Chris at eden

If its not on the NQF, QCF, RQF, or whatever else they are calling it these days it isn't really recognised at all, either nationally, internationally, or locally. So, no I wouldn't bother. I looked at the HCC L6 dip years ago and it was out of date in terms of what they were delivering. I did the ABC L6 and it was excellent. Have a look on the ABC website at the syllabus for the L2 and L4 arb. You should be able to see if they overlap and what would be best. Arb is different to hort though (I have done both), yes there may be some overlap but there will also be stuff that is different.

Yeah that has confused me also. I was shown the same article by someone this morning who had a clipping from The Express. True to its extremist form the Express said it was £75k!!! That's the loony express for you, prone to exaggeration.

I would imagine the criminal record is more of a problem for them.

I have a biology A level, it doesn't really cross over much with the professional Arb qualifications, maybe a bit more with the academic side. In reality though, it would get you on to an Arb foundation degree. With the L4 and the L6 its more about work place skills such as analysing subsidence data, critically evaluating decay detection equipment, BS5837 reports. You do cover stuff such as fungal colonisation strategies and modes of decay, bit about anatomy, but its much less focussed on genetics and biochemistry that the A level is, or was when I did it. You wont have an issue with the level though in my opinion. You do need some underpinning knowledge to build on so it depends on where you are with your arb knowledge. As Ian said, speak with the training provider and more precisely, tree life. Dave Dowson wrote the syllabus so he knows better than anyone. Also, go onto the ABC website and download the rules of combination for the L4 and L2 arb qualifications. Have a look at the assessment criteria, it will give you an idea of what is covered. Cheers

The ISA will be similar to what you did for your L3, I did an ND in 1997 and the ISA in 2002, didn't learn anything new really, its pretty easy. It wont teach to do consultancy work if that is what you have in mind. The CEUs are a good idea I suppose but I'm not convinced about the content. I did the L4 back in 2005 when it was still called the Technicians Certificate. Its an excellent course and I cant recommend it highly enough. I got a job as a tree officer before I had even finished the course, its a whole different level to the ISA. I would go with this all day over the ISA if you want to do advisory work. One thing I would say about the L4 is its portfolio assessed (it was exam and management exercises when I did it) so the workload is pretty intense. I did the L6 between 2012 and 2014 (also portfolio assessed). I never found the level difficult but the amount of work is huge. You need to be on it all the time, if you fall behind you will be in big trouble. On the positive though, the learning is more complete as you have to hit 100% of the assessment criteria, with exam its only 50%. If you can though I would go day release with Tree Life, not distance learning. It is useful to discuss with others who are in the same situation.

Its called an Arboricultural impact assessment, they account for about 60% of the work that I do. They could say it but unless they can show that the garage wasn't built in accordance with the approved plans they cant enforce it. If they have given consent to build and it and then the tree damages the garage then that is down to both parties really. If they refuse an application to work on the tree to mitigate the risk then the LPA would be liable for future damage (if the damage is as a result of their refusal and that the damage was foreseeable based on the documents submitted with the application. Correct, it should, doesn't always happen. And if it didn't and planning didn't pick it up then it makes no difference that it was there first. They can still claim for damage to the garage. And if the tree is damage by the build (say by putting strip footings in the RPA), then they can't prosecute. Again, as long as it is built in accordance with the approved plans. If the approved documents were to use housedeck for the foundations and you went in with the strip and caused damage then that would be different.

Sounds like what you need is a mortgage / insurance report to assess the risk of future damage. What area are you in (postcode)? When was the house built? If you ping me an email via my website (below link) I can send you a quote. Let me guess, the structural survey states that the house is built on suspected shrinkable subsoil? It may well be, but some of them seem to have a standard paragraph that states this for everything. It impossible to say on a forum what the risk is, it needs a site visit and proper inspection. Cheers Chris

TPO contravention is a strict liability offence. Saying, oh it was an accident or I didn’t know it was protected won’t get you much sympathy. Unless the magistrate is a bit gullible, which does happen. It has nothing to do with the plod. The enforcing authority for TPOs is the LPA. No reason why they can’t do it. To to be fair though, the police did pursue a case of criminal damage for council trees at a council i do some work for. The chap had to replace them and fund a 3 year maintenance program to avoid a criminal record.

