Ian88

Early Honey fungus then? They want a price for take down, logging timber and the stump will be ground out. should I be disinfecting gear and thinking carefully about what I do with the chip? Also burning the arising from stump grinding?

Thanks every one. Bit of an unknown then. I may see if I can remove some bark from the base and have a look there and have a little climb to get a closer look. I would have thought its all to fast for a beetles.

They did say the age of the tree but I cant remember now but that sounds about right to me, I think I may be finding it out for my self soon I haven't gone at it looking to remove it, more curios as to why its died, I liked the tree and it was one of the nicer and more interesting in the village. Dont get me wrong, if its coming down I want it They haven't asked for a quote yet but it should be a good one. Nice and clear to get down, except for the ABC on one side. I know they will want it logged and the trunk milled Narrow garden access with a few steps. So a nice few days!

I have noticed over the last few weeks that a tree in a clients garden that I have worked on before has suddenly not been looking to clever at all. I popped in the other day to take a look and see if I could work out what it was. I am not the most knowledge able when it comes to this and there was nothing obvious to me so I am going detective. The tree has always looked in excellent health, its all happened this spring. Never shown any signs of fruiting bodies at base or on the trunk. There was some storm damage in the top about 5+ years ago and then it had a 15-20% reduction 2+ years ago. No sign of disturbance to the ground. There were some mushrooms growing around the tree but I think not directly related but still may be a clue. There are a few points where sap is coming out of the tree at about 1m up on either side, opposite each other, this is apparently new. I have spoken to a friend who is a bit more clued up on tree health than my self and he suggested removing a section of bark near the base to have a look. Also mentioned Phytophthora as a possibility, flooded roots or over fertilization of there lawn. If any one has any more ideas before I get back to them then I am all ears. Thanks Still has some life holding on but not looking good. I expect unrelated to the tree but maybe an indication of soil conditions. Underside

I have had a 500 for about a year now. Drive is very handy but I have learnt not to challenge it off road to much. You can get it about but its not going to like bumps and slopes. Pretty top heavy and I have nearly had it over a few times on what I thought would be OK. I have taken it down a few wet slopes at the end of the winter, It made it back up but there were two of us pushing it, not a mega challenge but its not a go any where machine that's for sure. Mine is pretty old and I dont tend to put over 5" through it. I may try with a bit of lime or pop ect but not all day. Hope that helps, if you want to talk pop me a pm and I will send you my number.

That sounds mint! Bet it costs a pretty penny tho mind!

Do you need a built in compressor for that?

I am doing my own thing these days. Built up a fair bit of my own work over the last few years. I have been working out in Honduras for the last 3/4 summers but sticking about in Dorset to develop the arb work side of things a bit. I only did a day with him.

Cheers for the help and advice.

Yeh nice. Have you got a link to the gas shocks as well? Will check them out try and get some thing at the end of the summer if i can keep the work coming in . . .

They felt pretty heavy duty before the conversion. Very bouncy, much better ride now. I will and find out how heavy duty they actualy are. Yes, having a lock box or double cab is alway going to put all the weight on the back. Its got a bit of overhang on the body but i didnt want to much. Cheers Mark, havnt see you in a wile. Say hi to John if you still see him on the highline shutdowns ect.

Not yet but I would be interested! Thankfully not to many in west Dorstet. I know that by the time I had a decent load on, gear and extra person I would be over. Chipper + trailer must be about 400kg, does nose weight go toward gvw?

Good spot on the chipper, in stealth green. Its great for what it is and work acording to that. Happy chipping 4" stuff. Nice and manouverable, not great on slopes and try and avoid un-even ground. I would try and avoid chipping lots of ivey and dead stuff. But yh, very happy with it. Will be after aome thing that can do bigger once the truck is paid off and earnt some $

Yes, i know what you meen. It has heavy duty springs as well! I was surprised how low it was when i had a full load of chip on.

I have had this landy for a few months and just had it converted a few weeks ago. Great bit of kit now!

Just had this converted two weeks ago

Thats very smart!

Yes, I have thought about this but not looked into it much. Some thing for once I feel a bit more set up I could look at.

Yes, I have seen that before, I keep meaning to send him a message. I used to think when I was starting out that I would contact him and see if I could work in the U.S for a bit. Just having a think on names, I will pop a few ideas up some time. Thank you for all the constructive replies. Ian

Just been thinking about this over the last few weeks. I have been working as a sole trader with my own name for the last 5 years, I have been involved with tree and countryside work since 17, I am 28 now. I have a smart 4x4 truck that is about to be converted to tipper+lock box, chipper and most of the other tat to go with. I work hard and keep it professional Also living on the farm I have access to machinery, workshop and storage. I am feeling in a pretty good position and once the truck conversion is finished in 3 weeks I want to step it up a bit. 95% of my custom is word of mouth and pretty localized, great but at the same time I want to get out there. I am going to be in bit of debt as well wile I pay off the vehicle so an extra push . . . I currently work under - Ian Geddes - Tree wordland and countryside work. I feel I have a pretty good image with this but dont know how keen on it long term, I hadn't thought to much about it before but with me wanting to get the vehicle sign written, get a few flyers out, website and push to a new client base now may be a good time to re-think. I am sure that a lot of you have had to think about this at some point? Thoughts and opinions would be great to hear. My reasons are *Does it look more professional? For private and potential contracts *Do I want my personal identity separate from my work? *The future, if I was ever to be a registered business or ltd? *If there was ever a value in the business it would be easier to pass on/sell. Thank you,

I am about to have my landy done there as well! Booked in for the start of may I am having a lock box on mine so wont compare to the cost of just tipper but I expect it will be £3500-£4000+vat for you.

Great flaps mate!

I got a second hand jo beau 500 last year that is about 8 years old. It shows it in the body but its still chipping great! I got some new blades and controls to get it back in shape. You dont see them very much second hand, think I got lucky. I supose it will jusy take some time for 2nd hand once to be out there, they seem to be sought after and selling . . .

Looking to see if i can get some more west Dorset contacts for various types of work. General tree work, countryside work, forestry. Other more varied work may be available for the right person. Fully insured. Bridport/Dorchester area. Ian Geddes 07592413917 ian.geddes@googlemail.com