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Am in further discussions this week with staff from the scheme. This is where we will find out the "nitty gritty" of what qualifications and courses the apprentice will get. Of course if the CS courses are not paid for under the scheme we would have to think again as the expense cannot be justified under the current business/finances. The other troublesome point is wether or not we can find enough work to fill 30 hours per week. At times we dont have enough work as is never mind an extra pair of hands. Sharpening saws and cleaning kit and vehicles can only be done so much. I would naturally want the best for the student but being a realist at the moment am having serious doubts and dont think we could give the candidate 100% as there is just not enough work at the moment. I will update the thread with our findings/decisions in due course...Nick Pearson, Timberline-Roe Ltd.

We are currently going through the process of taking on a 16 year old apprentice through the governments apprentice scheme. The package appears quite attractive especially over C in H jobs. Anyone have any dealings with matters relating to this. We will have him/her for 30 hrs a week (one day per week at college) at £2.65 per hour, which works out at around £4,100.00 pa wages. During the first year the government pay the company £1,500.00 towards the apprentices wage, works out we would pay the app around £2,600,00 per year and the government foot the bill for all training courses etc- ((arborist)/tree work-timber). At age 19 the hourly rate of pay goes up to around the £4.50 mark. We will hopefully be doing interviews over the next several weeks. Wondering if anyone had any experience with this system, any pit falls or things to be aware of ?, regards...Nick Pearson, Timberline-Roe Ltd.

Good luck dude...Nick.

The magnetic led lights are great and are really attractive-had two from ebay, one pulled from the roof of the L200 outside the house and another set stolen (rived from the roof) at the 2012 arb show. I would suggest the cigarette plug in design so when not in use the led can be removed from the roof and stashed out of sight under a seat etc.Ours were around £80 each but well worth it-the seller has youtube clips on ebay of them in operation...Nick Pearson, Timberline-Roe Ltd.

An excellent bit of kit, RC had the right idea-and applied his experiences hand hauling brushwood etc for years. Mine has paid for itself over and over. The chunks and rounds it can carry makes it simply one of the best items in all our equipment. Gusthards supplied mine 2 yrs ago at £420 cash-money well spent...Nick Pearson, Timberline-Roe Ltd.

I would imagine that "wildlife" issues you could mention would get NE,s attention. Subjects such as awareness of bad roosts and the ability to identify them, nesting birds, wild game bird requirments, crayfish and newt habitat protection. These, other than the game bird issue, were at the top of the governments wildlife agenda/ important list a couple of years back. Some knowledge re these issues may score extra points towards getting the contract. Just trying to help, good luck...Nick Pearson, Timberline-Roe Ltd.

Even though our tipper has a high tipping angle at times the chip doesnt all come out at once resulting in a clamber inside the chipping bin raking and scooping. Sometimes we have left a small ammount of chip in the rear to top up later. This is when I have found that the spores withing the chip/leaves start to go powdery etc. From now on we will be wearing those cheap dust masks. After going through the nouve virus(excuse my spelling) last year I have no intention of going down with this-its dust masks from now on especially if the chip is more than 2 days old. Thanks for posting, regards...Nick Pearson, Timberline-Roe Ltd.

We have a Timberwolf tracked 150 6"-goes virtually anywhere. But because its tracked it needs a twin axle trailer with the infeed in the back of the tipper. Full or half day rates have proved quite popular. What the "customers" (home owners)often dont realise is the actual costs of owning/running/maintaining a woodchipper, which reflects in a quotation. Although our chipper is paid for I would advise you get the best you can afford remembering of course the size of the infeed in relation to your customers requirements, be it putting through small bush type cuttings to large branches cut by other contractors/arborist companies. Our chipper is always accompanied/operated by a trained operator and hire includes road cones and signage as well as sweep & clearup afterwards. Our chipper was quite an investment but is so usefull we simply couldnt do a proper and professional job without it. A quality clean chipper will add to your business corporate image and will eventually pay for itself...good luck, Nick Pearson, Timberline-Roe Ltd.

Got it now-appreciated...Nick.