This I agree with. If outside of the RPA then obviously just advisory fencing positions.

What do you mean by large? If they are limbs rather laterals they will most likely decay no matter what you do so just leave them. As Gary said, the bleeding will flush out to an extent but birch as a species suppresses decay by keeping vessels full of water and therefore anaerobic. Once they dry out, they tend to decay more often than not.

If you don't agree with the condition just appeal it. If the PINs think its unreasonable, then they will change the spec. I would think in this case they probably will. I usually condition 8-10cm because they establish better. I picked up an appeal about 10 years ago as my predecessor had conditioned select standard (10-12) replacements and the tree owner wanted to plant light standard (6-8cm). The PINS dismissed the appeal and made her plant 10-12cm. It was a TRN she was appealing which had been dragging on for a while before is started. The appeal was via a hearing so was assessed by a planner. I personally think 10-12 is reasonable but I wouldn't go much bigger.

If its within a woodland then you probably don't have to replace it (if its windblown), if outside of a woodland then you do. Its in the online guidance (the blue book is no more). If you are removing under exemption because it is dead or imminently dangerous then section 206 would apply and you will need to replace. You may well think, well, its not dead its just uprooted but still connected and alive, and not an imminent danger. In this case the TO may say, OK, in that case you need to apply to remove, at which point he can condition the replacement. I suppose in theory, if its not dead and doesn't create an issue you could just leave it to become a phoenix veteran.

Why would you think that? Subsidence is way more common than heave. If the tree continues to grow then the subs risk will increase. If the frequency and length of droughts continue to increase then the risk of subs will increase. Then in again the house could have sufficient foundations. A lot of old houses have cellars. It’s difficult to say without the facts but the situation where heave is the bigger risk are pretty rare. My my advice to the OP is get it looked at properly.

In some councils they are, but not all. I've worked for three different councils with the most recent being very pro-tree and responsible. TO and landscape dept are valued and their decision respected. The middle one were not too bad and would follow the TO to a point. But if there was enough moaning they had a system where the councillors could fill out a form and divert funds from risk management and get trees felled against the advice of the TO. The first one I worked for back in the 90s would do anything you asked them to if you moaned enough. I wasn't TO at this one, I was on the tools so it wasn't my doing, but it was ridiculous. I think its a good idea by Gove.

I agree with both of the above. Just because you don't need to use the one app doesn't mean that an accurate spec isn't required. Otherwise how does the LPA know if what you are doing would have a negative impact on the visual amenity of high value trees, in which case a TPO would be required? I don't really know why people submitting a 211 wouldn't use the one app anyway, it not exactly arduous. Cheers

Not to mention phenologically the timing isn’t great anyway. The would response of deciduous trees in the winter is zero. That said, tree surgeons work all year, usually without issue. Council depts are skint so I doubt they have a problem spending the money they have for trees. This will be because someone has moaned for long enough rather than priority based on risk, which is just as bad. Not all councils operate in this way but I’d say more do than not.

?

That's a good one Gary. Once they are on, they are on. I did some subcontract works for an LPA processing TPO apps a few years ago while they were without a TO. I came across area orders from the 60's which covered fields which are now housing estates, huge areas with hundreds of houses. They also had one from the 50s that had a P designation. It stands for parkland, I had to Google it!!! Not sure how that would stand up to enforcement.

Not advocating felling large shrubs without consent but what the TO considers as appropriate and what legal will enforce can often be two very different things. Again helpful - not so much!

By the way, I would consider holly to be a tree if left to grow unchecked so no reason it cannot be protected. Just to be clear.

Where did you get that from? Woodland TPOs cover trees and tree saplings, not woody plants. Shrubs, climbers and managed hedges are not covered whichever classification you use.

Looks like some separation in the fork as well from the top photo.

Lawsons Cypress

Steve how much are you charging for the scans? I may have a couple to do in Worcester. They are close together. PM me with a cost inc. travel. Cheers

Chicken of the woods