averagearborist

You've highlighted the conflict right here - ease of development and economic growth against environmental preservation, regulation, enforcement and the drawbacks of the necessary bureaucracy to do this.

Personally, I think this is backwards. It removes incentive to retain trees and make informed decisions about trees as part of a development. Moreover, it encourages developers to remove potentially valuable trees to avoid added costs, delays and complications. I think the system as it stands is a major contributor to environmental degradation.

To summarise and confirm - trees on a site for development with no protection status can be felled prior to applications for development. While development sites 'should' give consideration existing trees, there is no statutory enforcement of this consideration.

I've heard good things about this one too.

Alright dude? I did the same thing about 6 years ago - changed career to tree work. I did the 10 week tree course at Otley college. I lodged in a nearby house for the time i was there. You get your basic 4 tickets and a level 3 subsidiary diploma in arboriculture ans forestry. This is a enough to start in thr industry as a trainee. If you can afford the time away from home I'd do it. You learn basic biology, biomechanics, trees in the built environment, forestry and woodland management, pests and diseases as well as the practical elements. While doing the NPTC tickets as individual courses is a cost effective way in, you will lack the wider understanding of trees. Learning on the job can be unreliable - the stuff I've heard some people come out with about trees is unbelievable, sometimes from people who have been cutting for years.

The effects of ash dieback have been compounded by drought. Pretty much all ash are affected by ADB - and while some are more resistant than others, the tree's response to ADB uses a lot of its energy, making it more susceptible to secondary infections, especially if growing conditions (like access to water or nutrients) are poor.

Just from the picture, it looks pretty minor. From picture it also looks like there is lots of functional luving wood all around the stem. Oaks and other trees are quite happy and safe living with fungi. If the growing conditions are good - plenty of water, fertile soil, other trees nearby, it will manage the fungal pathogen into its next life stage. If you are still concerned, get a tree condition survey done by a reputable surveyor or consultant.

Blimey.

Ivy is good stuff. Trees and ivy are fine together. However, if it is thick in the canopy, going on to higher lateral branches, it can cause some issues. If the ivy is a problem, sever it. Clear the ivy in a 30 cm ring all the way around the main stem of the tree (be careful not to cut into the tree itself). The ivy will die and slowly decompose, giving the tree time to readjust and all the wildlife to move out. Do not use herbicides at the base of the tree as this may affect the trees' health.

I don't know about the level 6 straight off the bat. I don't know if they'll let you on the course - although i suppose it will depend on your existing qualifications and academic history. Obviously, it's a higher grade of qualification, but it will take longer and the depth knowledge and research for each assignment will be deeper. It depends what you want to achieve by doing it. If you need an undergrad level of qualification (L6), then do it, but i would imagine it would be like doing a part time degree. And then you have to consider whether you have the time, wherewithal and support to get this thing done without ruining your life. I mean Christ, that level 4 made my life pretty difficult and unpleasant, but it was only for about 9 months.

Yeah bro I did level 4 tree life at a Westonbirt! With Andy Summerly. Dude it was so hard! Before arb I been uni, did under grad in English, and did a masters in Educational Leadership and Management at Institute of Education - yknow proper learning. But the level 4 Dip. Arb. was definitely the hardest thing i have ever done in terms of education - way harder than the uni stuff. I think it was because it was getting it sone in a year and trying to balance it with work and family life. Still. It's done and it was well worth it... even if I have many reservations about the Tree Life course.

This does not seem like an appropriate species in an appropriate place. It would not be viable long term because of the size and spread and how this would encroach on the surrounding building and features. Perhaps an oversite by the planners.

So don't try to cut down the electrical equipment. Obviously this is a terrible idea. Did i read that right? Is that what you are suggesting? Anyway no. What is said here about limited cutting is spot on. Just make sure that both the contractors and distributor know you are concerned and will be paying close attention to the works, and get a really clear work specification before they undertake the work.

That's not true about spiking every tree. The old school utility arbs are still out there, boshing off limbs at the stem without a care, but less so these days. Distributors now insist that work is carried out to a decent standard, you aren't allowed to spike retained trees, and works are to bs3998 where possible. Tree work is subject to checks and auditing. Distributors have got environmental policies with regards to tree and vegetation work, biosecurity and all that, and their arborists or subcontracting arborists will have to adhere to it.

My experience in utilities are that the distributors generally do their best to accommodate the needs of people with electrical equipment on their property. If the trees are in some way important to the land owner, cutting for clearance can be limited or minimised. If you make your feelings and concerns known, they will take extra care in pruning. As someone said, insist work is be carried out to a BS3998 standard, which (despite what people may say) is what distributors stipulate their arborists work to if possible. Pruning to gain sufficient clearance will not unbalance the trees or make them dangerous - it is in the distributors interest that the trees remain safe. Reducing spread by a few metres will not adversely affect the trees' long term viability. All that said, the circumstances and tree condition very much dictate what work must take place, the end results and aesthetics. If it's LV, it is unlikely they will be taking more that 2 or 3 meters off the spread of your trees. LV work is probably the least intrusive electrical utility work.