UK Online Magazine Issue 1

Page 1


News ASCENTREE

The ASCENTREE from PETZL is a new double handled ascender designed specifically for arborists using conventional ‘footlock’ techniques, or when combined with two PETZL PANTIN foot ascenders to provide a more ergonomic climbing system. Extensive research and discussions combined with over two years of exhaustive testing by experts in the industry has shaped the form of the ASCENTREE. The back-to–back frame with its dual density moulded handles echoes the classic form of PETZL’s traditional ascenders. Shaped to accommodate gloved hands it gives a naturally balanced product that glides smoothly up ropes between 8 and 13mm diameter and allows the user to effectively share the climbing effort between both arms. Twin top holes accept connectors for back up belays or when creating a hauling system and a large central hole at the base provides a clear connection point for a foot loop or lanyard. The chrome finished high carbon steel cams have cleaning slots in their faces allowing mud and dirt picked up by the rope to pass through reducing the potential for slippage; while both of the cams are totally integrated into the body of the rope clamp. These features, when combined with new anti-snag safety catches, make this one of the most secure double ascenders on the market. For more information on the ASCENTREE please contact Lyon Equipment Ltd on 015396 26250 or email work.rescue@lyon.co.uk 4

Arboriculture & Woodland

Grant To Expand Dormouse’s Domain in The Yorkshire Dales The Forestry Commission has pledged a grant to give rare dormice more elbow room in the Yorkshire Dales. Nearly four acres of new woodland is set to take root on the banks of the River Ure opposite Freeholders Wood, near Aysgarth, where the rare mammal was reintroduced to the Dales last year after becoming extinct. Nearly £3,000 from the English Woodland Grant Scheme will support the expansion of the dormouse’s domain on land owned by 72 year-old farmer Arthur Lambert, mainly with hazel trees, but also with other species like ash, oak and cherry. Jeremy Dick, Forestry Commission Woodland Officer for North Yorkshire, said: “The good news is that the dormice are breeding, so expanding the habitat is a key way of securing the population’s future. A bigger colony is a more resilient one, capable of withstanding change.” Habitat creation and wildlife conservation are important drivers behind the Forestry Commission’s English Woodland Grant Scheme in Yorkshire. The new wood will eventually mirror

Freeholders Wood rich mix of coppiced hazel trees, honeysuckle and bramble, which makes it ideal habitat for dormice. When the trees are old enough traditional coppicing will be introduced, maximising the production of hazel nuts, which the dormice feed on. Planting is set to start in the next few weeks. Phil Hibbs, from the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, added: “Freeholders Wood covers about 12 hectares, so it’s crucial we increase the available habitat, especially as we recorded nearly 30 dormice young from the last breeding season. We are also always looking for willing landowners to come forward with potential woodland creation schemes.” The dormouse reintroduction project has been co-ordinated by a range of agencies, including the Yorkshire Dales National Park, the People’s Trust for Endangered Species and Natural England. A total of 35 adult dormice were released at the beginning of the project and at the last count just before the hibernation period that figure had expanded to 58.

Woodland officer Jeremy Dick (left) with retired farmer Arthur Lambert on the site of the new wood on the banks of the River Ure near Aysgarth about to be planted to help dormice in the Yorkshire Dales.

a World of Trees Issue 19


Success for Sparsholt College lecturers who find Britain’s tallest tree A team of five tree climbing arborists have been successful in their search for the UK’s tallest tree. The Stronardron Douglas Fir in Argyll is now officially the tallest tree in the UK after it was measured at 63.79 metres on 19 February as part of the Tall Trees Project 2009. The project, which involved measuring four of Britain’s tallest trees, was organised by Mark Tansley, Lecturer and Course Manager for the National Diploma in Forestry and Arboriculture at Sparsholt College Hampshire, who spent several months planning the expedition. “I was hugely relieved to get the first tree climbed and measured” said Mark. “Once we had one tree under our belts I knew that it was going to be a successful trip”. Mark was joined in his search for the UK’s tallest tree by fellow Sparsholt College lecturer Steve Woollard, Lukasz Warzecha, an international award winning extreme photographer and lead tree climber for an arboricultural company in Edinburgh, Justin Palmer, NPTC assessor/SRT instructor and retailer for Safety Technology in South Wales and Chris Hunter, lead climber for Urban

Forestry in Bury St Edmonds. “I’ve been climbing trees for 17 years and have never tackled anything so tall, challenging and rewarding” said Chris. “They were truly breathtaking trees set in breathtaking locations. Every one was worth the visit on its own.” The new British champion tree was closely followed by the Diana’s Grove Grand Fir at Blair Castle which was measured at 62.70 metres. Both trees beat the previous UK’s tallest tree, the Dughall Mor Douglas Fir at Inverness, which the team measured at 62.02 metres. Standing at 61.31 metres, the Hermitage Douglas Fir at Dunkeld came a close fourth. The team set out on 18 February to measure the four trees, all located in Scotland, that were chosen in conjunction with the Tree Register who administer and keep records of the UK’s tallest trees. Although the primary aim of the project was to record the height of the trees, they also hoped to raise awareness of the fantastic natural heritage of the UK and promote interest in a range of tree industry related opportunities. “We were met by interested and

enthusiastic people wherever we went who did everything in their powers to make the trip a success” said Mark. “We definitely managed to raise the profile of tree climbing and arboriculture as a career with the people who saw us climbing live and the trip has generated a phenomenal amount of interest.” Both Mark Tansley and Steve Woollard are planning to involve their students at Sparsholt College in searching for some of England’s tallest trees. “The students are really interested in the project and can’t wait to follow it up” said Mark “We’ve got a few leads as to where some previously unmeasured tall trees may be growing and we’ve been invited to Somerset to measure the tallest tree in England. It should be a fantastic practical task for the students to climb and measure them.” The Tall Trees Project 2009 was sponsored by STIHL, an internationally renowned manufacturer of chainsaws and garden power tools, who provided specialist high performance clothing and helmets for all the climbers.

Recession-led narrow band sawmill demonstrations at Ligna With a nod to the worldwide recession, thin kerf technology leader, Wood-Mizer, will demonstrate appropriate adaptations to its range at Ligna. It will also highlight existing mills’ attributes which suddenly look more important. Thin band blades’ ability to turn out an extra board from a log is complemented by technical enhancements that will suit a greater number of pockets. Six ‘orange’ band sawmills are demonstrated: A new, attractively priced LT20B band sawmill that offers economy by the introduction of the low, modular bed with an adapted LT20 sawing head will be unveiled. Consistent length of cut from a World of Trees Issue 19

modular, optional bed sizes are made possible. The smallest, LT10 mill -- on a pallet -- permits wood processing at a relatively miniscule cost. The ‘original’ LT15 electric with debarker brings non-industrial level sawing to farmers and estate owners at low cost. The low-priced electric/diesel, hydraulic LT20’s simplicity brings higher productivity to small workshops and start-ups. The widely used, ‘work-horse’ LT40 continues to deliver, economically, high grade lumber to entrepreneurs and private businesses. The semi-industrial, diesel LT70 mobile

mill will demonstrate significant output increases, usually amongst existing Wood-Mizer operators seeking expansion. Three sawmills from the company’s ‘green’ small log processing (SLP) system – still based on the thin blades principle – also show their paces. These three are usually components in a set-up comprising the twin vertical saw (TVS), a TVS log infeed system, a TVS slab cross-transfer conveyor, single vertical saw (SVS) to remove third sides, horizontal resaw (HR) and an edger for edging remaining slabs after resawing. They process small logs at one-third the normal cost. Finally Wood-Mizer’s own band blades in all specifications are exhibited. 5



For more information on PSM’s testing services please contact vibe@psmmowers.co.uk or call 0115 9614734

Hand-arm and whole body vibration is playing a huge part in our industry, the information or lack of it, is creating many legal actions involving the long term effects (Vibration White Finger in the main) of working with equipment that has had no vibration risk assessment carried out and no service or other record keeping made. The HSE (Health & Safety Executive) specifies that vibration test data must be captured under working conditions in the field. Bench tested data cannot be used as part of a risk assessment. P S Marsden (Lawnmower Services) Ltd have expanded their technical services and are now offering Vibration Risk Assessment on a National basis. Four of the PSM team have received Hand-Arm Vibration and Management training and received certification from IOSH (The institute of Occupational Safety & Health) to allow them to test customers machinery, either at the customers place of work or a site chosen by PSM. They have invested heavily on the latest equipment to carry out the testing which involves connecting their equipment to the machine and using the machine under working conditions, when completed the data is then calculated and each machine tested is provided with a certificate informing the customer and the user of the vibration figure and the length of time they can safely use it during a working day. The machine can also be labelled, and the customer will then be informed how to best use the data to ensure safe working equipment. PSM have already carried out servicing and record keeping for the Environment Agency and following an agreed procedure, they have recently carried out testing and maintenance on over 50 of the Nottingham City Councils Arborist team’s equipment with even more to follow.

Band blades surge cuts price A dramatic increase in the use of Wood-Mizer band blades in worldwide timber processing has resulted in manufacturing economies of scale and in turn 14 to 18% price reductions. A Europe-wide advertising and sales promotional programme by Wood-Mizer -- leader in thin kerf sawmills and ancillary equipment as well as a prime mover in the development and supply of band blades -- will convey this to all wood related businesses. The production economies result from a 50% increase in sales of the company’s band blades last year and indications that they will rise another 50% this year. They increased by one-half in 2007, the 25th anniversary of the parent company’s formation and 17 years of its European presence centred on Poland. Improved technologies have also permitted price reduction. Overall, blades output at Wood-Mizer’s European manufacturing facility has grown 250% over the past two years. The company’s response has been to increase from nine to seventeen the number of blades lines at the European plant which also serves Africa, India and Asia. a World of Trees Issue 18

Recently, it launched two more blade widths, and now offers four different tooth profiles. This is one of the reasons its world blades distribution network and its resharpening services have increased. Wood-Mizer’s band blades – a ‘standard’ in wood processing – are of high grade alloy and the teeth are induction hardened using its own technology. The company claims it can supply blades and coils of such quality at competitive prices due to the high volumes as well as the continuing investment in in-house production and treatment technologies. The Polish plant manufactures to ISO 9001:2000 and incoming blade coil from its American parent is tested metallurgically before transformation to blades. Each blade carries individual identification to monitor quality and gain user feedback as well as ensure authenticity. This blade material can be supplied as ready-to-use blades (sharpened, set and welded to required length) or as 100-metre coils for its certified blade sales outlets to weld to individual customer needs.

The company believes that strong demand for its blades worldwide testifies to their longevity, quality of cut and – particularly important – low cost per cubic metre of sawn timber which customers have come to expect from a Wood-Mizer blade.

5


! k e Eee Larvae go through 5 to 6 larval stages (instars). Between stages they molt by shedding their skin. Few events have been as impactful on American forests as the introduction of Lymantria dispar, the gypsy moth. This insect ranks at the top of the Most Devastating Invasive Species list along with chestnut blight, Dutch elm disease, and newcomer - emerald ash borer. Known for its insatiable appetite, curiously rapid spread, and gregarious social nature the gypsy moth caterpillars can defoliate an entire forest in the matter of a few weeks causing foresters and arborists alike to hold their collective breath each spring, hoping for a light breakout. Unfortunately, light breakouts are exceptional in the heavily infested eastern United States and each year the pest continues to spread.

The Gypsy Moth Comes to America

Gypsy moth is the rare invasive species that we can pinpoint its introduction down to the city block it started on. Portrait painter, hobby entomologist, and, later, noted astronomer E. Leopold Trouvelot was interested in silkworms in the late 1860’s. He studied native silkworms, cultured them in his backyard, and wrote a paper in the inaugural volume of the journal American Naturalist on US species that may be suitable for use in silk production. Sometime in the 1860’s Trouvelot traveled to France and brought back several egg masses of a blue and red spotted tussock moth known in Europe as

eWorld of Trees

! s h t o M Gypsy gher Watson By Brandon M. Galla

First instar larva e (caterpillars) ha tch in the spring previous summer from eggs .

Lymantria dispar. Trouvelot apparently grew these on his backyard trees in hopes of either cultivating them or breeding them with native silkworms to increase disease resistance. Regardless the reason, Trouvelot’s larvae began escaping and feeding on other trees in the neighborhood. Trouvelot, realizing the possible impact of these insects, contacted entomologists in the area but no management was done for 20 years. Trouvelot lost interest in silkworms, moved onto astronomy, and by the time he left the country in 1882 gypsy moth was well on its way to being a serious threat.

Management Efforts

The first control program to eradicate Trouvelot’s caterpillars was begun in 1889 focusing on removing egg masses by hand, burning infested trees, and using early insecticides. For all its cost and labor the attempt was unsuccessful and abandoned in 1900. Gypsy moths continued to move west, defoliating forests as it went. Management plans of the late 20th Century have largely turned from eradication programs to suppression or “Slow the Spread” programs. Eradication is still the first line of defense in new infestation area in an attempt to stop them before they get a foothold. In areas that area already infested the plan is usually a combination of aerial sprays of a bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis (commonly known as ‘Bt’) and a virus known as Gypchek. Bt is the most common biological

laid the

control organism used in IPM programs and is hailed by many for its effectiveness on caterpillars while being harmless to everything else. Research has shown Bt may be more toxic to humans and mammals than originally thought so there are growing concerns about the Bt programs. Timing is also an issue as Bt is most effective against early instars thus it becomes less effective as the season goes on. Many areas are already seeing a backlash to the Bt spray programs. Some citizens are concerned these widespread aerial applications are having an effect on native moth and butterfly populations as Bt affects all lepidopteron insects. Gypchek is a formulation of a naturally occurring virus that can only affect gypsy moths so it is a promising eventual replacement for Bt. Gypchek’s largest downside is that it remains a very expensive product to produce and can only be applied by spray. Gypchek is manufactured by growing gypsy moths, infecting them with the virus, and then refining the caterpillars into a purified product is mixed with water and sprayed onto gypsy moth populations to infect them with the virus. Homeowners are often frustrated with these government run programs for two reasons; one, in many cases, especially along the front edge of the “slow the spread”, the practice is to allow the gypsy moth populations to build up so they can all be knocked down at the same time. The practice works fine for large scale management but if All photos ©USDA Forest Service


ae to detect ose antenn m lu p s a h oth e female. The male m mitted by th e e n o m ro e the sex ph

Fifth insta r

gypsy mo th larva

ally after egg hatch. Pupae are usu Pupation occurs about 8 weeks s. tion r cyrptic loca located in bark crevices or othe

it is your trees being eaten away while they wait for the populations to increase it can be nerve racking at best. The other reason these programs are unpopular is even though Bt and Gypchek are biological control products many are just uncomfortable with the practice of helicopters spraying their neighborhood no matter how many times they are told it’s safe.

