JonnyRFT

I’ve had a keen interest in tree management for a number of years, but I already worked in the industry alongside consultants which is where I gained most of my experience. I then took my PTI along with my QTRA to make sure I was on the right track, as I don’t have the time to do a long course. Hopefully I can study for my level 6 and keep working at the same time, but it’s going to be hard going with full time employment. Until I gain my level 6, I will still rely on contracting surveyors in.

I keep mine at around 17 because I don’t have an open fire anymore. It cost a fortune to heat my house, it’s old and just looses heat so fast. I’ve learnt to adjust to a cooler temp. Just wish I didn’t knock out my fireplace just so I can stick a cooker in its place.

It’s been a while since I’ve been on the tools but I took the opportunity to spend a couple of days out with my guys removing a few Ash from a ditch/run off up near Swaffham. I had a such a laugh and it made me miss being on site full time. Great bunch of lads. We only had one small point of access through a neighbouring garden to extract the timber so it was all pretty much rigged out. We covered the ditch with as much brash in case we had to drop any timber straight down, but it all went pretty smoothly. Clean up tomorrow. IMG_3100.MOV IMG_3097.MOV IMG_3098.MOV IMG_3047.MOV

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All I can see here is a small bacterial bleed from what looks like a longitudinal bark plate fracture. At a guess, it was high load twisting forces. It can be a different story beyond the bark layer though. My suggestion would be hiring a consultant.

Our teams must share the climbing responsibilities. I’m just trying to keep fatigue at a minimum and labour equally shared. Our contract involves pretty low impact work with the exception of some. Driving distances can be pretty huge sometimes though so I would consider that the worst part of the job. Due to the company I run being owned by a parent housing association (of which the contract is for), the pressure is minimal. They‘ve set me a scope of service instead of target figures therefor we have no time constraints per job.

This is very true and I’ve suffered from this situation before. It’s tough to manage such an ego and they seem to bruise easily when you point out their bad habits. I certainly don’t want to go down that road again. I’m hopeful there’s still some good, laid back people out there that need the work.

Whatcha, So, it looks like finding some new employees might prove difficult. Last year and the year before was pretty easy finding staff but from chatting with a few company owners, this year is a struggle. I wonder if you could help me out here. Imagine you’ve gone back in time and you’ve just finished your climbing course. What would you expect from a potential employer? What would make you stay with them?

Based in Watton, Norfolk Covering East Anglia. I’m looking for 2 x climbers with a minimum of CS30, 31, 38 & 39 Desirable additional qualifications: IPAF 3a, 3b, 1a & 1b B+E CS32 First Aid+F Stump Grinder Wood Chipper Land Based Machinery (Avant use mostly) All relevant training will be provided. Up to £27,500 plus Pension and Holiday for the right candidates. All vehicles, tools, IT and PPE provided. Monday to Friday 40 hours a week plus bank holidays off. Working a mix of domestic and commercial for a large housing association. Work load is balanced with your “buddy” allowing climbing responsibilities to be shared keeping fatigue at a minimum. Area covered, Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambs and Essex. Climbing, skill set and safety assessments will be required prior to the position being offered. I am no longer offering sub contractural work as my books are now full. Get in touch if you have any further questions. Kind Regards, Jonny.

A young Rhombifolia

A little shaping on an Ash from yesterday. It’s an old pollard but just trying to manage it at this size from now on. Came out half decent like...weather held off till the last cut which worked out well too.

It’s a big Oak in Weasenham St Peter I have a PICUS for, not Norwich. Too far out for the same day?

I think I have one. I’ll check the stock list when I’m back at work.

I’m from Yarmouth and an MOT is a sexual act and we run everything on cooking oil.

Sticking with MEWP work where possible.

Yeah the transits physically hold the weight much better but the payload allowance just gets people into trouble. This is why I got an Isuzu in the end. We can pretty much brim the box and be confident that we’re not over weight...unless it was all oak/beech etc. We drive past the DVLA weigh Bridge most days on the A14 and knew it would only be a matter of time when we’re pulled.

1752kg on these. Mine takes 1.4t on average with guys and tools on board. Impressive little truck. The only downside is the brutal suspension.

I actually wonder if the climber asked the ground guy to give it the ol’ heave ho in order to clear that line. Either way...balls to that!!!

The recommendation is to fell the trees. We have no problem with rectifying the issues but there’s also another property that doesn’t belong to us behind the conifers.

You are right with regards to trees predating the building. I actually meant that I’m dealing with subsidence but I have not worded my original statement very well. I think the large cypress at the rear of the property was probably the issue. It was mature specimen removed in the summer months circa 5 years ago according to the occupier. I only have his word to take as verbatim though. But because he mentioned the cracks widening in the summer, that says to me to lapsed conifer hedge is playing a fundamental part in the ground movement. I can probably hazard a guess that the foundation’s are insufficient but without a borehole test I cannot say for sure. That’s at least an option yet it still leaves me in the same situation.

I’m way ahead of you apparently

Yes. I mean subsidence

Looking for advice... I've been called out to an issue where a property is suffering from ground heave. Immediately north there's a row substantially lapsed Leyland Cypress hedging. To the west, an old Cypress (no doubt another Leyland) stump which looks older than 5 years since it's dismantlement. The cracks inside and outside the property widen and close throughout the year suggesting desiccation of the soil caused by the trees. My desk study from SoilScapes shows the area where the property is situated is in fact "clay with impeded drainage." Heave happens throughout the summer months suggesting a dramatically reduced moisture content which, in turn suggests the possibility of clay soil. Over the past few years I've had a handful of cases with mature broad leaf species along the clay belt in Norfolk causing ground heave. We have dismantled the trees over the course of 3 years in dormant months reducing radical moisture content changes within the ground. Year 1: Pollard to secondary scaffold. Year 2: Pollard to primary scaffold. Year 3: Remove. So far its worked on properties without substantial foundation footings (but still monitoring) resulting with manageable outcomes where our repairs company can rectify the issues. Now, in this case we have a substantial amount of conifer. To my understanding; conifers are never fully dormant although the winter months have shown less water demand with the cracks closing on the external wall. I cannot carry out the same procedure to these Conifers as by pollarding will ultimately lead to its terminal decline near instantly. So with that in mind I should remove the trees to ground level in one go. My question is simply; When is the best time? The evidence suggests winter but... My concern is if the ground has impeded drainage and I've left the area with a substantial amount of moisture, can the clay swell causing a more positive heave? I have information given to me from our consulting engineers whom state that elsewhere in the village is 20m thick boulder clay. If there wasn't so much boulder clay in the area then I would've just removed the trees in winter and rectified the property issues. Am I over thinking this? Part of me is thinking "what ever happens...happens" as I can't see many options.