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Hi all! I have a big beautiful cedar tree on my property and it’s splitting directly down the center of the trunk. The split is getting noticeably deeper down the trunk, over about a year. What steps should I take to care for it and prevent it from getting worse? thanks in advance for your help!

New to the site and new to tree surgery! I'm 26 and looking for a complete career change but I am wondering about a few things. Firstly, how easy would it be to get work with just my CS30 and CS31 certificates? I'm looking at getting the qualifications next month with a view to getting the CS38 and CS39 certificates later on in the year when I can afford them. I have experience with a chainsaw in just cutting logs and general chainsaw maintenance, but honestly I'm pretty much brand new to it all. Secondly, are the courses worth anything abroad? Looking to emigrate in the next few years to either Canada or New Zealand. Thirdly, who should I do the courses with? Thanks in advance!

I'm looking at starting out as a tree surgeon. By the end of November I will have all my qualifications up to using a chainsaw from a rope. Has anyone got any advice on kit that would be good to start off with and that is suitable for climbing. I'll need at minimum trousers, boots, gloves and helmet any recommendations? Not looking for anything ridiculously expensive but I do want it to last awhile.

Hello forum, My name is Tim I'm a 24yo about to come to the end of 8 years served as a Combat Medic in the British Army. I am living just outside Oxford and there for the next 4 years as my wife is a RAF nurse posted to that location. I am looking to start a career as a Tree Surgeon and I'm a complete beginner. I have always been interested in tree surgery and now comes the time where I'm going to commit to making a go of it! I have 6 months left to serve and I can use that time to train and partake in any courses I can complete to put me in the best employable position. I'm looking for advice and tips on training, jobs, and just any info to get me started! Thanks for reading this and would love to hear some opinions. Regards Tim.

Hi all, my first post here! I recently decided to explore the world of Arboriculture and after doing a large amount of research and spending a day with a local Arborist, I quickly realised that this is an avenue I want to follow. I'm 23, and at present I have a good understanding of the job, but little experience, no equipment and no qualifications. I am eager to change this as quickly as possible. I work an unrelated retail job, 3 days a week. I'm in a fairly fortunate position, in that I am able to reasonably support myself on this (Although I don't have a disposable income), leaving myself time to work any opportune groundwork/labour jobs that may come my way. Should Arboriculture become a solid job for me, I'd happily leave my current job to make it a living. I'm fairly well read on what qualifications and skills are required to make myself attractive to a prospective employer, but my question is primarily pertinent to the progression one should follow in order to achieve this as quickly and cost effectively as possible. I understand that there are employers who will take on trainees/apprentices and partially/entirely fund their tickets, but they still seem to expect candidates to be qualified in CS30/31 and Climbing/Aerial Rescue. This immediately requires me to drop something in the area of £1500-2500 on PPE, climbing gear and training before I'm at a stage where I am even a viable candidate. That's a lot of hours to make up! Don't get me wrong - I'm not opposed to an initial outlay if it is a sensible and worthwhile one. My question is whether I'd be throwing money up the wall, and if you would do things differently. I'm also aware that I can work as a cheap labourer while I build up my funds and equipment, which I fully intend to do. However I want to make myself as employable as possible, because I know that a brash dragger is only worth so much when there are more qualified groundworkers available. I apologise for rambling, and I'll attempt to summarise. How would you spend your early time and money, in order to make yourself an attractive candidate to a prospective employer? Cheers guys! Lewis.

Hey guys, i've just passed my CS 38 and was looking to purchase my first set of climbing equipment. I was just looking for some extra opinions/recommendations before i purchase anything, so is there any particular ropes you would recommend for a beginner such as myself? Thanks Liam.

I brought 'The climbers companion' and its a really good read but it only has climbing techniques. Can anyone help me with any decent books on perhaps chainsaw and cutting techniques side of things...or the tree health, growth and disease side of things...cheers by the way ive looked at modern arboriculture and its too expensive so that's out of the picture