Forestry management approaches vs. urban approaches In contrast to the forestry and landscape-scale management plans, the arborist has more options available for protecting high value trees. The forester has to think about programs for treating thousands of acres, the arborist gets to think about how to protect individual trees. Traditionally the arborist would be offering spray services for gypsy moth control. Common foliar spray products used by arborists are Bt, Conserve (spinosad), and Distance (pyriproxyfen) which are all

considered ‘bio-rational’ or Cluster of tree green alternative products. For s killed follow ing gypsy mot defoliation, C arborists not wishing to spray h entral PA or for situations where spraying is not feasible a new product, Lepitect, is available for soil application or long wide even Lepitect Infusible for tree injection. More scale management will continue. tools are available to the urban tree manager The arborist will always have homeowners than ever before and many arborists are and clients who want to treat their trees expanding their offerings by adding a new and the forest manager will always want product or application method to their line-up. to protect their investments. How much The ideal tool will be determined by a number government support will there be in a world of of factors including tree size, location, pest ever-shrinking management budgets remains pressure, and, of course, preference of the to be seen. The arborist has the advantage client. of multiple control options and homeowners will always have a need to protect their Future of gypsy moth in US trees. Someday the gypsy moth may settle For all the efforts of eradication, slowing into the American ecosystems and be just the spread, or treating single tree the gypsy another pest in the neighborhood but for moth continues its migration west. The gypsy the foreseeable future it remains a pest that moth as been established in the US for over demands the attention of tree practitioners one hundred years there is still considerable everywhere it is found. debate on the future of this insect and how

Links for more information:

USDA Forest Service Gypsy Moth Page: www.fs.fed.us/ne/morgantown/4557/gmoth/ Forest Service Forest Insect & Disease Leaflet www.na.fs.fed.us/SPFO/pubs/fidls/gypsymoth/gypsy.htm Slow the Spread Project www.gmsts.org/operations/

Information on Arborist Management Products:

Conserve SC www.treecaredirect.com/Conserve-SC-Natural-Pest-Control-p/209.htm Distance Insect Growth Regulator www.treecaredirect.com/Distance-Insect-Growth-Regulator-p/221.htm Lepitect Insecticide www.treecaredirect.com/Lepitect-Insecticide-p/1111.htm Lepitect Infusible Insecticide www.treecaredirect.com/Lepitect-Infusible-Insecticide-p/1112.htm eWorld of Trees


Online Competition

machines, wood chippers and stump grinders. The main risks from using these machines are from inadvertent contact/ entrapment by the machines which could cause lacerations or crushing injuries. General vehicles – Forestry tree workers may use a number of general purpose vehicles such as all-terrain vehicles or ATV quad bikes. Particular hazards may exist within the terrain, such as steep slopes or hidden objects, which may cause the vehicle to lose stability/overturn. There is also the risk of vehicles inadvertently coming into contact with other workers.

Further Advice

Advice on how to carry out tree work safely is contained in the series of AFAG leaflets which are available form HSE’s web site http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/forindex. htm.

inovem.ti/afagpublic/grouphome.



D P O’Callaghan

LEADERSHIP AND ARBORICULTURE – THE SAME OLD STORY? EDUCATION In this sector there has been tremendous progress since the days of the old OND Arboriculture, the NC Arboriculture and the Surrey Certificate; all based at Merrist Wood; the City & Guilds Certificate in Arboriculture; and the Arboriculture Option on the OND Amenity Horticulture at Askham Bryan. Now we have HNDs Foundation Degrees, a BSc (Honours) Degree Programme and as of 2007 an MSc in Arboriculture and Urban Forestry, the first of its kind in Europe. Although it must be said that the current ND Arboriculture has been „dumbed down‟ considerably and the value of the EDEXCEL NC Arboriculture is questionable to say the least.

Many years ago a piece was published in Horticulture Week entitled „Where have all the Leaders Gone‟ in which questions were posed about the future of Arboriculture as a profession in light of the lack of real leadership at the time. It was suggested that Arboriculture could decline and become a service industry to Horticulture & Landscape unless measures were taken to assert its place in the world. Looking back one could conclude that the fears expressed were unfounded as Arboriculture as a profession has developed considerably since the mid 1980‟s. On the surface everything looks great and the industry is buoyant. But on closer inspection one can see that all is not well, and indeed the situation could be compared to the sub-prime mortgage problem that was the underlying cause of the havoc in the financial markets and led to the collapse of some major banks. While it is true that Arboriculture has progressed well since the mid 1980‟s the question must be asked, is this the result of Leadership within the Industry Trade Associations or is it due to other, outside influences? Analysis of that question yields interesting answers in the areas of Education, Consulting, Local Authority and Utility. Let‟s look at the areas one by one and see where the real advancements occurred and what the drivers were.

The development of higher qualifications did not come via any of the trade associations, but came through the vision and foresight of the educators who were interested in furthering Arboriculture. By introducing HND and Degree Programmes, they ensured (a) graduate entry to the Arboriculture industry; and (b) that all graduates had the grounding in the basic sciences that underpin Arboriculture, which was lacking up to that point and it showed. The culmination of this educational effort is seen in the number of Arboriculturists now gaining Chartered status through the Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF). For its part the ICF has responded to the influx of Arboriculturists to its membership by adopting a name change that allows the Arboricultural members to refer to themselves as „Chartered Arboriculturists‟. This would not have happened without the effort and dedication of arboricultural educators and I doubt that it would have happened had the matter been left to the initiative of the industry trade associations. It is significant that the ICF holds the Charter for Arboriculture from both the Privy Council in the UK and from the European Parliament and is the only Institute that holds the Charter for Arboriculture.

certainly does not confer the title „Chartered Arboriculturist‟ upon those who obtain it. Rather than lead on behalf of its members, what seems to have happened is that a diversionary tactic has been adopted, offering a Charter that is of little or no use to professional Arboriculturists who practice as Consultants. It is analogous to a Chartered Architect (RIBA) putting him/her self forward as a Chartered Town Planner, (MRTPI). Whilst it is true that architects are required to be familiar with planning, (as incidentally are Consultant Arboriculturists), they are not Chartered Town Planners. Architecture is an allied profession to that of Planning, but it is not Planning. Similarly work in the area of the environment may include working with trees but SocEnv certainly does not hold the Charter for Arboriculture. To be positive, there have been some trade association contributions. For example in the late 1980s the Technician’s Certificate in Arboriculture was introduced, which was conceived as a qualification on the route to the Professional Diploma that the Royal Forestry Society (RFS) offers. This was conceived in the days before higher education qualifications were available. It remains today an excellent self study qualification. But it must be remembered that the Tech. Cert. is not a higher level or degree equivalent qualification, whereas MICFor is degree equivalent. In recent years the Professional Diploma in Arboriculture has been re-vamped and developed such that it is now a Level 6 Degree Equivalent qualification that qualifies candidates for the ICF Charter. This is due to the work on one man and his training agency who has worked tirelessly to achieve this for the good of Arboriculture.

To conclude on education, there has been a lot of progress in recent years up to and including the „Holy Grail‟ of Chartered Arboriculturist. But the progress has been slow and driven not by trade associations and their leaders, but by educators and practitioners who saw the need and drove it forward. So the question at this time is why should a professional Arboriculturist join the any of the trade associations when s/he can become a Chartered Arboriculturist? In the great scheme of things, working in the industry and with allied chartered professionals including Architects, Engineers, Planners, Surveyors, Solicitors & Barristers, the Charter is what really matters and carries weight, and this is only available from the ICF. D P O’Callaghan, F.Arbor.A, MICFor., MAE Chartered Arboriculturist Adjunct Full Professor, Forest Resources Dept, Clemson University, South Carolina The content of this article represents Dealga O’Callaghans personal views. Photo: Paul Bright

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What then is the problem? Well the problem is the response of one of trade association to the availability of Chartered Status to Arboriculturists. Rather than embracing the development, it decided to seek Chartered status for its members via an alternative route. It offers Arboriculturists the opportunity of becoming Chartered Environmentalists via the Society for the Environment (SocEnv). Why? Membership of the SocEnv does not confer a Charter for Arboriculture, the only body that can do that is the ICF. In adopting this course of action the trade association concerned has, in my opinion not only failed its membership in a most fundamental way but it has also failed the wider arboricultural industry. It offers a Charter that has only very limited relevance to Arboriculture; it

e World of Trees

One trade association offers a range of certifications, from Certified Tree Worker through Certified Arborist to Certified Utility or Municipal Certification to Board Certified Master Arborist, through the local Chapter, which has worked with the European Arboriculture Council (EAC) to facilitate cross qualification at certified and tree worker levels. But these are essentially craft and junior management self study qualifications and are not degree equivalent.

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D P O’Callaghan

LEADERSHIP AND ARBORICULTURE – THE SAME OLD STORY? EDUCATION In this sector there has been tremendous progress since the days of the old OND Arboriculture, the NC Arboriculture and the Surrey Certificate; all based at Merrist Wood; the City & Guilds Certificate in Arboriculture; and the Arboriculture Option on the OND Amenity Horticulture at Askham Bryan. Now we have HNDs Foundation Degrees, a BSc (Honours) Degree Programme and as of 2007 an MSc in Arboriculture and Urban Forestry, the first of its kind in Europe. Although it must be said that the current ND Arboriculture has been „dumbed down‟ considerably and the value of the EDEXCEL NC Arboriculture is questionable to say the least.

Many years ago a piece was published in Horticulture Week entitled „Where have all the Leaders Gone‟ in which questions were posed about the future of Arboriculture as a profession in light of the lack of real leadership at the time. It was suggested that Arboriculture could decline and become a service industry to Horticulture & Landscape unless measures were taken to assert its place in the world. Looking back one could conclude that the fears expressed were unfounded as Arboriculture as a profession has developed considerably since the mid 1980‟s. On the surface everything looks great and the industry is buoyant. But on closer inspection one can see that all is not well, and indeed the situation could be compared to the sub-prime mortgage problem that was the underlying cause of the havoc in the financial markets and led to the collapse of some major banks. While it is true that Arboriculture has progressed well since the mid 1980‟s the question must be asked, is this the result of Leadership within the Industry Trade Associations or is it due to other, outside influences? Analysis of that question yields interesting answers in the areas of Education, Consulting, Local Authority and Utility. Let‟s look at the areas one by one and see where the real advancements occurred and what the drivers were.

The development of higher qualifications did not come via any of the trade associations, but came through the vision and foresight of the educators who were interested in furthering Arboriculture. By introducing HND and Degree Programmes, they ensured (a) graduate entry to the Arboriculture industry; and (b) that all graduates had the grounding in the basic sciences that underpin Arboriculture, which was lacking up to that point and it showed. The culmination of this educational effort is seen in the number of Arboriculturists now gaining Chartered status through the Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF). For its part the ICF has responded to the influx of Arboriculturists to its membership by adopting a name change that allows the Arboricultural members to refer to themselves as „Chartered Arboriculturists‟. This would not have happened without the effort and dedication of arboricultural educators and I doubt that it would have happened had the matter been left to the initiative of the industry trade associations. It is significant that the ICF holds the Charter for Arboriculture from both the Privy Council in the UK and from the European Parliament and is the only Institute that holds the Charter for Arboriculture.

certainly does not confer the title „Chartered Arboriculturist‟ upon those who obtain it. Rather than lead on behalf of its members, what seems to have happened is that a diversionary tactic has been adopted, offering a Charter that is of little or no use to professional Arboriculturists who practice as Consultants. It is analogous to a Chartered Architect (RIBA) putting him/her self forward as a Chartered Town Planner, (MRTPI). Whilst it is true that architects are required to be familiar with planning, (as incidentally are Consultant Arboriculturists), they are not Chartered Town Planners. Architecture is an allied profession to that of Planning, but it is not Planning. Similarly work in the area of the environment may include working with trees but SocEnv certainly does not hold the Charter for Arboriculture. To be positive, there have been some trade association contributions. For example in the late 1980s the Technician’s Certificate in Arboriculture was introduced, which was conceived as a qualification on the route to the Professional Diploma that the Royal Forestry Society (RFS) offers. This was conceived in the days before higher education qualifications were available. It remains today an excellent self study qualification. But it must be remembered that the Tech. Cert. is not a higher level or degree equivalent qualification, whereas MICFor is degree equivalent. In recent years the Professional Diploma in Arboriculture has been re-vamped and developed such that it is now a Level 6 Degree Equivalent qualification that qualifies candidates for the ICF Charter. This is due to the work on one man and his training agency who has worked tirelessly to achieve this for the good of Arboriculture.

To conclude on education, there has been a lot of progress in recent years up to and including the „Holy Grail‟ of Chartered Arboriculturist. But the progress has been slow and driven not by trade associations and their leaders, but by educators and practitioners who saw the need and drove it forward. So the question at this time is why should a professional Arboriculturist join the any of the trade associations when s/he can become a Chartered Arboriculturist? In the great scheme of things, working in the industry and with allied chartered professionals including Architects, Engineers, Planners, Surveyors, Solicitors & Barristers, the Charter is what really matters and carries weight, and this is only available from the ICF. D P O’Callaghan, F.Arbor.A, MICFor., MAE Chartered Arboriculturist Adjunct Full Professor, Forest Resources Dept, Clemson University, South Carolina The content of this article represents Dealga O’Callaghans personal views. Photo: Paul Bright

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What then is the problem? Well the problem is the response of one of trade association to the availability of Chartered Status to Arboriculturists. Rather than embracing the development, it decided to seek Chartered status for its members via an alternative route. It offers Arboriculturists the opportunity of becoming Chartered Environmentalists via the Society for the Environment (SocEnv). Why? Membership of the SocEnv does not confer a Charter for Arboriculture, the only body that can do that is the ICF. In adopting this course of action the trade association concerned has, in my opinion not only failed its membership in a most fundamental way but it has also failed the wider arboricultural industry. It offers a Charter that has only very limited relevance to Arboriculture; it

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One trade association offers a range of certifications, from Certified Tree Worker through Certified Arborist to Certified Utility or Municipal Certification to Board Certified Master Arborist, through the local Chapter, which has worked with the European Arboriculture Council (EAC) to facilitate cross qualification at certified and tree worker levels. But these are essentially craft and junior management self study qualifications and are not degree equivalent.

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Occupational Hygiene Case Study

A 1999 to 2001 an American study into noise and vibration exposures in forestry workers concluded that people working in these industries were at risk of developing vibration associated diseases and noise induced hearing loss. In 1999 a 166 HAV and WBV measurements were made at 10 sites over 8 weeks. Chainsaws and every type of heavy equipment measured exceeded recommended vibration exposure guidelines, while 60% of all noise exposures exceeded the limit. It should be noted that there was no relationship between equipment noise and vibration levels. The study in 2001 confirmed the highest noise sources were chain saws, road graders and font end loaders. Furthermore, fifty seven percent of HAV and seventy five percent of whole body measurements were over the recommended 8 hour limit. The highest hand arm vibration sources were chainsaws and front end loaders. The highest whole body vibration sources were shovels and forwarders. Given that the working practices are similar in the UK to the US it would not be unreasonable to assume similar exposure results here.

Occupational hygiene is the discipline of anticipating, recognising, evaluating and controlling health hazards in the working environment with the objective of protecting worker health and well-being and safeguarding the community at large. Riverside Environmental Head of Occupational Hygiene, Huw Kellett takes a look at two of the main hazards associated with the arboriculture industry and how to comply with the associated legal requirements.

Occupational Hygiene

To control exposure to vibration and noise a similar course of action is required:

by Huw Kellett

A lot of work activities in the arboriculture industry use machinery that can cause physical injury from rotating blades or impact. Quite often the “safety” aspect is addressed in health and safety risk assessments but the “health” is ignored or at the very least under estimated. The two areas I will be looking at are noise and vibration. The employer has a legal requirement to comply with the associated legislation and failure to comply can lead to improvement notices issued from the Health & Safety Executive.

Noise

Where vibration occurs noise is often an associated problem. Exposure to excessive noise leads to hearing impairment known as ‘noise induced hearing loss’ or ‘occupational deafness’. The HSE estimate 1 million people are exposed to noise in the workplace and 170,000 people suffer deafness, tinnitus (a permanent ringing or buzzing in the ears not resulting from an external source) or other ear conditions as a result of exposure to excessive noise at work. Noise is measured in decibels (dB) and is weighted to compensate for the way humans perceive sound; this is known as A-weighting or dB(A) for short. The control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 state that where noise exposures are between 80 dB(A) and 85 dB(A), the lower exposure action value, hearing protection should be provided at the employees request and for exposures above 85 dB(A), the upper exposure action value, the use of hearing protection be enforced.

