Stoatally

Cool Thanks

I think I'd like to do done theory side, looking into a level 2 online course. There seems to be a choice between an RFS level 2 and an ABC level 2.

That's pretty much my plan. Also looking to do brushcutter / chipper as these seem to only be a day each and relatively cheap. I'm currently on a short term project with current employer that's due to finish in the next month. I'm going to talk to them about working condensed hours (5 days over 4) or even part time to free up time to get working with people in the area. My preferred route would be a trainee / apprenticeship in the area - good mix of work, experience, tickets and theory. Happy to take crappy money for the first year or two as well I'm researching quite a lot!

Stopped at Reading services last Wednesday and saw signs warning about a fuel scam. I didn't realise what it was until now! Unlucky VI, I'm glad I'm a miserable git now.

If I was 24 I'd be straight out the door. The fact I'm 40 and have a mortgage to pay, plus I used my student funding when I was 22 for a diploma in HE. In all honesty - the more I think about it I could go to college and work days / evenings and weekends in Tesco or the like and get all teh esperience i can

The foundation course in arb from Myerscough sounds good. Can't see prices. I'll have to have a better look. I'll have a look at the others later! What about Royal Ag and Bicton?

I'm trying to get some money saved up to start training and get my initial tickets. I have no idea how long I'll be retraining. If I can do C30/31/32 in a week then in theory I could be doing some basic stuff to get some experience. Maybe its worth me looking into insurance too? Then I guess talking to anyone I can get work from as to what skills / tickets they need most. I emailed a load of local people last week, asking for work experience, I'm more than happy to start off doing voluntary stuff when I'm free - seems that a lot of people locally don't do much stuff on evenings and weekends, or there is the health and safety issue as I'm untrained. Someone is ringing back to discuss some possibilities next week, and a company has said they currently have no vacancies but are recruiting trainees soon. My leave year starts in October so I'm going to use a week or two of that to get some tickets started. Gives me a couple of months to see if I can get the £500 or so together for C30/31 I know! I've been looking at courses in the Bristol area and further afield. I have friends around the country so possibly look elsewhere if they're cheaper / more available. It's a pain that the costs are always +assessment, which is the most important part. I think I'd like the comfort of being an employee initially. I'm happy to effectively be like a school leaver again and go in at the bottom. I reckon as long as a company will honour minimum wage I can make it work. AS I get more skilled I can look to do some subbing work and some own working. Ultimately I do think I could look at being self employed - especially if I can get a network of people I can trust to use for subbie work etc. My fiancée is amazing. I know she would support me, we've had long talks about how my current job affects me and what I want to do. It's just taken a while to work out what it is that I DO want to to do. We've worked out what I would have to put in each month and I know that if there were months that I couldn't then she would support us both. There may be a chance that the team I'm in will be disappearing. I'm going to talk to the management about chances of a package, which would obviously make getting into local training and getting some kit together much easier. I'll speak to them this week. Its been really insightful, supportive and inspiring reading all this, thank you for taking the time to post. I will be going back to planning and researching with new vigour tomorrow.

I don't have tickets for anything yet. Trying to work out what's best - should I do C30/31 and then things like chipper / stump grinder being useful as a groundie for experience and then do climbing stuff after? I didn't realise you need tractor tickets - I'll have to have a look into it all. I know, and that's easy if you're 16/17 and leaving or left school. Not so easy to do when you work full time and have other commitments. I'll see what I can do over the next week.

Sent out a load of speculative emails. One of the most consistent bits of the replies so far was that no one round here works weekends!

I spent Friday sending a load of speculative emails to local companies. Had a few replies saying straight forward no. The majority haven't replied at all. I did have one person ring me for a chat. He's on holiday so ringing back to talk next week. It would all be self employed so probably not doable just yet while o have no tickets. One email was a no to experience due to health and safety, but may be recruiting for trainees in a couple of months. I'll send some more out on Monday

This was a really good idea of yours, can I ask if there are any more around for practicing on?

