Dorset Treeman

Try my mate Dave Judd (Judd Tree Care) at Milton Abbas - 07507 642003, he's pretty close to you.

It's obvious these guys knew what they were doing as they left my 560XP ! And it was broken anyway! Seriously though, they could of taken loads more but the alarm must of hurried them into grabbing what was easy and getting out of there. I was wondering about putting in a ground anchor and chaining all saws etc through the handle. What does anyone think? Any other realistic suggestions to improve security?

I know. It's almost inevitable that we get targeted, no matter how much we spend on security. Police suggested that I put up CCTV but surely they would just cover their faces?

Police didn't know at first if they would even come out and investigate. They did in the end and were actually quite thorough to be fair to them. The lowlife scum had broken some glass and left blood on it so here's hoping their DNA is on the police computer system somewhere !!

Just a warning that my store was done over on Friday night in South Dorset. Door was forced open and triggered alarm but they grabbed a fair amount of stuff before scarpering. I didn't have my stuff on Arbsafe (it was a job I had meant to do). Lessons learnt. I'm gonna up the security and get all my stuff on Arbsafe in the future!

I didn't realise my thread would stir up such a hornets nest

Thanks for all the helpful advice and for the two offers of help. I will now wait until I have had the site visit on Friday and will post some more information then.

I would feel far more comfortable assisting somebody on this. Anyone willing and able to do one in North Dorset with a keen and willing assistant??!!

I have been asked to quote for a Tree Survey, Arb Impact Appraisal and Arb Method Statement as it has been requested by the LPA as part of a an agricultural building planning application. I covered these briefly during my FdSc Arb but not in enough depth to be confident in them. I was wondering whether (If I successfully get the job) it is feasible that I can teach myself how to do these as there are plenty of examples on the interent and I have a copy of BS5837:2012 or whether I should just sub it out to somebody else and try and be on site to learn from them. Part of me thinks if I don't have a go, I will never make this step but on the other hand, I need to produce something utpo the required standard. What do those that carry out these types of surveys think? I have carried out many tree hazard evaluation surveys over the last 5 years for large estates, land agents and private clients and have 10 years experience in the industry and have a theoretical background gained from the an RFS Cert Arb, the Professional Tree Inspectors Cert and the FdSc Arb. One of my worries is that I have no software to complete a Root Protection Area plan. Are any free or cheap downloadable software available? Any advice would be appreciated. I know you can't say whether I would be able to do these surveys without knowing me but hopefully I have given enough detail to allow arbtalkers to offer their opinions. Thanks in advance. Alan

That's not expensive for an arctic load of firewood delivered down these ways (South Dorset).

I would charge £250 which includes the hire of a pedestrian stump grinder (I pay £40 per half day for this). I would be gutted if I didn't have that done in half a day, even with clearing around the stumps then cutting them down. Again that's just my price, others will differ depending on the area, what equipment they have or can hire, and how much they want/need the job!

Thanks Timber Cutter, I will phone them tomorrow.

If nobody wants to buy the logs for milling then, having already paid out for felling, processing and extraction, the time comes where you have to get a financial return and if that means they have to be sold as firewood, albeit for a few quid less, then that's what has to happen.

We are due to cut some beech tomorrow. The spec is 2.4m for firewood but as a lot of it is straight and 20-40"dbh I think there is an arctic of sawlogs amongst it. What is the most common length for beech sawlog length and is there much of a market for beech sawlogs or should they remain destined for firewood? If all else fails I was thinking of cutting 4.8m then they can always be cut in half and added to the firewood stack! Would appreciate any thoughts.

Thanks for your thoughts. Unfortunately the timber is being extracted in 11 days time and I don't think the land owner has the time or money to put any stone down. You have put enough doubt in my mind to suggest that a stacking area much further away is used which has a proper hardcore track running next to it. Thanks again for your input.

We have around 150 tonnes of firewood to be extracted and stacked. We were looking at this area as a possible stacking area for the timber ( we will clear the gateway so that it is wider) but didn't know if arctics would even bother to come into this area or not? What do those who do this sort of thing think? The ground is normally solid and it is chalk grassland. There is definately enough room to stack timber and to turn round but my worry is traction and whether the lorries will even attempt to come in or whether they will happily come on a dry day which will be less slippery or whether it will have to be a company running a 6wd or something. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Spot on there

Thanks for the warning mate.

We will have ash, sycamore and beech extracted next month near Blandford, North Dorset if that is close enough PM me if interested and I can get more details. A lot of pole stage stuff in it.

5% VAT on timber sold for domestic fuel I believe.

Totally agree. Most of us wouldn't do it for £80 a day but think back to what we did do in the early days to make a living and I'm sure the OP is no different. I remember dicing brash up in a trailer or worst still a dumpy bag squeezed in the boot .....

Thanks for all your help

Slow going aswell but we did it on leggy stuff to save cutting and spraying the regrowth so it was the best option.

Worked well when we did it. Took a couple of applications though to get it all.

Control it