Basically, If you / an employee has to shout to a colleague who is at a distance of about 2 meters in order to be heard then the noise level is likely to be about 85 decibels. Similarly, if you have to shout to make yourself heard to a colleague who is 1 meter away from you the background noise is likely to be 90 decibels. Typical noise emissions for equipment used by arboriculturists are listed below: Chainsaw less than 70cc 106 dB(A) Chainsaw greater than 70cc 111 dB(A) Strimmers 94 - 106 dB(A) Lawn mowers 82 – 91 dB(A) Pruning saws/shears 104 dB (A) * Source – Forestry Commission To put this in the context of the regulations, without the use of hearing protection an exposure 100 dB(A) for five minutes would result in a daily noise dose of 80 dB(A) and for fifteen minutes 85 dB(A), the lower and upper action values respectively.

Vibration

Regular exposure to hand arm vibration can cause a range health effects known as Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS). Whole-body vibration affects the lower back, spine and even the neck and shoulders. Hand arm vibration occurs from using vibrating had tools such as chainsaws and hedge trimmers and whole body vibration from driving vehicles over uneven surfaces or standing on vibrating platforms. Given the

work practices in the arboriculture industry are particularly at risk.

Hand Arm Vibration

The ill health is historically referred to as Vibration White Finger but better known as Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS). It is not certain how vibration causes the syndrome but it is suspected that slight and constant injury to the blood vessels and nerves in the fingers results in loss of function. It has been estimated that one in ten people who work regularly with vibrating hand tools is at risk of developing HAVS. In the United Kingdom, the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 came into force in 2006 and gives specific precautions to control vibration in the workplace detailing exposure limits which must be complied with. These units of measurement are in meters per second or m/s for short. For hand arm vibration there are two types of exposures limit that have to be complied with. These are:

Exposure Action Value (EAV) – 2.5 m/s2 A(8) (exposure averaged over a day) Wherever exposure at or above this level occurs, actions (including health surveillance) are required to control the risk. Exposure Limit Value (ELV) – 5 m/s2 A(8) (exposure averaged over a day) This is the maximum vibration exposure permitted for any individual on a single day.

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1. Carry out a risk assessment to determine where noise and vibration exposures. This will identify work activities where there could be a significant risk. Noise and

vibration emission data provided by the machine manufacturers and suppliers can assist with risk assessment and machinery / tool selection. Manufacturers are obliged to ensure low noise designs and to provide values for the noise and vibration emission under stated operating conditions. It is also recognised that the real world operating conditions will also influence the noise & vibration emissions and the noise exposure of the operator; often higher exposures than the manufacturers estimation. An occupational hygienist will be able to take measurements to accurately reflect exposures in the working environment. 2. Eliminating or reducing vibration at source should always be the first step (for example, can the job be done in a different way or by adopting purchasing policy where suitable noise and vibration-reduced equipment is selected) 3. Inform employees of the risks arising from noise and vibration and the associated adverse health effects and symptoms to look out for. 4. Train employees how to reduce noise and vibration exposure and ensure they make correct use of personal protective equipment and control

measures made available to them. 5. Maintain work equipment in a good condition. Frequent maintenance and using sharp tools and blades has been demonstrated to reduce noise and vibration exposures. 6. Where exposure limits are exceeded, it may be necessary to put time limits on the use of certain equipment and rotate jobs between employees to reduce exposure. An occupational hygienist can assist with the creation of an exposure points system which will aid you in making these decisions. 7. As different types of hearing protection have different attenuation characteristics, it is essential that the correct type is used. A person deemed competent to undertake noise surveys will be able to assist you with the correct selection. 8. Health surveillance is essential for employees where the symptoms have been reported or likely. The benefits of an effective noise and vibration control programme are improved relations and trust of your employees due to healthier working environments, cost savings due to less absenteeism and reduced litigation. Finally, you will be compliant when the HSE come knocking on your door!



I t r Pa

Emergency First Aid Ki s

for Arborists and Loggers

By Mike Keeney Mike@NVone.com

Arborists and loggers work in some of the world’s most dangerous environments. Trimmers, chippers and chainsaws are all waiting to bite. Then there’s all the climbing, balancing and dangerous terrain to deal with. Collectively, these factors contribute to thousands of serious injuries and fatalities every year, and things are often made worse by the remoteness of the jobsite. When you’re ten, twenty, thirty or more miles from civilization you can easily find yourself in a situation where you’re going to have to deal with a life threatening emergency on your own. When no help is available, would you know what to do? Do you have the proper equipment? Minor scrapes and splinters are one thing, but what would you do if your chainsaw kicked back and sliced through an artery in your leg? You’ve got about 2 minutes before you pass out from loss of blood. Would you eWorld of Trees

lie there and bleed to death or would you save your life? This may sound a little dramatic but the fact is people die from injuries like this all the time. The Injuries & Fatalities section on ArboristSite.com is full of stories where this exact scenario happened. Ultimately, the best thing would be to not have accidents happen at all. Better safety awareness and improvements in personal protective equipment (PPE) have significantly reduced the number of workplace injuries, but even in the best of circumstances accidents are still going to happen. Sometimes an accident may not even be the root cause of an emergency. Heat strokes are life threatening, as are heart attacks. Whatever the emergency, three things need to happen extremely fast. First, you need to assess the emergency and develop a plan of action. Then you have to take action to stabilize the patient, even if it’s you. Finally, you need to either get help or get to help.

Even if the situation isn’t particularly life threatening proper first aid can go a long way toward alleviating pain and minimizing damage. There are eight major categories of emergencies that you could face on a jobsite or out in the wilderness. They are: • Temperature: Heatstroke\ Hypothermia\Frostbite • Deep Cuts\Punctures causing significant blood loss or internal injury • Burns: 2nd and 3rd degree • Broken Bones\Sprains • Cardiac\Diabetes\Seizures • Shock • Poisons: Bugs\Snakes\Plants • Eye Injuries Of the eight categories listed, six of them can easily result in a fatality. Sometimes there isn’t anything that can be done, but when there is, you’re going to need to know what to do and have the right supplies on hand to deal with it.


ASSESS THE EMERGENCY

There is a lot more to assessing an emergency than just identifying what happened. You need to develop a plan of action and implement it without hesitation. Seconds count. Proper education is the key to success and without a doubt, the best place to go for that is The Red Cross. They have a host of courses and certifications for first aid and CPR. They even have a course for Wilderness First Aid that not only covers first aid basics but also includes advanced training for issues that can happen in the forests and back country. Working in the wilderness adds an extra element of risk because professional help isn’t right around the corner. You might be on your own or reliant on a coworker, but there’s one thing for sure, a paramedic isn’t going to be the one to save you. Ask yourself this, if you cut halfway through your leg, how much better off would you be if you or your coworker knew how to stop the bleeding? That little bit of education can mean the difference between life and death. The sad thing is, arborists and loggers die all the time because people either didn’t know what to do or didn’t have the equipment onsite to properly deal with the emergency. Trauma doctors often refer to the first hour of a medical emergency as the Golden Hour. The greatest chance for success in saving someone’s life or mitigating damage happens in that first hour. Being out in the middle of nowhere compounds the problem because paramedics aren’t three minutes away and the extra time it takes to transport someone to the Emergency Room doesn’t stop the timer. It’s critical that the patient is stabilized and transported as quickly as possible. Knowing how to deal with an emergency is the key to success. When someone cuts their leg with a chainsaw or gets seriously burned, or breaks a bone in a fall, there’s no time to panic. The instant something happens, the clock is ticking. You’re in the golden hour.

can be found at this website https://www. redcrossonlinetraining.org/Distance/ Default.aspx?/chid=692. One thing you can be absolutely certain of, you will never regret taking the course. It’s something you can take with you for the rest of your life. For your own benefit or the benefit of the people you work with, please take a first aid course.

FIRST AID KITS AND EMERGENCY SUPPLIES

The choices for first aid kits are literally infinite. Most are packed with a few band aids, a pair of tweezers and a few packets of aspirin, but a $10 first aid kit from the local drugstore isn’t going to be much use when a serious injury happens. The truth is, you need the band aids and tweezers to be OSHA compliant, but there is so much more that you should have on hand for the real emergencies. A first aid kit that can tackle the issues faced by arborists and loggers will need to be equipped with some rather specialized supplies. Ice packs, a clotting agent, burn dressings and a splint are all non typical items you should have on the jobsite. Logistics is another factor to consider. Your first aid kit may not be readily available at the exact location of a serious emergency. It could be as little as 100 yards away, but if you can’t get to it, it isn’t going to do you much good. So how do you have a first aid kit that’s equipped to handle all of the problems you could face, and have it be portable enough to carry around? The answer is you can’t, it isn’t really practical. There is a workable solution though. Have two first aid kits. A master kit that is well stocked with all of the supplies needed to handle the full spectrum of problems you could face on a jobsite and a personal kit carried on your belt that is stocked with the supplies necessary to address major emergencies such as a deep cut or burn. If the master kit is too far away or you simply aren’t able to get to it, there needs to be a plan in place to survive the first few minutes. A personal first aid kit can do that. So what special supplies should be included in the typical Arborist and Loggers First Aid Kit?

To find your local Red Cross chapter you can call 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767), or visit their website at www.redcross.org. They are more than happy to train individuals as well as companies. If you’re working for a company you should get together with management and ask them to sponsor the training for you and your coworkers. There is actually an OSHA regulation, 1910.266(i)(7)(i) and (ii) for logging operations that requires all employees, including supervisors, be trained in first aid and CPR. In some circumstances the Red Cross can come to your company or jobsite and do the training there. Many of the Red Cross courses are also available online. Information about online courses

HEATSTROKE\HYPOTHERMIA\ FROSTBITE

According to Capt. Spencer Williams, an EMT with the Reno, NV Fire Department and a former logger, heat stroke is one of the most frequent life threatening emergencies they see in the field. Heatstroke can be deceptively deadly because it can still be killing you even though some of the symptoms appear to have subsided. Again, education is the lifesaver here. The ability to recognize heatstroke symptoms and start first aid as quickly as possible is critical. It makes sense to include a couple of instant cold compresses in your master first aid kit. Basically, the way these work is you squeeze the pouch to combine a couple of chemicals and the reaction causes the pouch to get

very cold. For heatstroke you apply the pouch to the places on the body where the major arteries are close to the skin, such as the side of the neck, under the armpits, in the groin area. The cold compresses chill the blood which then travels to the other organs helping them to cool down. Instant cold compresses are inexpensive. You can find them at any drugstore or sporting goods store for under $5 for a twin pack. They’re also great for sprains or swelling. Hypothermia is another killer in the colder climes. Add a couple of HeatWrap pads to your master kit. These are simple to use. You simply open the package and they get hot. Apply these to the same places you as the cold compress, lower neck, armpits and groin. They stay warm for hours. There’s no reason not to have a few of those on hand. Frostbite is best left up to the pro’s. You need to get the frostbitten parts out of the freezing temperatures, but you have to be careful about warming up the person too fast or you could cause even more damage. The best thing to do for frostbite is to wrap the affected area with gauze and get the person to the emergency room as fast as possible.

DEEP CUTS AND PUNCTURES

The tools and machinery used by arborists and loggers can cause some of the most horrific injuries imaginable. All it takes is a split second for a chainsaw to cut a leg or arm nearly in half. Chainsaws are designed to grab and dig. To make things worse they don’t cut flesh, they mangle it. The fact is, there are hundreds of ways for an arborist or logger to get a deep cut or puncture. You can lose a finger or hand, or an arm or leg in an instant. When one of these injuries happens, seconds count. Again, education is the key to survival. You or your co-workers must be able to assess the problem and take immediate action. The number one consideration is to get the bleeding under control. The first thing to do is apply pressure and elevate eWorld of Trees


Emergency First Aid Ki s for Arborists and Loggers the wound as quickly as possible. This is exactly the situation where your personal first aid kit can save your life. It should have the supplies necessary to stop an arterial bleed. Sterile gauze can be used to pack the wound if you can get it into the wound quickly enough. There are also specialized compression bandages that are designed to apply pressure directly over a wound to arrest the bleeding. One type of bandage is distributed by PerSys Medical, Houston, TX, www.PS-Med.com. This inexpensive bandage is used by military forces all over the world. It is light, compact and fits easily into the personal first aid kit. You can view a demonstration here: www.ps-med.com/ VIDEOS/Bandage-Demonstration.mpg.

One of the most effective methods of stopping major bleeding comes from Sam Medical Products, Tualatin, OR, www.SamMedical.com. They are the US distributor for a product called Celox. Celox is a hemostatic agent made from Chitosan granules, a compound derived from shrimp shells. Despite being made of shrimp shells, Celox is hypo-allergenic and there are no cases on record of allergic reaction by seafood allergy sufferers. When applied directly to a cut or wound, a blood clot will begin to form within 30 seconds. Celox is packaged four different ways. There is a powdered form that can be poured directly into a wound. This can be extremely effective as the granules can be spread over the entire wound completely stopping all bleeding. You will still need to cover the wound and apply pressure for 5 minutes, but that is the same for all Celox products. Celox-D comes in an airtight pouch with 3 bags containing the Celox granules. The bags dissolve on contact with blood, releasing the compound. Celox-D has the advantage of being able to apply to a wound without falling out or blowing away. Celox-Gauze is a 3in×10ft roll of fabric impregnated with Celox granules. The material is easily placed in a wound and will even tear easily by hand if necessary. Celox-A is basically a large syringe type eWorld of Trees

device filled with Celox that is used for deep puncture wounds. Celox-A is probably not needed in an arborist‘s or logger‘s first aid kit as small, deep punctures are relatively rare and any of the other Celox products can be used. Given the effectiveness of Celox and that it doesn’t require any special training to use it is probably the most important item you should stock in both the master and personal kits. If there is any drawback to Celox it’s that it can be a little pricey. Regular Celox powder comes in 15g and 35g packages that cost around $15 and $24 respectively. Celox-D is packaged with three 17g bags in one pouch. Of the three, Celox-D is versatile and compact, making it ideal for the personal first aid kit, but you will still need to carry gauze and some kind of wrap. Celox-D costs around $50. Celox Gauze is probably the easiest to use of the three. Open the package, unroll what you need, pack it into the wound and cover with a wrap. It sells for about $40. Even though Celox costs more than cotton gauze or a pressure dressing, the price has to be weighed against its effectiveness. Hemorrhaging is the second leading cause of mortality among non-military inflicted trauma, accounting for 39% of deaths. Skimping on $40 or $50 at the risk of bleeding to death is a pretty bad decision. You should have Celox in both your master kit and your personal kit. Another option to keep from bleeding to death is a tourniquet, but it should probably be the choice of last resort. Over the years, tourniquets seem to fall in and out of favor. Faced with the choice of bleeding to death or surviving, you’re the only one who can make the decision whether or not to use one; however, all other options, such as Celox, should be employed first. But, it’s still reasonable to have one in your personal first aid kit, just in case. In the case of a puncture, the primary thing to remember is Whatever went in, don’t pull it out, no matter where it’s stuck!!! According to Captain Williams there’s usually a lot of damage done when something is going in. There’s a high likelihood of causing as much, if not more damage, if you try to pull it out. Removal is always done at the hospital. Even if you fall and run a tree branch completely through your torso, cut the branch off, wrap the wound and get to the hospital. Also, when you pull the object out you’re going to start bleeding badly. You don’t want that. It’s best to remove these things on the operating table. When The Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin, was impaled through the heart by a stingray, doctors all over the world said he had a fair chance of surviving had he not pulled the barb out. He bled out and died within seconds after its removal

