways, might be worth a shot. The OP in general seems to take a while to bed in so no cause for concern. Tie a distel with 5 wraps for now and it will be fine. If you do incur a sudden drop it will bite. Good luck.

You could make one? Rope + 'sirius ring loop' + larger petzl ring + a couple of knots The ready made ones are good but obviously quite pricey.

Log off arbtalk and just get on with it All these ideas are good but no one has seen the tree. Turn up with some kit and climb the thing. Good luck (get some photos from the top)