Ding

Keep us up to date on your progress (pics of the face fungus required) excellent cause.

Where is it? Could it not be towed to the police and put in the lost and found room on a shelf!!

We looked into this as a family, you don't need a business to get fleet insurance, one draw back is you don't earn a no claims bonus so for younger drivers it could be cheaper in the short term but not long term.

What year is your ranger? Mine is a 2002 and the bed is 5ft square ish (not including the wheel arches). Hope that helps.

I can't get it to work either, is someone doing a live running commentary or will we just have to wait for the results?

I have all ready got the safety stuff (wouldn't dream of using a saw without it), I got the stihl hi flex pants, some husqvarna boots and a hat with mesh visor and ear defenders. The 1k was the outside budget for the course and insurance. Thanks for reminding me, I'm happy as I am doing it for friends, but and there is always a but its always in the back of my mind 'what if'. I also understand I'm probably overall paying over the odds for the wood if you include my time and equipment etc, that's why I thought it would be good to claw a bit of the money back now I have a chance.

Thanks for the response, I would hope I'm old enough and daft enough to refuse work if it was too big a job, that's why it's been ok to do it just for the wood, an odd day here and there. I really enjoy doing it and understand that issues could arise with just doing it for the wood. I understand you guys being a professional business and having wages and equipment etc to pay for, I'd class it as more of a hobby and helping people out. But looking at the bigger picture it seems there is work out there if your prepared to look for it. I will see if I can find a course near me and go chat to them see what is required, I have searched on here and looked at the course requirements I'm happy with most of the safety things, maintenance of equipment etc, just the rules and regs I'm not sure of really, but I'm not scared of a revision. Myerscough College is not far from me but seems on the expensive side for the cs30/31? Or is that the going rate. Time off work (normal employment) should be ok as I work shifts so can arrange it so I have a 5 days off work. Thanks again I will keep you posted with what I decide.

Hi everyone just after some info off you all. I have been doing favours for friends and family for a few years pruning trees or removing them alltogether, using the wood for my log burner. Now the way I look at it is I'm not charging for the work so I have never bothered with insurance or training, I have common sense and never done any tree I didn't feel happy cutting within the boundary of the gardens. Inevitably word soon spreads about your skills, now the advice I need is a friend of a friend requires 4 sycamore trees removing from his garden all growing through a very nice big cherry tree, I would be charging for this job other wise like I have read on here friends of friends of friends will be wanting favours, I have looked into doing cs30/31 and I'm willing to do the training and get public liability insurance just to be 100% legit, is it worth spending about £1000 on the training and look into expanding and doing more jobs or stick to my friends and family? In no way would I be competing with any local businesses as it will only be on an as and when basis when my shifts allow. Thanks in advance for your thoughts.