BURNS, 2ND AND 3RD DEGREE

Serious burns are going to happen on a jobsite. Hopefully they won’t be too serious, but with all the hot mufflers, gas and oil around you need to be prepared to treat a 2nd or 3rd degree burn. Burns have more than one deadly aspect to them. If

someone’s on fire you need to put out the fire as quickly as possible, but there’s more to consider after that. Just because the fire is out doesn’t mean that residual heat isn’t still causing damage. It’s important to get the burned area cooled down as quickly as possible. However, if someone’s burned over a large part of the body, throwing an ice chest full of freezing water on them could put them into shock, which can be deadly as well. The skin plays a major role in maintaining proper body temperature. When large areas of skin are burned or missing, body temperature can lower rapidly, causing hypothermia. This can happen even if the outside temperature is moderate. Many burn victims survive the burn event itself only to die in the hospital a few days later from infection. Our skin is the body’s front line barrier to infection. When a burned area is exposed to the air it becomes a magnet for bacteria. It is critical to cover the wound with a sterile dressing as quickly as possible. Applying an oil or petroleum based ointment is not advisable until the burned area is fully cooled, because it can trap the heat inside the wound, according to Judy Domanski, spokeswoman for Water-Jel Technologies, a Carlstadt, NJ based manufacturer of sterile burn dressings, blankets and ointments. Once again, education is the key. Take the Red Cross first aid course! Water-Jel dressings are a must for both the master and personal first aid kits. They come in a variety of sizes from 2in × 6in to 8in × 20in. They are also available in blankets for use on large burn areas, ranging in size from 3ft × 2½ft all the way up to 6ft × 8ft for complete covering of an adult. It makes sense to put a small dressing in the personal kit and keep one or two larger ones in the master kit. The advantage to Water-Jel dressings is that they draw the heat out of the wound without cooling the body. This stops the damage from progressing deeper. Because they contain a small amount of Tea Tree Oil they also provide an excellent barrier against infection. “Small burns (e.g., a burn to the hand) can be covered initially with gauze and saline. Wet, cool dressings feel better, and there is very little likelihood of developing hypothermia from a burn to an isolated area. However, for transport purposes, the general rule is that once the burning process is stopped, serious or “bad burns” should be covered loosely with dry dressings”, according to an article by Scott DeBoer, Craig Felty and Michael Seaver,



A walk on the wild side by Mike Jarmain

Did you know that Lime trees used to be used for making fishing nets or that spruce needles contain Vitamin C? Or that you can drink the sap straight from Birch trees in early spring? Or that leaves from certain tree species are good to eat in moderation right off the tree? An amazingly deep and diverse range of knowledge about Nature and how Man should use it for his own benefits has been accumulated over thousands of years. And yet, in recent history that knowledge has started to fade from common knowledge, as our society has become increasingly urbanised. For most of us, tree and plant identification is taken as a given and many people have an incredible depth of scientific knowledge about trees, their environment and their management. But this older knowledge can make any day more interesting because it makes you think about how you can use something growing naturally for your own benefit, just as our recent and not so recent ancestors would have done. By using this knowledge you can reconnect with the past, enjoy yourself and even save money! Today this knowledge and associated skills such as firelighting, shelter building and finding food, come under the broad banner of survival skills, primitive skills or, more recently, bushcraft. No matter what the name, they all have one thing in common - a desire to know more about making yourself comfortable, fed and watered when out and about. Since most people reading this are outside virtually everyday, I hope it proves not only interesting but of real benefit! Over the course of the following issues, some of the most common trees and plants will be looked at, examining how they’ve been used in the past and how you can use them today. Various skills will also be examined, from firelighting to making a comfortable bed. If there’s anything in particular you’d like to see featured, please get in touch. Birch naturally sheds its oute r bark - excelle nt for firelighting

8

collect due to the root system spreading far more horizontally than downwards. Literally all you have to do is scrape the forest floor with your foot to expose the root system and then gently tease up the root with your hands. Secondly, the root perfectly matches the three essential requirements of any natural cord – long, strong and flexible. A top tip is to remove the bark from the root as soon as you lift it from the ground. This helps to ensure you get the best quality and strength from the root that you can and that your lashings and knots are tighter. However, I have used it on many occasions with the bark on and it has proved long lasting and durable, if not quite so aesthetically appealing. Any cord you don’t have an immediate use for only has to be soaked to again make it highly flexible.

One other area of use is worth noting, especially if you’re having problems with your leather boots or spotty skin. Birch bark oil is good for treating both. It can be made by heating strips of the bark in a container. The oil found in the bark is ‘sweated’ out and can be collected by placing a smaller container underneath (for detailed info, type in ‘Birch Bark Oil’ into any search engine). It is said that this oil will never rot or mildew and is good for treating eczema. Collecting it is still a sizeable industry in Russia today.

A birch tree - ready to tap for sap at the very start of spring

Birch Tree: The Lady of the Woods

The birch is one of the most common yet also one of the most useful of trees. Some of the North American Indians used to say that “as long as the world stands, this tree shall be a protection and benefit to man.” And so it has proved. It can be used to make skis and provide an oil to wax them with, tan leather, as firewood, as tinder, for making furniture …...in fact, the list of uses that birch can be put to is extremely long and varied. In early spring the bark can more easily be gathered and the range of articles it can be used for is truly staggering. It has variously been used for cups, canoes, roofing, spoons, bowls, baskets and even as writing paper. There is not much else in Nature that is so incredibly versatile. Again, in early spring, the sap can easily be tapped and drunk straight away. It has a slightly sweet taste and is very refreshing. For those who require slightly stronger sustenance and can wait a few months, fermenting the sap leads to Birch wine, apparently a favoured drink of Queen Victoria. If you do drink the wine, you are in good company. Birch wine has been drunk for at least 3000 years! However, there is one area where birch excels above most other trees - firelighting. The bark, when scraped into a fine powder, will light easily from a spark. Thin strips of bark can then be lit, producing an oily smoke – an indication of the high concentrations of resinous oil naturally found within. The smoke at this stage has a distinctive smell to it, not at all unpleasant and utterly unique.

Spruce © Forestry Commission

Birch Oil © Mike

Richardson

Further careful distillation of the oil produces a substance called birch tar. This was commonly used by almost all of our European ancestors for gluing materials together, fixing cracks in clay pots and even chewing as a gum. The use of birch tar has been found on objects over 80,000 years old and probably even exceeds that!

Birch Tar © Mike

Spruce Tree:

The only conifer native to Britain is the Scots Pine. However, the variants of spruce planted in the UK in more recent times, especially Sitka, enable you to tap into the historical uses of this tree from the areas where they originate from. In the case of sitka spruce this is western N. America, from Alaska down to California. The most important parts of the spruce tree historically were its resin, roots and needles. Spruce root was used in significant quantities for anything that needed lashing or weaving together, especially in birch bark canoes and basket making. Undoubtedly the reason it was used is two fold. Firstly, it is just so easy to

Richardson

It is amazing that all this comes from one tree and a very common tree at that. So the next time you’re working on a birch, just step back for a minute and look at it with a view to asking yourself, “What can the parts of this tree do for me?” If you do, you’ll be joining a line of thought stretching back tens of thousands of years.

a World of Trees Issue 19

me A supporting fra root e ruc sp tied with

a World of Trees Issue 19

Sap oozing from a spruce tree - easy to collect

Another important use for the spruce tree is the resin it produces. As anybody who has worked on spruce knows, the citrus-smelling resin is incredibly sticky and appears all over the trunk. Again, collection could not be easier. Simply prise off the resin chunks wherever they appear into a container. You then have two choices and both are equally fascinating. The first use is in fire. The resin is highly inflammable. When added to a small fire, you may find that, if you add enough, you won’t actually need to add any wood at all! The only point to note is that it burns with a black sooty smoke (an indication of the highly resinous oil contained within) that will make a mess of the bottom of your pans. The second use is as glue. Traditionally this was used for gluing arrowheads and other such sharp implements to their shafts before they were bound on with cordage. There are various ways to make it but I find

the easiest to be the following method. Boil the resin clumps in a little water and when it has completely liquidised, filter the mixture through some grass or other material. This removes any of the lumps of bark, dead insects, etc that will detract from the glues final finish and effectiveness. Continue gently simmering the liquid to boil off the water and it will eventually start to thicken. At this stage some finely pummelled charcoal can be added – this prevents the eventual glue from being so brittle. Once the two are well mixed, take it away from the fire and allow to cool but NOT for too long. Whilst still warm, mould onto a debarked stick, almost like a ‘glue lollipop.’ Whenever you want to use it, just gently heat it and dab the glue on. Be warned – you have to be quick as it sets fast! The final use of spruce is as a tea. The needles contain a great deal of Vitamin C, far more than orange juice. To make spruce tea, simply collect a handful of the needles and chop them up quite finely. This enables all the Vitamins to be released much quicker. Then boil up some water, add the chopped needles and let them seep in for 5-10 minutes. A very good idea is to filter the needles out by carefully pouring into another mug. You then have a refreshing and healthy drink. Alternatively, just chew on some of the needles to get at the vitamins and spit the pulp out. So, there you have it. Two of the most common trees in the UK today and a multitude of uses between them. In the next article, I’ll look at some of the freely available foods our ancestors would have eaten and also look at that most important of tools for our ancestors, fire. Copyright Mike Jarmain 2009. www.cambriansurvival.co.uk info@cambriansurvival.co.uk

9


A walk on the wild side by Mike Jarmain

Did you know that Lime trees used to be used for making fishing nets or that spruce needles contain Vitamin C? Or that you can drink the sap straight from Birch trees in early spring? Or that leaves from certain tree species are good to eat in moderation right off the tree? An amazingly deep and diverse range of knowledge about Nature and how Man should use it for his own benefits has been accumulated over thousands of years. And yet, in recent history that knowledge has started to fade from common knowledge, as our society has become increasingly urbanised. For most of us, tree and plant identification is taken as a given and many people have an incredible depth of scientific knowledge about trees, their environment and their management. But this older knowledge can make any day more interesting because it makes you think about how you can use something growing naturally for your own benefit, just as our recent and not so recent ancestors would have done. By using this knowledge you can reconnect with the past, enjoy yourself and even save money! Today this knowledge and associated skills such as firelighting, shelter building and finding food, come under the broad banner of survival skills, primitive skills or, more recently, bushcraft. No matter what the name, they all have one thing in common - a desire to know more about making yourself comfortable, fed and watered when out and about. Since most people reading this are outside virtually everyday, I hope it proves not only interesting but of real benefit! Over the course of the following issues, some of the most common trees and plants will be looked at, examining how they’ve been used in the past and how you can use them today. Various skills will also be examined, from firelighting to making a comfortable bed. If there’s anything in particular you’d like to see featured, please get in touch. Birch naturally sheds its oute r bark - excelle nt for firelighting

8

collect due to the root system spreading far more horizontally than downwards. Literally all you have to do is scrape the forest floor with your foot to expose the root system and then gently tease up the root with your hands. Secondly, the root perfectly matches the three essential requirements of any natural cord – long, strong and flexible. A top tip is to remove the bark from the root as soon as you lift it from the ground. This helps to ensure you get the best quality and strength from the root that you can and that your lashings and knots are tighter. However, I have used it on many occasions with the bark on and it has proved long lasting and durable, if not quite so aesthetically appealing. Any cord you don’t have an immediate use for only has to be soaked to again make it highly flexible.

One other area of use is worth noting, especially if you’re having problems with your leather boots or spotty skin. Birch bark oil is good for treating both. It can be made by heating strips of the bark in a container. The oil found in the bark is ‘sweated’ out and can be collected by placing a smaller container underneath (for detailed info, type in ‘Birch Bark Oil’ into any search engine). It is said that this oil will never rot or mildew and is good for treating eczema. Collecting it is still a sizeable industry in Russia today.

A birch tree - ready to tap for sap at the very start of spring

Birch Tree: The Lady of the Woods

The birch is one of the most common yet also one of the most useful of trees. Some of the North American Indians used to say that “as long as the world stands, this tree shall be a protection and benefit to man.” And so it has proved. It can be used to make skis and provide an oil to wax them with, tan leather, as firewood, as tinder, for making furniture …...in fact, the list of uses that birch can be put to is extremely long and varied. In early spring the bark can more easily be gathered and the range of articles it can be used for is truly staggering. It has variously been used for cups, canoes, roofing, spoons, bowls, baskets and even as writing paper. There is not much else in Nature that is so incredibly versatile. Again, in early spring, the sap can easily be tapped and drunk straight away. It has a slightly sweet taste and is very refreshing. For those who require slightly stronger sustenance and can wait a few months, fermenting the sap leads to Birch wine, apparently a favoured drink of Queen Victoria. If you do drink the wine, you are in good company. Birch wine has been drunk for at least 3000 years! However, there is one area where birch excels above most other trees - firelighting. The bark, when scraped into a fine powder, will light easily from a spark. Thin strips of bark can then be lit, producing an oily smoke – an indication of the high concentrations of resinous oil naturally found within. The smoke at this stage has a distinctive smell to it, not at all unpleasant and utterly unique.

Spruce © Forestry Commission

Birch Oil © Mike

Richardson

Further careful distillation of the oil produces a substance called birch tar. This was commonly used by almost all of our European ancestors for gluing materials together, fixing cracks in clay pots and even chewing as a gum. The use of birch tar has been found on objects over 80,000 years old and probably even exceeds that!

Birch Tar © Mike

Spruce Tree:

The only conifer native to Britain is the Scots Pine. However, the variants of spruce planted in the UK in more recent times, especially Sitka, enable you to tap into the historical uses of this tree from the areas where they originate from. In the case of sitka spruce this is western N. America, from Alaska down to California. The most important parts of the spruce tree historically were its resin, roots and needles. Spruce root was used in significant quantities for anything that needed lashing or weaving together, especially in birch bark canoes and basket making. Undoubtedly the reason it was used is two fold. Firstly, it is just so easy to

Richardson

It is amazing that all this comes from one tree and a very common tree at that. So the next time you’re working on a birch, just step back for a minute and look at it with a view to asking yourself, “What can the parts of this tree do for me?” If you do, you’ll be joining a line of thought stretching back tens of thousands of years.

a World of Trees Issue 19

me A supporting fra root e ruc sp tied with

a World of Trees Issue 19

Sap oozing from a spruce tree - easy to collect

Another important use for the spruce tree is the resin it produces. As anybody who has worked on spruce knows, the citrus-smelling resin is incredibly sticky and appears all over the trunk. Again, collection could not be easier. Simply prise off the resin chunks wherever they appear into a container. You then have two choices and both are equally fascinating. The first use is in fire. The resin is highly inflammable. When added to a small fire, you may find that, if you add enough, you won’t actually need to add any wood at all! The only point to note is that it burns with a black sooty smoke (an indication of the highly resinous oil contained within) that will make a mess of the bottom of your pans. The second use is as glue. Traditionally this was used for gluing arrowheads and other such sharp implements to their shafts before they were bound on with cordage. There are various ways to make it but I find

the easiest to be the following method. Boil the resin clumps in a little water and when it has completely liquidised, filter the mixture through some grass or other material. This removes any of the lumps of bark, dead insects, etc that will detract from the glues final finish and effectiveness. Continue gently simmering the liquid to boil off the water and it will eventually start to thicken. At this stage some finely pummelled charcoal can be added – this prevents the eventual glue from being so brittle. Once the two are well mixed, take it away from the fire and allow to cool but NOT for too long. Whilst still warm, mould onto a debarked stick, almost like a ‘glue lollipop.’ Whenever you want to use it, just gently heat it and dab the glue on. Be warned – you have to be quick as it sets fast! The final use of spruce is as a tea. The needles contain a great deal of Vitamin C, far more than orange juice. To make spruce tea, simply collect a handful of the needles and chop them up quite finely. This enables all the Vitamins to be released much quicker. Then boil up some water, add the chopped needles and let them seep in for 5-10 minutes. A very good idea is to filter the needles out by carefully pouring into another mug. You then have a refreshing and healthy drink. Alternatively, just chew on some of the needles to get at the vitamins and spit the pulp out. So, there you have it. Two of the most common trees in the UK today and a multitude of uses between them. In the next article, I’ll look at some of the freely available foods our ancestors would have eaten and also look at that most important of tools for our ancestors, fire. Copyright Mike Jarmain 2009. www.cambriansurvival.co.uk info@cambriansurvival.co.uk