I totally agree Paul, I have spend £££,s on NPTC training courses, PPE, Loler inspections etc-this jobbing gardner had never padi to do squat-only when the s**t hit the fan did he do anything positive, if he hadnt been reported(and it does not matter by whom), he would still be doing the one handed clingon shuffle now. He was a company owner/businessman and I am afraid he simply should have known better. Most of the Arbtalk members are from a professional background. We go to some length to ensure our own and staffs protection at work, we have lots of kit to maintain, simply put most of us stick to the rules, climb and work safe and get the job done in a reasonably professional manner. The days of the cowboy tree surgeon are hopefully coming to an end. They give our industry a real bad name, do the wrong cuts, leave a mess, and because they have no proper training undercut us legitimate arborists and we lose serious business to the likes of him. Sorry but its high time these cowboys doing quick fix sub standard tree work were stopped, and this is one way of going about doing it. Yes,he may have been made an example of but that was his fault and only his.

Can anyone locate the thread where a chap was prosecuted for using a rear handle saw, one handed up a ladder, no anchor/harness- video and picture evidence. I think it was over the past 12 months-HSE carried out the prosecution, and the photographs were taken from a bedroom I believe ?, thanks...Nick.

Well done Colin-good effort mate...Nick.

Wish I could help you out but am up in Sunderland. Just be wary you dont get lumbered feeding the chipper all day lol. No seriously, there will be someone down there wanting a helping hand maybe snedding and/or bucking etc, good luck mate...Nick Pearson, Timberline-Roe Ltd.

I use a Portawinch P5000, it has a 50cc honda engine and can pull around 2 ton. straps can be utilised around a tree or there is an attachment for fitting the winch to a tow bar,its really powerful and was recently used to uproot several stumps. They are expensive-new is around £1600. There are a lot of clips on the tube about it and using a re direct will help in manouvering logs through the woodland and up the slopes. Good luck...Nick Pearson, Timberline-Roe Ltd.

Yes thats true, but a developing country strapped for cash in africa-the forests are going to be stripped bare in no time me thinks-that is definately not eco friendly.

Thats good news-apparently they are having a big shake up, and were not releasing the NPTC vehicle stickers as another was being designed ? any ideas...Nick.

They will be charged quite a lot for the teak-and these establishments have the nerve to charge us for our chip that we convey to their premises-we should all start to sell our chip to them or find other means of disposal, see what things are like with the shoe on the other foot. Its good that jobs have been created-so they must be making a killing. I am going to contact a nearby chip site and offer them a tranny load of chips-say £20 per ton and see what sort of reaction there is lol...Nick.

Well it looks like a trip up to Gusthards for a 150 then, thanks to all...Nick Pearson, Timberline-Roe Ltd.

I would re check the conditions of the licence-woodchip is not waste, it is a by- product. I contacted the licencing authority and after explaining what woodchip was etc I was not required to have a licence for its conveyance. It is not commercial waste or rubbish, hope this helps some, Nick Pearson, Timberline-Roe Ltd.

Thanks Eddy-appreciated mate...Nick.

Correct me if I am wrong,but am I sensing the value of woodchip is on the up of late. At one time you couldnt get rid of the stuff, allotments, local gardeners-or anyone to take it off your hands, "great-we can chip directly into the understory"-sounds familiar. I am now being contacted by various parties as to purchase my chip and even offering collection from site. What with the biomass industry on the increase and the sustainable fuel/eco friendly heating systems/products on the up, are we arborists about to see some turn around and be in a position to sell clean chip as opposed to having to pay for its disposal ?. What do you think ?, is the market for chip on the up/changing ? is it a regional thing or national ?, it does seem such a waste especially after all the effort that goes into getting it chipped in the first place, surely we should be selling the stuff and not treating it as a worthless by-product anymore, regards...Nick Pearson, Timberline-Roe Ltd./

Thats the local deer and hares gone

Interesting stuff chaps. If some kind soul could post pictures of the echo, and makita, I like the 150t but before shedding ou t£378 I need to have all the boxs ticked, thanks...Nick.

That would probably fill 2 x 1 ton dumpy bags mate (or close to it)...Nick.

Sorry to hear that mate, I have had amber lights, radio Cd, fuel cans etc stolen from sites. On reflection most thefts could have been avoided. The ironic thing is that I suspect the thieves wont use the kit themselves but then sell it on-I hate the thought of subsidising some gits drug habit. The other annoying thing is that most items stolen dont even reach the excess level for replacement, so your literally losing outto the scum, no matter which way you look at it, the only upshot is that the reciept will go to fending off that 20% lump of corporation tax each year, regards, Nick Pearson, Timberlie-Roe Ltd.