dsearle

So I went to university and got a 2:1 in Conservation biology. Loved the subject but couldn't get a job, I was working 5 days a week and also volunteering but couldn't see when I would not be getting paid minimum wage. So I thought I love trees and I am fit and active and although different there are aspects of this industry which are applicable to my degree. I am now getting myself in more debt doing my level 3 in Forestry and Arboriculture. I am really enjoying it. Passed my CS30 on Friday, going to college 4 days a week, working with a tree surgeon one day and going home at weekends to work Saturday and Sunday. After the waffle my question really is what sequence to buy kit in? I have my PPE. Would it make sense to buy a saw first? Or begin getting my climbing gear. Also if anyone else would like to say there career progression in this thread that would be great. Im always interested to know how people got where they are, especially if we have some woodland managers or tree officers here. Regards Dave

I know this is an old thread but I have just started my level 3 Forestry and Arb so climb all day on a wednesday. I started going to the gym about a year ago, try to go at least 4 days a week and focus on compound lifts (squat, bench, military press and deadlifts) although do other assistance exercises. I have gone from 9 stone to just over 11 and seem to climb much faster and with much less fatigue then my colleagues so it obviously does help. I have noticed however a decrease in my strength in the gym in the evening after spending all day climbing a tree. I hope my body will just be able to respond to this new stimuli I am doing. But definitely it all helps. The guys on my course who are clearly less fit are out of puff after prussicking 10 ft

Very good point. Some people in the group were arguing this. Saying that they would never climb this tree that way etc. His reply was that in the real world trees are not always the lovely spacious arboretum trees we have at college

Haha, Oh that makes sense. Was good fun and great practice though

You thought I was being sarcastic? I wasn't if you did. Yeah I suppose, just testing us really. lovely tree to climb once you are in it though, big branches, lots of room to maneuver

Thanks for the response. Oh I know it would of been so much easier if I had put my line closer to the trunk. The point of the exercise though was specifically not to do that so we could practice doing it in mid air and branch rolling. Our teacher thought it was a good exercise to perform should in the real world the situation ever arose. So much harder though! 3 out of 10 lads couldn't get on the limb after prussicking up

The tree

I seem to be a div a and dunno how to add puctures from my phone

Did my first mid air prussik today and branch roll on this lovely tree.