9


out ulture tests c ri ro b A l ta men orks Environ rW o has rb A m o fr pector who hmi s e in S R in E v L a ing N O L e UK, teach This month a qualified th is d in n v a a d N n . la s a s ew Ze quoia harne ork. tracting in N n o c the Petzl Se m vernment w o o fr G e l c a n c e o ri L e p of ex ed from had a range of skills gain ty e ri a v a d an ood College at Merrist W Value for money Build quality Ease of use Overall Rating

ITEM: PRICE:



Petzl Sequoia harness Retails £168.50 + VAT

I decided that this review was going to be on one of the new harnesses on the scene, but which one? Maybe the Miller Morpho which is the predecessor to the popular Komet Butter/Dragonfly, or maybe the TreeAustria 3. Decision made I got my hands on the new Petzl Sequoia harness. Photos of which have graced the pages of some of our favourite journals in the recent months. I had a sneaky peak at the new harness whilst teaching at a college for a day but really needed to put it through its paces in real life scenarios. First impressions were good. When you buy anything Petzl, you not only buy a well thought out and stringently tested design, but you buy a bit of reassurance with the famous logo stamped on the side. Everybody in the tree world has heard of the Petzl brand and can appreciate the vast array of equipment they produce across different height working based industries. Lets face it… the majority of us will have used or will own something Petzl in our lifetime, whether it be a ‘Gri-Gri’ on our lanyards or just a karabiner. The Sequoia is Petzls’ first attempt at arboricultural specific equipment, and is part of an arb line which is due to gradually roll out over the next couple of years so keep your eyes peeled. The Sequoia is very light and easy to slip on and off in a hurry thanks to the seat-belt style clips on the leg-loops and the waist band, but the comfort has not been compromised by this. The back support is just as good as the Komet style harness although I found the leg loops were slightly restrictive as they applied too much pressure to the inside leg. I’m banking on either the webbing softening up a bit, or calluses forming on the inside of my legs!!! The front sliding attachment point can be adjusted to be set closer or further away from you depending on your arm length and climbing style and the webbing itself can be replaced for shorter

lengths, again much like the Komet Butterfly harness. This is done via a cleverly designed alloy ring with a small opening which is bolted shut and set with nut-lock once configured. Not suited to all, but I like having two captive eye karabiners on the front of my harness as seen in the photo, which remedies issues of cross-loading and misplaced gear. I tried the Sequoia out on a sycamore reduction and a Robinia dismantle. Reductions and thins suit this harness very well as the ergonomic fit allows you to zip around the crown and run out to the tips without the feeling of dragging a kite through water. The sliding attachment point also allows for a better work position when on the tips and prevents the harness from twisting around your waist. Although very comfortable, the Sequoia lacks support if you’re planning on spending the whole day off the ground doing a big dismantle or anything that requires the use of a big saw. The clever people at Petzl have managed to design the harness as such so the weight of the saw predominantly transfers onto the rope as opposed to the harness itself allowing a big saw like a 044 to be comfortably hanging from you for long periods of time and there are plenty of accessory loops to choose from as well as the ability of being able to attach more via the use of the Petzl Caritool accessories. In conclusion I find the Sequia to be a very good, useful and user friendly harness made by a company with one of the highest pedigrees in the aerial access industry. I’m a die-hard fan of the old Komet harnesses as they have been my saddle of choice for many years, but I will certainly now have both my old and new harness in the kit bag and will leave the decision to the flip of a coin. Well done Petzl and I formally welcome you to the industry. Next week I’ll be in the Bahamas reviewing the brand new Land Rover Discovery courtesy of a World of Trees Magazine, Cheers guys!

t c ct u u d d o o r r P P w w e e N N d ed he ch nc un au L La

A new brand of specialist Arborist products designed with Style, Quality and Value in mind. After six months of development a range of wire-core flip-lines have been developed that surpass any other in the market place to-date. Crazy Cobra is a British designed, British made product, using only British components. The wire-core has been supplied by Marlow Ropes and the hardware attachments are supplied by I.S.C Wales. In todays current climate we should support British manufacturers especially when there is no clear reason not to. To see the full range of wire-core fliplines and for all your ARB gear needs please visit us at www.arb-direct.com Navin will be testing out and giving us his opinion of the new wire-core flipline in the next edition. (Sorry Navin, you won’t be going to the Bahamas!)

e World of Trees



usagearjunki es comi ngsoon


r o f e g a p l l u 0 f 5 e 4 r e £ h y l e n s i o t r e v d a


S N O E G R U S E E R T E U G RO panies have left work that the rogue com rk, wo of lot a ng in the private sector, doi behind them. ry. e of a tree s in private work, my eyes up to this indust ned ope The increasing natur this Going back to when I wa and ir the te and tra Q ns B& mo from de to aw ins did not care about surgery company is Anybody can buy a cha I noticed that the public ided and also dec I ety so saf n, & h geo alt sur s bad for their trees; he wa tree in at a knowledge call themselves qualifications or wh a is low It . yel job the in sts ori ked loo the cheapest quote. all aspects of the arb to dig a little deeper and they were just looking for y I want approx wh t is tha is nd Th fou y. her, when they can bb and bot ho I ers e very expensiv pages and local pap I often thought, why do t gh hli and n hig d see an rd t I had er in. to put my view forwa 85% of tree surgeons tha just get any old rogue trad across in the rogue idea about good ing every Tree Surgery say not problems I have come ken to in the past had no am I spo re are market. ctice of good health Wirral are cow boys, the trader tree surgeon pruning techniques or pra , after led company on the cal ago r the rs so a nea yea r by and d fou d on che me ed roa for bas Wirral arb was & safety. I was even app a lot of good companies g on the ch in the Wirral pin ear lop res and of g lot pin a top ted h duc wit I had con tree surgeon Wirral. a. I found that there re should be ched me and said and the surrounding are e of his van, he approa Personally, I think that the sid ng g rati bin ope ns clim for geo s sur que istration tree hni reg led tec rgi cal Co new a so to of were a lot ‘Do ya’ know any something similar I . him to m the w w sho lic kno who the in the Wirral. trees?’ and asked me to process, so that the pub nted to ed in training wa est lly inv ica up, bas y a very long debate. he pan ; is it this com I set my was appalled by professionals are but sed the cha und pur aro and , ved mo the private sector, and health & safety issues We stopped working in see how we climbed and ‘tree ent and all led ipm cal so equ s g better things, Thi bin and re. clim wo ger rs, vehicles, chippe tree and what kit we as we wanted to do big ss for years. ing chainsaws, that ine t is a debate lud tha bus inc , the and ent in n Arb ipm lity bee equ Uti er had the oth and went into company. surgeon’ this t like oris arb es’ d ani goo mp a ‘co rate of are needed to ope There are dozens for another day. ck drive d climbers and by Wirral Arb Ltd Wirral. If you have a qui We took on experience the r ove all o als g this ; atin tor ast sec y dev arm the exsee the trained some from around my town you can thermore we started cost a lot of money. Fur

argets T n o e g r u S Bogus TreeProperties to be on their guard afterila eldCouncil is warning locatyl relasistdewnteesk. Lichfield Dispatrrticint Cgouwncith Licchhfifi into e ci D eld istrict able people homes in th

32

Li vulner rgeted e elderly or surgeon ta is worried rogue tree will continue to scar ntion to do. neighbour te fears that he for work he has no in door, claiming that a e it. He then quotes e, to their money an has called door s asked him to remov s been paid in advanc The conm eir garden, and ha e money ha in th rst ork. Once th s without fi about a tree red pounds for the w ner out of pocket. n their tree several hundrs, leaving the tree ow sidents not to cut dow leave the tree owner eld fi d he disappea ncil is also warning re protected. This coul ut the consent of Lich lly ho ga it le w t The Cou is ou ee d see if the tr ork is carrie , said: checking to of up to £20,000 if w ent Services ne fi a r Developm to call at the door fo facing r be em ve et M ncil. by a District Cou or Neil Roberts, Cabin d and usually do not hads he has been sent r to hbou preten ig deman Councill er ne in r ad e ei tr ar e th ns h the rogu surgeo eck wit u are “Good tree ork. In this instance, in this situation to ch ing with money. If yo w rt looking for e would urge anyone ng to any work or pa e police on their nonth W neighbour. is is true before agreeicaller, please contact th or if t do ou to n help. They or nd fi t Council ca you decide about any do 330 2010.” ic d tr is ne D er d nc el fi lp 45 co rgeon, Lich n, number 08 rgeon to he emergency e looking for a tree su you can ask a tree su or for more informatio s d, te on ti ec If you ar es ot pr qu is of t ee is tr kl . a chec k if 8000 also have a are genuine. To chec officers on 01543 30 tor Jonathan Staite, ec ey ee whether th e of the Council’s tr ing Commander, Insp and callers. He on en please call d Neighbourhood Polic ainst bogus workm let them into their k or ard ag or gu Lichfiel w r ei of tricks do th to anyone e all kinds le to be on urged peop ple should never allow . These conmen will usneighbouring trees, ly added: “Peo they call unexpected ere is a problem with is to home when ll at homes claiming th thing to do but often ca er, gas or electricity. eone to call, the safest with the watare not expecting som y work.” t part by d an importan out an “If you in or carry r relatives could play d making sure they ha em th t le to to an de refuse d knew how ilies with ol their homes He said fam t to let strangers into or chains and locks an as do em no warning th rity measures such cu effective se . es: call for help vice to people includ you don’t know Police ad the door to callers en s · Never op e a door safety chain check it carefully e for repair d us s ay lw A fication an n’t let them in or quot ll police. · ti en id r fo k do be at risk, ca · Always as calls unexpectedly, el you may · If someone any suspicions, or fe · If you have

Come across any rogue tree surgeons? ..... send your photo’s and stories to dal@totalarb.co.uk We will be scrutinising this area of our industry and value your opinions

08 d January 20 First publishe

ul f s s e c c Su ns o i t u c e Pros

both been A resident and a contractor have pruning trees lly tica dras for up’ ‘pay to ordered permission ’s ncil Cou rict without Lichfield Dist who damaged Mr C Banks, a Little Aston resident out Lichfield with en gard his in tree Oak a protected £2,000 fined been has District Council’s consent, by 00 £2,5 over of s cost pay to red and orde 5. Tamworth Magistrates on February te in Little Many of the trees in the private esta tion Orders. erva Pres Tree by cted prote Aston are ntry Cou and Town It is an offence under the cted prote any ve remo or e prun to Act Planning ent. cons ’s ority tree without the local auth of The tree, on Squirrel Walk, was part for over 40 woodland that had been protected s. Recognising years and it was destroyed within hour Magistrate ordered the , area the in the importance of trees tree in the garden Oak ent cem repla a t plan to ers the own on top of paying a fine. worth’s Magistrates In a second case, also heard at Tam r was prosecuted racto cont tree a 5, uary Febr court on Lombard Street, on tree Oak for drastically pruning an from the Council. tion orisa auth ng getti out with Lichfield was prosecuted under Mr Raymond Higgins of ‘Tree Care’ Planning Act. He ntry Cou and section 211 of the Town a further £15 and s cost 0 23.8 £1,3 plus £500 was fined s. work sed thori unau victim surcharge for the which is within the The court found that the Oak tree, lly damaged’ and ‘wilfu was , Area ation serv Con Lichfield pired that Mr trans also It ver. reco will take a long time to ssary certificates nece the out with ating oper was Higgins and without public of competence for chainsaw work e. ranc insu liability ins that he must take Tamworth Magistrates told Mr Higg sed work and, in thori unau the for a heavy responsibility d him to carry aske who der ehol hous the of nce the abse plus half of the fine the pay to him out the works, ordered s. cost Council’s ber for Development Councillor Neil Roberts, Cabinet Mem cting the prote with ged char Services, said: “We are attractive place an it keep to ing help age, herit district’s there are trees and to live and work as well as ensuring enjoy. So, we are to ns ratio gene e futur for ds woodlan s. It gives a clear case e thes of lt delighted with the resu tree surgeons and ers own tree rs, lope deve to message of Tree ches brea s take ncil that Lichfield District Cou ” usly. serio very rs Orde tion Preserva ict Council for this We would like to thank Lichfield Distr 2008 uary Febr story. First published a World of Trees Issue 16

Employment of rogue tree surgeon leads to prosecution of Aldwick man

Arun residents are carry out unauthoris being warned not to He added: “We have ed work on protected lost a great Beech trees following the tree that had absolut prosecution of a loc ely nothing wrong al man. because Aldwick resident Ra with it of these people. Ho lph Ansley was pefully others will given a 12-month co lea rn fro m thi nditional discharge s case an and ordered to pay procedures in future d follow the proper £200 costs at Chich .” ester Magistrates Court (6 Ian Brewster, an Ar February) after ple boricultural Officer ad guilty to ordering the ing Arun, said tha for t apart from doing topping and loppin considerable g of a damage to beech tree in his ga a perfectly good tre rden. e, the resident The incident came was wrong to hire to light on 31 Augu someone without ch 2007 when a memb st ecking the y ha d professional qualific er of Arun Council’s ations or safety tree staff spotted a man equipment. on a ladder propped against the tree in “Not only was dama a dangerous position ging this tree . On further investig against the law, it wa ati on , s also extremely the Council discovered that an dangerous for both unlicensed man, co the public and the ldcalling under the na man carrying out the wo me of ‘Manor Hous rk,” he said. e Tree Care of Reading’, ha “Tree surgery is a sp d been employed by ecialist service the resident to cut down that should only be a large part of a tre carried out by quali e on surgeons wi his property within fied an Area Tree Preserva th the proper expertis e, tion cover and eq Order (TPO). uipment. The man wh insurance o carried It is a criminal offen out this work was ce to do works to observed to have no such trees without safety ha rne ss , protective clothing Council approval an or helmet and d the offence can carry a used a washing lin fine of up to £20,000 e to pull down branc . Both the person wh hes. “It is also highly lik o authorises the wo ely that if he rk and the person wh da ma ged any property, or o carries it out can worse, injured be prosecuted. someone, that he an d the owner of the The resident was su tree wo uld no t be covered by pro mmoned to court per indemnity and, even though he insurance.” pleaded ignorance about the existence of the The man who carri TPO, was prosecuted ed out this work his actions. for was not prosecuted as he was untraceab Councillor Ricky Bo le, de spite attempts to tra ck him down. for Planning, said: “Ig wer, Cabinet Member Un au tho rised works to a pro norance is no defen tected tree ce. Preservation orders carries a fine of up are placed on trees to £2 for very good reasons sum can increase dra 0,000. However this and it is the respons matically if it can be ibility demonstra of any person who ted that the damage wishes to carry out or loss of a tree work to check with tre e would be profitable the Local Authority for the individuals first. “TPOs are there to inv olv ed . retain natural amenities for the be Any residents inten nefit of everyone, no t just for the individu tree surgeon are alw ding to employ a al on whose land it ays advised to chec rests. We expect these pe k their qualifications ople to be aware of and current indemnit it and insurance. to apply for permiss y ion to the Council in the correct way or face We would like to tha the consequences.” nk Arun Council for this story. 33


