krummholz

Looks like it's potentially something to do with the graft? The bulge will be coming from the rootstock. Is there anything else concerning about the tree? Defoliation, lots of deadwood formation etc?

OP didn't specify what they wanted to use it for

The smallest three way locking carabiner is actually DMMs XSRE Locksafe. XSRE Locksafe DMMWALES.COM Triple-action gate security, miniaturised. Rounding out the offerings of XSRE gate types, the incredibly secure Locksafe...

@CharlieOak Get an Arb consultant to come out and do a report on it. It's 4m away from 2 homes, and a decent report will ascertain extent of decay and spec any works required to bring risk of failure to an acceptable level. Plus you'll be discharging your duty of care as the land owner/manager. The Ganoderma brackets are substantial and significant (particularly the larger one partially obscured by earth), warranting further inspection. See if you can find someone with a PICUS sonic tomograph or at least a resistograph.

Yep save the chainsaw boots for chainsawing, if it's occasional use they'll last for years and years (assuming you don't cut them), whereas using them for general work will wear out the more expensive boot quicker, and you'll be carrying around a lot of unnecessary weight daily.

Myerscough have a Level 6 Apprenticeship launching soon, you could do that through your workplace or find someone to take you on for it? https://www.myerscough.ac.uk/courses/arboriculture/level-6-professional-arboriculturist-coming-soon/

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/262857090_Trees_in_Towns_II_A_new_survey_of_urban_trees_in_England_and_their_condition_and_management PDF of Trees in Towns available here, couldn't find anything for Urban Tree Strategies.

Fair enough - straight up you sound like the other half of the problem in this industry. You have no idea of my level of experience, and experience doesn't always mean you make good decisions. People wonder why we're under paid and under appreciated when the bar is set so low

Often having a nominated rescue climber and nominal rescue kit is a box ticking exercise, and this guy can't be bothered to tick it? How confident are you that he could rescue you if he did have the kit with him? Yes, self rescue is the quickest and most likely way down from an accident, but there's just not a binary of "major trauma= good as dead, no point in rescuing / minor trauma = they'll self rescue". As a first aider and rescue climber you are there to give the casualty the best chance of a full recovery. The "Golden Hour" to administer first aid should me more than enough time for a rescue from someone prepared and competent. It would be a shame if your last thoughts as you were losing consciousness were "At least Old Bill doesn't think I'm a primadonna"...

You could also try air layering as a propagation method. https://www.rhs.org.uk/propagation/air-layering-plants You'd need to come back for the cuttings in more than 4 weeks so you'd need to arrange something with the new owners.

Lantra have an SRT course, various training providers around the country offer the course, some with an aerial rescue refresher (that I assume incorporates the SRT equipment and techniques into rescue). I'm sorry but any boss that dismisses SRT entirely is a Dodo. Fine if he doesn't want to learn or use it himself, but the benefits for his business in making your climbs more efficient and reducing occupational injuries should be clear to anyone who cares to try and understand it. Level 3 Award in Stationary Rope Work Positioning and Rescue - Lantra WWW.LANTRA.CO.UK The aim of this qualification is to ensure that learners are able to safely complete work tasks at height. These...

For sure margins are very tight for most people, and forking out for training for an employee is a big outlay and a bit of a punt on that individual, despite it being a requirement under PUWER. Reluctance or nervousness to put employees through training can mean a holding pattern where workers don't see the business investing in them, which reduces their enthusiasm for and loyalty to the business, which increases the reluctance to give them training. I'm sure this must have been suggested before, but one solution for smaller businesses could be a payment plan. Say you have an employee getting started and wants to get their maintenance/crosscutting/small fells, or they're looking to progress into tree climbing. You agree (with a written contract) that they will take a £20/day cut in their day rate to put that money away for their course. Both courses are the guts of £1k inclusive of VAT (so the employer could swallow the VAT if registered; lets' assume they're not if they're a very small business), so that's 50 shifts to pay for the course, which is 10 working weeks or roughly 2.5 months. Employee increases their earning potential, sees some progression, employer gets more out of their employee and therefore makes more money. Both parties free to walk away after that contract comes to an end if things aren't working out. Out of interest, how long would people expect or want an employee to remain with them to see a return on the investment of paying for training for them? Most clawback clauses I've seen have a sliding scale for % of cost of training provided, ending after 2 or 3 years.

The length of the cambium saver would only be an issue when you're working right up against it at the top, otherwise the effective height of your anchor as regards rope angle etc. remains where the cambium saver is anchored

Where did you get those rings from? Are you based in the UK? I've only found them on a Japanese website If cost is an issue you can get a (non-adjustable) Stein cambium saver for £37 from Gustarts

I'm sure most trainers who run the full course could accomodate a refresher course, have you asked anyone? A quick google turned up Plumpton College's LOLER refresher course running at the end of November LOLER Thorough Examination of Arboricultural Lifting Equipment REFRESHER LANTRA | Plumpton College Online Shop SHOP.PLUMPTON.AC.UK This is a hands-on course that refreshes both practical skills and health and safety guidance as well as demonstrating that you...