We've moved in to a place with a wood burner. The last people took all their wood with them. Looks like we'll have to buy some for the first winter, the cherry from the garden won't likely be dry enough this year. Who's selling? Is it possible to get a boatload of cord (is that right?) so I can cut and split it myself? Hopefully I'll get supplies sorted exit year

That is amazing!

I want to get into arb as a career change. I have some basic experience big no tickets / quals. I learn quickly and generally pick stuff up the first time. I'm aiming to some basic tickets in the next month or so. I'm sensible, hard working and physically fit. I do what I'm told, happy to start with tea making, brash dragging or whatever. I was a qualified mechanic 20 years ago, capable of fixing most things. I've worked as a welder fabricator and used to maintain the ex family farm equipment. Have done indoor climbing so good head with heights. Good with ropes and knots. I have my climbing harness, not sure if they're the same as arb ones. I live in bristol. Have an old school driving licence and own transport. Have own PPE and a husky 135. Available currently on evenings and weekends. Will happily help out for a mix of experience and firewood. Looking to make it into a local firm full time. I'm just outside bristol. Off the cribbs causeway junction of the M5 I imagine no-one will be able to help but all advice and guidance taken. Cheers Matt

I want to change my career across to arb. I've done some agricultural contracting and a little bit of saw work in the past but I want to make it into a career. What should I do to start? I guess I need some tickets? C30/31 and others? What about other information and learning? Are there any good online courses? I work full time so need evening or distance learning. I'm based in bristol. All advice and guidance welcome! Matt

Mental health problems, stress, depression and so on are awful problems. I wouldn't wish them on my worst enemies. I've suffered on and off all my life. Had 3 years with very severe depression. I've been looking into statistics recently and suicide is THE biggest killer of men under 35!

My other option I guess is to find someone willing to take me on as an adult apprentice?

I'm looking into what courses / training / tickets would be best to at least start getting some experience. What would anyone recommend - I assume C30/3132 and CS38/39. I'm looking to do something early in October when my new leave year starts. I'm writing to Westonbirt (forestry commission), Dyrham house (National trust) and the Wild Place Project (an off shoot of Bristol zoo) for voluntary work in the grounds etc. Are there any other training routes, books, references or anything else worth doing? I think I may actually have found the thing I want to do. I've never understood the education system - forcing kids into choosing stuff that affects their lives at an age they wont necessarily have a clue what they want to do.

Thanks everyone. A lot to think about. I'm planning on getting some basic tickets and the. Looking for someone to give me some weekend work. Also looking into voluntary stuff. Happy to work for experience and firewood in my free time (not that I have much)

I like to think I'm fit enough to work on the saws for the next 10+ years. I may well be office based at the moment but I do keep fit outside work - I 'race' long distance triathlons. For anyone that has changed - what approach did you take? What steps should I take next? Does anyone want some help on evenings and weekends around Bristol?

I'm 40. I've worked in a number of sectors in my life ending up in training for the last 15 years. Over the last 12 I worked occasionally with my ex father in law in agricultural contracting (fencing and general farm work), I'm a qualified mechanic and have worked in welding / fabricating alongside other stuff. I'm pretty good with my hands and have a very sensible head. I would really like to retrain, my financee and i have discussed it and we can afford for me to retrain. I really think I'd like to be back outdoors, in forestry / arboriculture. Is there any chance? Am I too old? Will there be anyone willing to give me a chance. I'm looking at getting my basic tickets as a first stop - to show willing and to get a chance to do some basic stuff wherever and whenever. Based in Bristol area

I've just dropped a cherry in the back garden, currently clearing the brash and wondered if a garden shredder / chipper would work. There's nothing over 25mm diameter. I've got a couple of small conifers to do soon, and I'm sure I'll use it for other stuff?

Thank you il see if I can find out who owns the fields.

I've moved to a small village into a cottage with a wood burner so I'm looking for few wood 😄 I've been walking some of the local woods and copses and see lots of bits of cut trees. Nothing massive, just the odd trunk or couple of limbs. The biggest one seen has been about 6-8" across and 6 feet long. Can I collect this and take it home for cutting up into fire wood? It looks like it's been chopped and left.