S N O E G R U S E E R T E U G RO panies have left work that the rogue com rk, wo of lot a ng in the private sector, doi behind them. ry. e of a tree s in private work, my eyes up to this indust ned ope The increasing natur this Going back to when I wa and ir the te and tra Q ns B& mo from de to aw ins did not care about surgery company is Anybody can buy a cha I noticed that the public ided and also dec I ety so saf n, & h geo alt sur s bad for their trees; he wa tree in at a knowledge call themselves qualifications or wh a is low It . yel job the in sts ori ked loo the cheapest quote. all aspects of the arb to dig a little deeper and they were just looking for y I want approx wh t is tha is nd Th fou y. her, when they can bb and bot ho I ers e very expensiv pages and local pap I often thought, why do t gh hli and n hig d see an rd t I had er in. to put my view forwa 85% of tree surgeons tha just get any old rogue trad across in the rogue idea about good ing every Tree Surgery say not problems I have come ken to in the past had no am I spo re are market. ctice of good health Wirral are cow boys, the trader tree surgeon pruning techniques or pra , after led company on the cal ago r the rs so a nea yea r by and d fou d on che me ed roa for bas Wirral arb was & safety. I was even app a lot of good companies g on the ch in the Wirral pin ear lop res and of g lot pin a top ted h duc wit I had con tree surgeon Wirral. a. I found that there re should be ched me and said and the surrounding are e of his van, he approa Personally, I think that the sid ng g rati bin ope ns clim for geo s sur que istration tree hni reg led tec rgi cal Co new a so to of were a lot ‘Do ya’ know any something similar I . him to m the w w sho lic kno who the in the Wirral. trees?’ and asked me to process, so that the pub nted to ed in training wa est lly inv ica up, bas y a very long debate. he pan ; is it this com I set my was appalled by professionals are but sed the cha und pur aro and , ved mo the private sector, and health & safety issues We stopped working in see how we climbed and ‘tree ent and all led ipm cal so equ s g better things, Thi bin and re. clim wo ger rs, vehicles, chippe tree and what kit we as we wanted to do big ss for years. ing chainsaws, that ine t is a debate lud tha bus inc , the and ent in n Arb ipm lity bee equ Uti er had the oth and went into company. surgeon’ this t like oris arb es’ d ani goo mp a ‘co rate of are needed to ope There are dozens for another day. ck drive d climbers and by Wirral Arb Ltd Wirral. If you have a qui We took on experience the r ove all o als g this ; atin tor ast sec y dev arm the exsee the trained some from around my town you can thermore we started cost a lot of money. Fur

argets T n o e g r u S Bogus TreeProperties to be on their guard afterila eldCouncil is warning locatyl relasistdewnteesk. Lichfield Dispatrrticint Cgouwncith Licchhfifi into e ci D eld istrict able people homes in th

32

Li vulner rgeted e elderly or surgeon ta is worried rogue tree will continue to scar ntion to do. neighbour te fears that he for work he has no in door, claiming that a e it. He then quotes e, to their money an has called door s asked him to remov s been paid in advanc The conm eir garden, and ha e money ha in th rst ork. Once th s without fi about a tree red pounds for the w ner out of pocket. n their tree several hundrs, leaving the tree ow sidents not to cut dow leave the tree owner eld fi d he disappea ncil is also warning re protected. This coul ut the consent of Lich lly ho ga it le w t The Cou is ou ee d see if the tr ork is carrie , said: checking to of up to £20,000 if w ent Services ne fi a r Developm to call at the door fo facing r be em ve et M ncil. by a District Cou or Neil Roberts, Cabin d and usually do not hads he has been sent r to hbou preten ig deman Councill er ne in r ad e ei tr ar e th ns h the rogu surgeo eck wit u are “Good tree ork. In this instance, in this situation to ch ing with money. If yo w rt looking for e would urge anyone ng to any work or pa e police on their nonth W neighbour. is is true before agreeicaller, please contact th or if t do ou to n help. They or nd fi t Council ca you decide about any do 330 2010.” ic d tr is ne D er d nc el fi lp 45 co rgeon, Lich n, number 08 rgeon to he emergency e looking for a tree su you can ask a tree su or for more informatio s d, te on ti ec If you ar es ot pr qu is of t ee is tr kl . a chec k if 8000 also have a are genuine. To chec officers on 01543 30 tor Jonathan Staite, ec ey ee whether th e of the Council’s tr ing Commander, Insp and callers. He on en please call d Neighbourhood Polic ainst bogus workm let them into their k or ard ag or gu Lichfiel w r ei of tricks do th to anyone e all kinds le to be on urged peop ple should never allow . These conmen will usneighbouring trees, ly added: “Peo they call unexpected ere is a problem with is to home when ll at homes claiming th thing to do but often ca er, gas or electricity. eone to call, the safest with the watare not expecting som y work.” t part by d an importan out an “If you in or carry r relatives could play d making sure they ha em th t le to to an de refuse d knew how ilies with ol their homes He said fam t to let strangers into or chains and locks an as do em no warning th rity measures such cu effective se . es: call for help vice to people includ you don’t know Police ad the door to callers en s · Never op e a door safety chain check it carefully e for repair d us s ay lw A fication an n’t let them in or quot ll police. · ti en id r fo k do be at risk, ca · Always as calls unexpectedly, el you may · If someone any suspicions, or fe · If you have

Come across any rogue tree surgeons? ..... send your photo’s and stories to dal@totalarb.co.uk We will be scrutinising this area of our industry and value your opinions

08 d January 20 First publishe

ul f s s e c c Su ns o i t u c e Pros

both been A resident and a contractor have pruning trees lly tica dras for up’ ‘pay to ordered permission ’s ncil Cou rict without Lichfield Dist who damaged Mr C Banks, a Little Aston resident out Lichfield with en gard his in tree Oak a protected £2,000 fined been has District Council’s consent, by 00 £2,5 over of s cost pay to red and orde 5. Tamworth Magistrates on February te in Little Many of the trees in the private esta tion Orders. erva Pres Tree by cted prote Aston are ntry Cou and Town It is an offence under the cted prote any ve remo or e prun to Act Planning ent. cons ’s ority tree without the local auth of The tree, on Squirrel Walk, was part for over 40 woodland that had been protected s. Recognising years and it was destroyed within hour Magistrate ordered the , area the in the importance of trees tree in the garden Oak ent cem repla a t plan to ers the own on top of paying a fine. worth’s Magistrates In a second case, also heard at Tam r was prosecuted racto cont tree a 5, uary Febr court on Lombard Street, on tree Oak for drastically pruning an from the Council. tion orisa auth ng getti out with Lichfield was prosecuted under Mr Raymond Higgins of ‘Tree Care’ Planning Act. He ntry Cou and section 211 of the Town a further £15 and s cost 0 23.8 £1,3 plus £500 was fined s. work sed thori unau victim surcharge for the which is within the The court found that the Oak tree, lly damaged’ and ‘wilfu was , Area ation serv Con Lichfield pired that Mr trans also It ver. reco will take a long time to ssary certificates nece the out with ating oper was Higgins and without public of competence for chainsaw work e. ranc insu liability ins that he must take Tamworth Magistrates told Mr Higg sed work and, in thori unau the for a heavy responsibility d him to carry aske who der ehol hous the of nce the abse plus half of the fine the pay to him out the works, ordered s. cost Council’s ber for Development Councillor Neil Roberts, Cabinet Mem cting the prote with ged char Services, said: “We are attractive place an it keep to ing help age, herit district’s there are trees and to live and work as well as ensuring enjoy. So, we are to ns ratio gene e futur for ds woodlan s. It gives a clear case e thes of lt delighted with the resu tree surgeons and ers own tree rs, lope deve to message of Tree ches brea s take ncil that Lichfield District Cou ” usly. serio very rs Orde tion Preserva ict Council for this We would like to thank Lichfield Distr 2008 uary Febr story. First published a World of Trees Issue 16

Employment of rogue tree surgeon leads to prosecution of Aldwick man

Arun residents are carry out unauthoris being warned not to He added: “We have ed work on protected lost a great Beech trees following the tree that had absolut prosecution of a loc ely nothing wrong al man. because Aldwick resident Ra with it of these people. Ho lph Ansley was pefully others will given a 12-month co lea rn fro m thi nditional discharge s case an and ordered to pay procedures in future d follow the proper £200 costs at Chich .” ester Magistrates Court (6 Ian Brewster, an Ar February) after ple boricultural Officer ad guilty to ordering the ing Arun, said tha for t apart from doing topping and loppin considerable g of a damage to beech tree in his ga a perfectly good tre rden. e, the resident The incident came was wrong to hire to light on 31 Augu someone without ch 2007 when a memb st ecking the y ha d professional qualific er of Arun Council’s ations or safety tree staff spotted a man equipment. on a ladder propped against the tree in “Not only was dama a dangerous position ging this tree . On further investig against the law, it wa ati on , s also extremely the Council discovered that an dangerous for both unlicensed man, co the public and the ldcalling under the na man carrying out the wo me of ‘Manor Hous rk,” he said. e Tree Care of Reading’, ha “Tree surgery is a sp d been employed by ecialist service the resident to cut down that should only be a large part of a tre carried out by quali e on surgeons wi his property within fied an Area Tree Preserva th the proper expertis e, tion cover and eq Order (TPO). uipment. The man wh insurance o carried It is a criminal offen out this work was ce to do works to observed to have no such trees without safety ha rne ss , protective clothing Council approval an or helmet and d the offence can carry a used a washing lin fine of up to £20,000 e to pull down branc . Both the person wh hes. “It is also highly lik o authorises the wo ely that if he rk and the person wh da ma ged any property, or o carries it out can worse, injured be prosecuted. someone, that he an d the owner of the The resident was su tree wo uld no t be covered by pro mmoned to court per indemnity and, even though he insurance.” pleaded ignorance about the existence of the The man who carri TPO, was prosecuted ed out this work his actions. for was not prosecuted as he was untraceab Councillor Ricky Bo le, de spite attempts to tra ck him down. for Planning, said: “Ig wer, Cabinet Member Un au tho rised works to a pro norance is no defen tected tree ce. Preservation orders carries a fine of up are placed on trees to £2 for very good reasons sum can increase dra 0,000. However this and it is the respons matically if it can be ibility demonstra of any person who ted that the damage wishes to carry out or loss of a tree work to check with tre e would be profitable the Local Authority for the individuals first. “TPOs are there to inv olv ed . retain natural amenities for the be Any residents inten nefit of everyone, no t just for the individu tree surgeon are alw ding to employ a al on whose land it ays advised to chec rests. We expect these pe k their qualifications ople to be aware of and current indemnit it and insurance. to apply for permiss y ion to the Council in the correct way or face We would like to tha the consequences.” nk Arun Council for this story. 33





r o f e g a p l l u 0 f 5 e 4 r e £ h y l e n s i o t r e v d a


This article explores the perceptions and behaviour of ethnic minorities towards countryside access and the use of forests and woodlands for either leisure or recreation.

Woods, Forests & Countryside Access:

Issues of the Perceptions and Behaviour of Black and Ethnic Minority Communities Maxwell A. Ayamba and Ian D. Rotherham Sheffield Hallam University e World of Trees

SADACCA Family Support Group visit Graves park

Forestry and arboriculture and the challenges of diversity Access and increased participation are key government objectives in the environment. These join the emerging health and well-being agendas along with a plethora of initiatives on so-called ‘green infrastructure’. So for the woodland managers or the tree-care professional what does this mean? What are the likely opportunities and barriers in terms of meeting the challenges of an increasingly diverse and demanding community? This article explores the perceptions and behaviour of ethnic minorities towards countryside access and the use of a World of Trees Issue 18

forests and woodlands for either leisure or recreation. The study is based on field research, and on several years experience and observations gathered from working directly with ethnic minority communities in Sheffield and in nearby areas. Maxwell Ayamaba, a researcher with the Tourism and Environmental Change Research Unit at Sheffield Hallam University, is also a community development worker with the Sheffield Black and Ethnic Minority Environmental Network (SHEBEEN). This has helped enable him to assess the attitudes, preferences, and needs of ethnic minorities to access to forests, woodlands and the countryside and the barriers which prevent active engagement.

Diversity and perceptions It is important to note from the outset that there is probably as much diversity in attitudes and behaviour in relation to woods, forests and access within the BME (Black and Ethnic Minority) population as there is within the wider UK population. Furthermore, because this inherent variation, in order to understand fully the differences in diversity it helps to disaggregate each BME group in terms of gender, income, disability, culture, religion and location of each individual, and the number of generations for which the family has lived in the UK. In particular it is useful to distinguish between first


This article explores the perceptions and behaviour of ethnic minorities towards countryside access and the use of forests and woodlands for either leisure or recreation.

Woods, Forests & Countryside Access:

Issues of the Perceptions and Behaviour of Black and Ethnic Minority Communities Maxwell A. Ayamba and Ian D. Rotherham Sheffield Hallam University a World of Trees Issue 18

SADACCA Family Support Group visit Graves park

Forestry and arboriculture and the challenges of diversity Access and increased participation are key government objectives in the environment. These join the emerging health and well-being agendas along with a plethora of initiatives on so-called ‘green infrastructure’. So for the woodland managers or the tree-care professional what does this mean? What are the likely opportunities and barriers in terms of meeting the challenges of an increasingly diverse and demanding community? This article explores the perceptions and behaviour of ethnic minorities towards countryside access and the use of e World of Trees

forests and woodlands for either leisure or recreation. The study is based on field research, and on several years experience and observations gathered from working directly with ethnic minority communities in Sheffield and in nearby areas. Maxwell Ayamaba, a researcher with the Tourism and Environmental Change Research Unit at Sheffield Hallam University, is also a community development worker with the Sheffield Black and Ethnic Minority Environmental Network (SHEBEEN). This has helped enable him to assess the attitudes, preferences, and needs of ethnic minorities to access to forests, woodlands and the countryside and the barriers which prevent active engagement.

Diversity and perceptions It is important to note from the outset that there is probably as much diversity in attitudes and behaviour in relation to woods, forests and access within the BME (Black and Ethnic Minority) population as there is within the wider UK population. Furthermore, because this inherent variation, in order to understand fully the differences in diversity it helps to disaggregate each BME group in terms of gender, income, disability, culture, religion and location of each individual, and the number of generations for which the family has lived in the UK. In particular it is useful to distinguish between first


Woods, Forests & Countryside Access

generation immigrants from developing countries and people with BME backgrounds who grew up in the UK. For example, the meanings attached to forests, countryside, woodlands and woodland recreation by the first generation immigrants are shaped by the experience and values from their country of origin. Our research has confirmed this for elderly BME groups when they have gone out on SHEBEEN-led trips to countryside in the Peak National Park for example. Such accompanied visits have often prompted multiple positive, and often nostalgic, comparisons and cultural connections with the countryside and trees from their rural upbringing in Southeast Asia, Africa, etc. Similarly, from our observations and anecdotes, some elderly members of the BME community tend to associate the British countryside with danger as a result of cultural associations from their countries of origin. For example in August 2008, SHEBEEN took a group called the African-Caribbean Family Study Support Group from Sheffield to the well-wooded and picturesque Lathkill Dale. This was a guided visit co-ordinated by Natural England, and one elderly African-Caribbean lady volunteer was afraid because based on her experiences in Jamaica, there might be poisonous snakes in the woods. The connections are not always obvious to those of us who are professionals working in the field or perhaps in a community or educational role. They are also not necessarily positive. For example, there are some BME communities such as some Chinese and other first generation of immigrants who tend to have equally strongly negative associations with nature. For them the countryside is often associated with negative images of poverty, drudgery and backwardness of rural life. This is something which they may have worked hard to escape by striving for more ‘modern’ urban lifestyle. One African man from the Congo said: ‘If I take a picture of myself in the countryside and send it back home my people will laugh at me - they will say he has not made any progress in Europe’. Research by the national Black Environment Network (BEN) and SHEBEEN noted that there is good evidence that the BME population, especially the first and second generations

are under-represented among woodland users. This is a general observation and also specifically when compared to their representation within catchment areas of populations. The conclusion is borne out by national and local statistical evidence and accords with the experiences of both site managers and regular woodland or forest users throughout England. Stating the problem So for the tree manager or woodland professional what are the key issues and problems? At first glance some of these matters seem straightforward, but there are some issues around these basic observations. First of all, the research does not indicate whether this under-representation is as a result of informed choice, lack of knowledge, unlawful discrimination, or for other reasons. Secondly, visitor preference surveys with a qualitative dimension rarely add or offer further insights into BME preferences. This is largely because they are generally omitted because under-represented groups are by definition not fully included in surveys. To gain an insight into the behaviour and opinions of such groups requires specific surveys and efforts geared to this end. Perhaps the best methodology for determining visitor numbers, reasons for under-representation, preferences and needs of users and non-users is through site catchment surveys. This helps to compare the visitor profile with that of for example residents from a surrounding area of a given countryside attraction such as a forest or woodland. This can be supplemented by qualitative surveys of users and non-users. Detailed action research has been undertaken with BME community groups in Sheffield and has specific relevance to woodland and countryside use. The findings and observations from fieldwork indicate the following barriers to use of woodlands by BME communities: • Economic factors (and for example associated restricted access to transport to get to the site) • Lack of awareness, knowledge, familiarity, confidence or interest • Cultural attitudes and preferences • Feeling unwelcome or out of place • Fear of or the perceived risk of racism

The idea of ‘barriers to access’ is often regarded as sets of reasons for under-representation, or the factors that can shape interactions of different members of the BME population with woodlands both physical and social space. The first two factors (economic, and lack of awareness) are arguably the most significant. Neither of these factors is due to ethnicity per se, but is a reflection of the fact that the majority of BME people live in poor urban communities. The white neighbours of BME people in these communities tend to experience these factors in the same way as BME people. The primary economic factor is restricted access to car use due to low household incomes. This may be affected and compounded by limited public transport. This has a fundamental impact on the ability to visit woodland or forest sites which are not accessible by public transport or on foot. Lack of awareness of opportunities and availability can also be a barrier experienced by individuals or households. There also exist cultural barriers shared by members of particular communities or sectors of the population regardless of ethnic composition. However, it is clear that lack of available or suitable transport to a visitable countryside site such as woodland can exacerbate basic lack of awareness of woodland or forest recreation opportunities. Unlike the first two sets of factors, the second pair of factors (cultural attitudes and preferences, fear of or perceived risk of racism, and feeling unwelcome or out of place) is directly linked to ethnicity. For example, Asian people do not like dogs or for dogs to touch them. This is supported by observations when SHEBEEN has taken a group of Asians out on a countryside visit. When they encountered or saw a dog, they were distressed and in some cases even screaming if the dog came closer to them. Similar reactions were observed with visitors from North Africa who became extremely alarmed when a friendly dog ran up to them. The explanation in this case was an association with rabies and other problems. Knowledge and opportunity Besides these cultural factors, there is also the lack of knowledge about the opportunities and benefits of woodland e World of Trees

and forest recreation. For many members of poor urban BME communities, there may be very limited knowledge of good places to visit, how to get there, what to do there, what to wear and so on. This even occurs with overseas postgraduate students at university. We’ve had groups of African students turning up smartly dressed in suits and polished shoes for a field visits, in winter to a wetland nature reserve. This was despite guidance and instructions as to the conditions and sensible clothing and footwear. They gamely splashed around the several miles without complaint. Another problem is the fact that lack of knowledge may be enhanced by problems reading promotional and interpretational material in English. The language may be more technical and directed towards traditional users of the countryside. The lack of awareness is also linked to a ‘cultural habit’ within certain households or a community (regardless of ethnic composition). In this case the ways in which people choose to spend their spare time are conditioned by established patterns of behaviour that may extend back to childhood experiences. Research has demonstrated a clear link between childhood use of woodlands and subsequent positive attitudes towards woodland recreation during adulthood. Absence of such links may mean a lack of positive attitudes or awareness of opportunities. On the whole therefore, one can argue that BME cultural attitudes and preferences towards the countryside, forests and woodlands may in some ways differ little from those of the non-BME population. We note this in terms of attitudes and preferences towards the countryside partly shaped by the same factors, such as lack of transport and of basic awareness, as other non-BME members of the same communities. It has been noted that some survey participants categorically stated that their limited use of the countryside had nothing to do with their ethnicity per se but rather their lifestyle as urban dwellers. This finding reflects work done by SHEBEEN with teenagers from various ethnic minority communities such as African-Caribbean, Pakistani and others during accompanied a World of Trees Issue 18

visits and interactions with woodlands and countryside areas.

in various forms’. This small example emphasises the point.

There is often no single factor involved or responsible for limited engagement. Having worked with a diverse range of ethnic minority community groups in Sheffield, it has been discovered that the reported lack of interest, or time, for woodland recreation is often linked to a number of factors. Lack of awareness is due to a lack of opportunity to experience the positive benefits that woodland visits can offer.

Another issue, and one of particular concern for the conservation sector, and we suggest a growing issue for forestry and arboriculture, is that of representation within the professional sectors by candidates from BME backgrounds. This is a vicious circle which reinforces the inherent difficulties in engagement and in countryside visiting. These difficulties then discourage good candidates from developing career aspirations inn these sectors, to the disadvantage of all. So in addition to the lack of BME sense of belonging and the perceived risk of racism, are concerns of employment, recruitment and volunteering. There are remarkably few if at all any, BME people in the workforce of environmental service providers, youth hostels, visitor centres or outdoors instructors, and we would guess, very few indeed in forestry or arboriculture. This may be partly because in the past at least, it has been mostly people from rural areas that were recruited to carry out work with rural-related skills. There are fewer BME people living in rural areas and so they have been les likely to be involved. Inn the conservation sector of woodland management for example, volunteer groups in engaged in site work rarely include members of the BME communities. For those who might get involved the culture of white middle class volunteers may appear threatening.

Reinforcing fears Nonetheless, there are multiple views held by woodland managers and the general public regarding the attitudes, preferences, and patterns of use of the countryside by BME groups. Some of these appear to be grounded in good evidence, but there are risks in generalisations and assumptions. In some cases ideas can be over-emphasised in terms of their significance. For example, the issue of racism in countryside areas, whether real or perceived, would be based largely on evidence of whether many members of BME communities have experienced it directly. This might be from visits to the countryside or through residence in rural areas. It could also be that they may have heard about racist incidents in rural areas from others. However, taking SHEBEEN-led groups out has generally generated positive experiences. There were some less good incidents such as in a shop at Litton village, in the Peak National Park when a walker saw the young Pakistani people out walking. They had gone into the shop to buy something and he was overheard to comment that he ‘……….hoped they are not here to nick something from the shop’. Unfortunately this remark was overheard by the Peak Park Ranger and the author, both of whom were accompanying the young people. Findings from the Diversity Report noted that prejudiced attitudes towards ethnic minorities were one of the factors that accounted for the under-representation of BME people in the countryside. According to the Diversity Review Report (2005) ‘Fear of racism was a key barrier to countryside use for this group, and very many had experienced, either personally or vicariously racism

In many areas we now have increasing communities of Eastern European migrants. Once again this can raise unexpected issues. For people in the UK, especially the more educated Middle Classes, the idea of volunteering in order to engage with local environmental issues is well -established. Furthermore, for a career in conservation or in many forest-related professions, voluntary work is almost a given in terms of preparing for employment. However, in many eastern European countries ‘volunteering’ was formerly compulsory under the old Soviet regime. As a consequence it now carries a significant and negative stigma. This too has implications for both the engagement and employment opportunities for this particular group.


Woods, Forests & Countryside Access

generation immigrants from developing countries and people with BME backgrounds who grew up in the UK. For example, the meanings attached to forests, countryside, woodlands and woodland recreation by the first generation immigrants are shaped by the experience and values from their country of origin. Our research has confirmed this for elderly BME groups when they have gone out on SHEBEEN-led trips to countryside in the Peak National Park for example. Such accompanied visits have often prompted multiple positive, and often nostalgic, comparisons and cultural connections with the countryside and trees from their rural upbringing in Southeast Asia, Africa, etc. Similarly, from our observations and anecdotes, some elderly members of the BME community tend to associate the British countryside with danger as a result of cultural associations from their countries of origin. For example in August 2008, SHEBEEN took a group called the African-Caribbean Family Study Support Group from Sheffield to the well-wooded and picturesque Lathkill Dale. This was a guided visit co-ordinated by Natural England, and one elderly African-Caribbean lady volunteer was afraid because based on her experiences in Jamaica, there might be poisonous snakes in the woods. The connections are not always obvious to those of us who are professionals working in the field or perhaps in a community or educational role. They are also not necessarily positive. For example, there are some BME communities such as some Chinese and other first generation of immigrants who tend to have equally strongly negative associations with nature. For them the countryside is often associated with negative images of poverty, drudgery and backwardness of rural life. This is something which they may have worked hard to escape by striving for more ‘modern’ urban lifestyle. One African man from the Congo said: ‘If I take a picture of myself in the countryside and send it back home my people will laugh at me - they will say he has not made any progress in Europe’. Research by the national Black Environment Network (BEN) and SHEBEEN noted that there is good evidence that the BME population, especially the first and second generations

are under-represented among woodland users. This is a general observation and also specifically when compared to their representation within catchment areas of populations. The conclusion is borne out by national and local statistical evidence and accords with the experiences of both site managers and regular woodland or forest users throughout England. Stating the problem So for the tree manager or woodland professional what are the key issues and problems? At first glance some of these matters seem straightforward, but there are some issues around these basic observations. First of all, the research does not indicate whether this under-representation is as a result of informed choice, lack of knowledge, unlawful discrimination, or for other reasons. Secondly, visitor preference surveys with a qualitative dimension rarely add or offer further insights into BME preferences. This is largely because they are generally omitted because under-represented groups are by definition not fully included in surveys. To gain an insight into the behaviour and opinions of such groups requires specific surveys and efforts geared to this end. Perhaps the best methodology for determining visitor numbers, reasons for under-representation, preferences and needs of users and non-users is through site catchment surveys. This helps to compare the visitor profile with that of for example residents from a surrounding area of a given countryside attraction such as a forest or woodland. This can be supplemented by qualitative surveys of users and non-users. Detailed action research has been undertaken with BME community groups in Sheffield and has specific relevance to woodland and countryside use. The findings and observations from fieldwork indicate the following barriers to use of woodlands by BME communities: • Economic factors (and for example associated restricted access to transport to get to the site) • Lack of awareness, knowledge, familiarity, confidence or interest • Cultural attitudes and preferences • Feeling unwelcome or out of place • Fear of or the perceived risk of racism

The idea of ‘barriers to access’ is often regarded as sets of reasons for under-representation, or the factors that can shape interactions of different members of the BME population with woodlands both physical and social space. The first two factors (economic, and lack of awareness) are arguably the most significant. Neither of these factors is due to ethnicity per se, but is a reflection of the fact that the majority of BME people live in poor urban communities. The white neighbours of BME people in these communities tend to experience these factors in the same way as BME people. The primary economic factor is restricted access to car use due to low household incomes. This may be affected and compounded by limited public transport. This has a fundamental impact on the ability to visit woodland or forest sites which are not accessible by public transport or on foot. Lack of awareness of opportunities and availability can also be a barrier experienced by individuals or households. There also exist cultural barriers shared by members of particular communities or sectors of the population regardless of ethnic composition. However, it is clear that lack of available or suitable transport to a visitable countryside site such as woodland can exacerbate basic lack of awareness of woodland or forest recreation opportunities. Unlike the first two sets of factors, the second pair of factors (cultural attitudes and preferences, fear of or perceived risk of racism, and feeling unwelcome or out of place) is directly linked to ethnicity. For example, Asian people do not like dogs or for dogs to touch them. This is supported by observations when SHEBEEN has taken a group of Asians out on a countryside visit. When they encountered or saw a dog, they were distressed and in some cases even screaming if the dog came closer to them. Similar reactions were observed with visitors from North Africa who became extremely alarmed when a friendly dog ran up to them. The explanation in this case was an association with rabies and other problems. Knowledge and opportunity Besides these cultural factors, there is also the lack of knowledge about the opportunities and benefits of woodland a World of Trees Issue 18

and forest recreation. For many members of poor urban BME communities, there may be very limited knowledge of good places to visit, how to get there, what to do there, what to wear and so on. This even occurs with overseas postgraduate students at university. We’ve had groups of African students turning up smartly dressed in suits and polished shoes for a field visits, in winter to a wetland nature reserve. This was despite guidance and instructions as to the conditions and sensible clothing and footwear. They gamely splashed around the several miles without complaint. Another problem is the fact that lack of knowledge may be enhanced by problems reading promotional and interpretational material in English. The language may be more technical and directed towards traditional users of the countryside. The lack of awareness is also linked to a ‘cultural habit’ within certain households or a community (regardless of ethnic composition). In this case the ways in which people choose to spend their spare time are conditioned by established patterns of behaviour that may extend back to childhood experiences. Research has demonstrated a clear link between childhood use of woodlands and subsequent positive attitudes towards woodland recreation during adulthood. Absence of such links may mean a lack of positive attitudes or awareness of opportunities. On the whole therefore, one can argue that BME cultural attitudes and preferences towards the countryside, forests and woodlands may in some ways differ little from those of the non-BME population. We note this in terms of attitudes and preferences towards the countryside partly shaped by the same factors, such as lack of transport and of basic awareness, as other non-BME members of the same communities. It has been noted that some survey participants categorically stated that their limited use of the countryside had nothing to do with their ethnicity per se but rather their lifestyle as urban dwellers. This finding reflects work done by SHEBEEN with teenagers from various ethnic minority communities such as African-Caribbean, Pakistani and others during accompanied e World of Trees

visits and interactions with woodlands and countryside areas.

in various forms’. This small example emphasises the point.

There is often no single factor involved or responsible for limited engagement. Having worked with a diverse range of ethnic minority community groups in Sheffield, it has been discovered that the reported lack of interest, or time, for woodland recreation is often linked to a number of factors. Lack of awareness is due to a lack of opportunity to experience the positive benefits that woodland visits can offer.

Another issue, and one of particular concern for the conservation sector, and we suggest a growing issue for forestry and arboriculture, is that of representation within the professional sectors by candidates from BME backgrounds. This is a vicious circle which reinforces the inherent difficulties in engagement and in countryside visiting. These difficulties then discourage good candidates from developing career aspirations inn these sectors, to the disadvantage of all. So in addition to the lack of BME sense of belonging and the perceived risk of racism, are concerns of employment, recruitment and volunteering. There are remarkably few if at all any, BME people in the workforce of environmental service providers, youth hostels, visitor centres or outdoors instructors, and we would guess, very few indeed in forestry or arboriculture. This may be partly because in the past at least, it has been mostly people from rural areas that were recruited to carry out work with rural-related skills. There are fewer BME people living in rural areas and so they have been les likely to be involved. Inn the conservation sector of woodland management for example, volunteer groups in engaged in site work rarely include members of the BME communities. For those who might get involved the culture of white middle class volunteers may appear threatening.

Reinforcing fears Nonetheless, there are multiple views held by woodland managers and the general public regarding the attitudes, preferences, and patterns of use of the countryside by BME groups. Some of these appear to be grounded in good evidence, but there are risks in generalisations and assumptions. In some cases ideas can be over-emphasised in terms of their significance. For example, the issue of racism in countryside areas, whether real or perceived, would be based largely on evidence of whether many members of BME communities have experienced it directly. This might be from visits to the countryside or through residence in rural areas. It could also be that they may have heard about racist incidents in rural areas from others. However, taking SHEBEEN-led groups out has generally generated positive experiences. There were some less good incidents such as in a shop at Litton village, in the Peak National Park when a walker saw the young Pakistani people out walking. They had gone into the shop to buy something and he was overheard to comment that he ‘……….hoped they are not here to nick something from the shop’. Unfortunately this remark was overheard by the Peak Park Ranger and the author, both of whom were accompanying the young people. Findings from the Diversity Report noted that prejudiced attitudes towards ethnic minorities were one of the factors that accounted for the under-representation of BME people in the countryside. According to the Diversity Review Report (2005) ‘Fear of racism was a key barrier to countryside use for this group, and very many had experienced, either personally or vicariously racism

In many areas we now have increasing communities of Eastern European migrants. Once again this can raise unexpected issues. For people in the UK, especially the more educated Middle Classes, the idea of volunteering in order to engage with local environmental issues is well -established. Furthermore, for a career in conservation or in many forest-related professions, voluntary work is almost a given in terms of preparing for employment. However, in many eastern European countries ‘volunteering’ was formerly compulsory under the old Soviet regime. As a consequence it now carries a significant and negative stigma. This too has implications for both the engagement and employment opportunities for this particular group.


Woods, Forests & Countryside Access Some concluding thoughts As described earlier there may be many factors limiting the use of countryside areas such as forests and woodlands by BME communities. However, this should not be taken to mean they are not interested. Indeed, communities with relatively recent connections to livelihoods in forested landscapes may have strong cultural ties to wooded areas and to trees. One commonly recognised manifestation of this is ethnic and religious groups, for example Buddhists and Hindus, having belief systems and associated mythologies, which promote a respectful, appreciative and conservative attitude towards nature. Such beliefs may be important for some members of BME communities as indicated by BEN who have successfully worked with the Hindu community groups in planting trees as part of cultural events. So whilst these beliefs and myths may not now significantly shape the everyday interactions of BME people with woodlands and trees, their involvement in forest-based cultural events could be a valuable way to integrate more BME people into woodland activities. It is important to point out that, in some cases under-representation may also simply be due to informed choices on the part of the individual members of the BME population. They may be well aware of woodland recreation and have

the resources to access woodlands, but they simply prefer to do something else. This may be shaped by cultural norms of a particular ethnic community; hence there are no barriers to be removed and no reasons for intervention. Nonetheless, in some cases the inter-generational issues also play a major part as the young generation of BME people do not see people of their kind either working in the environmental sector or in the countryside. The lack of BME role models and mentors or champions in the countryside or in the environmental field is a major set back to overcome under-representation. There may also be the need for appropriate training of professionals who manage woodland and countryside sites, or who deal with visitors to such areas. This might involve awareness-raising on matters of diversity, equality and culture. Training in diversity awareness could help countryside staff and managers to better understand diverse BME communities and so be more effective in working with BME communities. A passive ‘Countryside for All Approach’ is not going to generate BME representation involvement in the countryside and certainly not in matters

of woods, forests and trees. It is important for those advocating BME inclusion to understand the causes of under-representation and also the various categories in terms of gender, age, number of generations since immigration, socio-economic and culture. BME people have multiple identities and there is a need to take these into consideration. For the forest or woodland manager these issues present significant challenges, and they may be central to those working in urban countryside areas with increasingly diverse communities. However, they will also be increasingly important to professionals working in rural settings as the urban BME communities become more confident and venture out into countryside areas. We suggest that the professionals need to be better able to respond and to more effectively engage with a growing part of their community base. There are also serious considerations for the trainers and others in the forestry and arboricultural professions. In the years to come it will be increasingly beneficial to all, that good candidates from BME backgrounds are brought into the sector and encouraged to see career paths within our industry. At present we share with the conservation and wider environmental sectors, a generally limited engagement with these communities, and if this continues, then other problems will follow and opportunities will be missed.

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The New National Guidance to Investigating Woodland Heritage

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The Woodland Heritage Manual published recently has received excellent reviews in ecological, archaeological and arboricultural magazines and journals. It is the result of over 20 years of hard work by a small but dedicated team in Sheffield and a network of enthusiasts across the UK and even in Europe. It is now being greeted as the new national or even international guidance on how to assess and evaluate the heritage of a wooded landscape, from working veteran trees, to ancient woodland indicator plants, to pits, platforms, humps and bumps, boundaries and trackways. For all these this is the definitive guide and it is designed to be of use to the absolute beginner as well as to the seasoned professional. The book is spiral bound for ease of fieldwork, and also comes as a cd-rom, and son as a download too. There will be updates on the web site and there are supporting workshops as part of the ongoing project. The reviews below give an indication of what this is. Massive coppice stool

It has been a justifiable while in the making, but this important new publication is now on the shelves. A ‘hands-on’ guide for volunteers and professionals who want to find out more about woodland history, archaeology and ecology, this book gives details on how to carry out documentary research, field surveys, interpretation work as well as providing hints on woodland management. Developed as part of the Woodland Heritage Champions Project, which was funded and supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Woodland Trust, the Forestry Commission, South Yorkshire Biodiversity Research Group, and English Heritage, the manual’s authors are drawn from a range of experts on ancient woodlands and surveying. It will be perfect for beginners, but more advanced readers will also be able to take advantage of its detailed surveying and research techniques. All in all, this is a valuable addition to the woodland managers’ tool-kit.

Malcolm Tait, Editor, Tree News Issue 15 Autumn / Winter 2008

This 202-page ring bound A4 book is produced by the Woodland Heritage Champions Project and is aimed at volunteers, groups and individuals who would like to find out more about their local woods. It contains six sections and aims to provide the information needed to interpret the history of your local woodland. The main elements of the manual focus on: ancient woodland history and use; information on how to research using maps and documents; how to interpret archaeological features and other physical structures; and what to do with your researches once you have finished. Full of information, references, case histories, survey sheets and more, this publication is a fantastic resource for anyone planning to research or survey a woodland. Also, having been designed for volunteers, the editors have ensured that if they use jargon or technical terms they have explained them fully to the reader. I feel that the editors have met their aim for this publication, and done it well, and if you feel you would like to know more about your local woodlands, this volume is an excellent way to start.

Jon Stokes, The Tree Council’s Director of Rural Programmes, The Tree Guardian, Issue 14, Autumn 2008

The Woodland Heritage Manual – A Guide to Investigating Wooded Landscapes Edited by Ian D. Rotherham, Melvyn Jones, Lindy Smith, and Christine Handley. (2008) ISBN 978-1-904098-07-2. (Softback) Published by Wildtrack Publishing, Sheffield. 212 pages. Price £25. The Manual is currently on offer to World of Trees readers for only £15 a copy (a £10 discount) plus £3 postage and packing, from Wildtrack Publishing, Venture House, 105 Arundel Street, Sheffield S1 2NT. E-mail info@hallamec.plus.com. Mention World of Trees. e World of Trees


WORKSHOP Woodland Heritage Training 2009

Workshops on the archaeology, history, ecology and management of woodlands and veteran trees During 2009 the Biodiversity and Landscape History Research Institute, with Hallam Environmental Consultants, South Yorkshire Biodiversity Research Group, and the Tourism and Environmental Change Research Unit at Sheffield Hallam University, are running a series of workshops to follow up the publication of the highly-acclaimed Woodland Heritage Manual and stemming from 25 years of leading research in this field. The manual was the result of a Heritage Lottery funded project in collaboration with the Woodland Trust, The Forestry Commission and English Heritage to provide information to volunteer groups, individuals and professionals about researching wooded landscapes. To support the Woodland Heritage Project and the associated manual the Biodiversity and Landscape History Research Institute and Sheffield Hallam University are once again running a series of professional workshops. This series of workshops carries on these themes, and includes workshops aimed at all levels from beginners to professionals. These cover a whole range of associated issues from

veteran trees and their management to evidence and impacts of lightning strikes with Ben Fuest. There is much on offer at these events and the team can also provide customized workshops for your region and also a full consultancy support via their partners Hallam Environmental Consultants Ltd. This year’s programme was launched with two intensive workshops on GPS mapping of woodland features and a one-day conference on ‘The Magic of Woods’ delivered to a packed audience in Sheffield. The workshops continue throughout the year. If you miss one that you’d like to have attended then let the organisers know and they’ll advise you of the future dates. Come along and find out. Events are suited to all from beginners and keen volunteers to seasoned professionals and academics. The up and coming workshops and booking information can be viewed online at www.eworldoftrees.com.

Street, Sheffield, S1 2NT Or visit: www.ukeconet.plus.com for more information and online booking. ** SPECIAL DISCOUNTS ON OUR PUBLICATIONS TOO **

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For further information and other enquiries contact: Christine Handley or Diane Harrison: Email: info@hallamec.plus.com Tel. or Fax: 0114 272 4227 Post: HEC, Venture House, 105 Arundel Abandoned

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Problem and Protected Species Workshops 2009 Workshops, seminars and conferences on invasive, alien and problem species Invasive species rank alongside climate change as one of the major environmental problems of the twenty-first century. So in that context welcome to this year’s programme of events from Hallam Environmental Consultants Ltd with the Biodiversity and Landscape History Research Institute, and the Tourism and Environmental Change Research Unit at Sheffield Hallam University. For this year we have a wide-ranging series of focused workshops on two major problem plants – Japanese Knotweed and Bracken. These build on our previous highly successful workshops held over recent years. We also have a seminar on Urban and Problem Species in May, and then in September a much bigger two-day conference on all aspects of Alien, Invasive and Problem Plants and Animals. The speakers and conveners include national and international authorities on these hugely important topics. The programme kicks off with a one-day seminar in Sheffield.

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12th May 2009 Urban Invasive and Problem Species – Their identification, management and control The Source, Meadowhall, Sheffield. This seminar will look at the major problem species you will or may encounter, and information on how to manage them. It will cover Japanese Knotweed, Giant Hogweed, Bracken and Rhododendron. Speakers include, Ian Rotherham, Max Wade, Colin Edwards, Roderick Robinson, David Holland, Peter Glaves and Olaf Booy. It is suitable for all. There then follow a series of specialist workshops on both Bracken problems and on Japanese Knotweed: 4th June 2009 Bracken Control and Treatment The Grouse Public House, Froggatt Edge, Derbyshire A one-day workshop including time in the field looking at bracken control techniques. Speakers include: Roderick Robinson and Ian Rotherham. Suitable for all.

2nd June 2009 Japanese Knotweed control - Treatment for small residential and community sites Site Gallery, Central Sheffield. An introduction to Japanese Knotweed, and how to manage it. Speakers include: Ian Rotherham, Martin Nowacki, David Holland and Martin Derbyshire. Suitable for all. continues >>>

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WORKSHOP


WORKSHOP July 2009 Japanese Knotweed Control – Treatment for larger development sites The Source, Meadowhall, Sheffield. Including field visits to discuss the practicalities of Knotweed control. Speakers include: Peter Glaves, Ian Rotherham, Martin Nowacki and (‘JK Slayer’) David Holland. Suitable for all, but especially intermediate and advanced.

20th October 2009 Protected Species – Legislation and implications for planning developments Centre in the Park, Norfolk Park, Sheffield. This seminar will look at the legal requirements and restrictions of protected species, and how this will affect planning and development of sites. Speakers include: Peter Glaves, John Rose and Ian Rotherham. Suitable for all.

June / July 2009 Japanese Knotweed Control – Treatment for larger development sites Manchester and Liverpool DATES AND VENUES t.b.c. This will include field visits to discuss the practicalities of Knotweed control. Speakers include: Peter Glaves, Ian Rotherham, Martin Nowacki and (‘JK Slayer’) David Holland. Suitable for all but especially intermediate and advanced.

All the events will have interest for delegates at different levels of prior knowledge, but we do attempt to badge them in terms of their potential training value. Please contact us of you need more clarification on this. There will be full supporting literature at the events and both the May Seminar and the September Conference will have pre-published proceedings. For both these events we also invite contributions of papers, posters and displays, as well as sponsors and advertisers. We already have a line-up of top speakers who are both leading researchers in their fields as well as the key practitioners working on specific species or particular problems. As always these will be highly informative and stimulating meetings.

23rd July 2009 Bracken Control and Treatment North Yorkshire – venue to be announced. A day including time in the field looking at bracken control techniques. Speakers include: Roderick Robinson Peter Glaves and Martin Nowacki. Intermediate level but suitable for all. 8th and 9th September 2009 Exotic and Invasive Species: Issues around Alien, Invasive, Urban and Problem Plants and Animals - Sheffield Hallam University, Central Sheffield This two-day conference will cover a wide range of topics, and will examine the issues ‘in the round’ and will seek to consider both positive and negative issues of aliens, as well as the needs for strategic control of invasive, native problem species too. Species discussed will include Signal Crayfish, Mink, Japanese Knotweed, Wild Boar, Chinese Water Deer and others. Speakers will include: Chris Smout, Dick Shaw, Ian Rotherham, Martin Goulding, Rick Minter, Arnold Cooke, Max Wade and many others.

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Price includes proceeding on CD-ROM, delegate packs, tea and coffee, and lunch (except student/volunteer tickets which do not include proceedings). For further information and online booking see www. ukeconet.co.uk Or contact: Christine or Diane: Email: nfo@hallamec.plus.com Tel. / Fax: 0114 272 4227 Post: HEC, Venture House, 105 Arundel Street, Sheffield, S1 2NT ** SPECIAL DISCOUNTS ON OUR PUBLICATIONS TOO **

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To Book: Visit www.ukeconet.co.uk for more information on these and other events, and to see our publications produced by our sister company Wildtrack Publishing. Costs of workshops and seminars (all above except 8th/9th September): Business/Academic £115; Local Authority/ Statutory Agency/NGO £90; Self Employed £60; Student/Volunteer (limited number of places) £35. Cost of September Conference: Business/Academic £85 per day; Local Authority/Statutory Agency/NGO £75 per day; Self Employed £45 per day; Student/ Volunteer (limited number of places) £25 per day.

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s e e r T n o w o r G s e o D y e Mon p o r C h s a C w e N e h T We’ve all heard about the slow process of growing trees as a cash crop, but is the Empress Splendor™ hardwood tree growing the fastest and greatest returns? According to Wendy Burton, Founder and CEO of World Tree Technologies, based in Scottsdale, Arizona it is indeed fact. The Empress Splendor™ grows to timber size in as little as 7 years; it will grow 10’- 20’ the first year. The wood is strong, lightweight and prized by musical instrument makers, cabinet makers and used for windows, doors, spindles, crown molding and trim. The wood resists insects and won’t absorb moisture or rot and will regenerate from the stump after each harvest up to 7 times.

We asked World Tree to tell us why the Empress Sp lendor™ is getting so much at tention, and why should we plant these trees? Our parents and grandparents planted trees to enhance the beauty of their homes or to provide a windbreak for other crops. This is no longer the only reason; new fast growing species now make it viable to plant trees as cash crops. The Empress Splendor™ is the best example. It is the fastest growing hardwood tree in the world.

ople Who are the pe e? is planting th tre The Empress Splendor™ is getting a lot of press and inquiries these days from ranchers, crop farmers, dairy farmers, hobby farmers, retired farmers and ranchers, and many other individuals who have started to delve into the world of hardwood tree cash cropping. Some of the reasons given are to use land that has poor soil quality that isn’t good for other crops. Because of the high nutrient factor of the Empress Splendor™ leaves, they go to fodder quickly and actually help replenish the soil. The trees themselves grow in the worst soil possible; a clay sandy loam, making this an ideal crop for unclaimed land. Another reason given is to diversify the crops to offset commodity fluctuations

od g hardwotion in w o r g t Are fas ons really an op plantati S? in the U Ms Burton doesn’t hesitate when she says “yes, without a doubt”. The market for Empress Splendor™ is small but growing as more trees are planted; as the supply grows the market will grow as well. Most of the large plantations are in the Southeast US close to the large timber processing facilities. But Wendy is adamant that small plantations are still a viable option with

many farmers opting to purchase or rent mobile log processing units to harvest their timber which can then be open air dried without the use of a costly kiln. A new “sustainability” trend that is sweeping the country is that local farmers are producing hardwood for local manufacturers. What can farmers do during the winter months when their crops are dormant? How about manufacture products with the wood they grow, sell it on eBay, or export it to Japan where it is prized for its quality. Crop commodities fluctuate wildly from year to year, but do you have a choice whether to harvest your crop or not; no you have no choice! But if you grow trees, you can let them grow if the price is down and harvest when it is up. You have control over this asset class. According to Wendy Burton, by planting 300 trees per acre on a 12x12 foot grid, they will produce a minimum of 30,000 board feet of lumber after only 7 years at an average price of $3 a board foot. Because the Empress Splendor™ will regenerate from the stump up to 7 times after each harvest, a farmer in fact will not need to replant his fields for the next 50 years. If a farmer harvests the timber, mills it with his own equipment, the profit margin goes up from there. This could all be done in the winter months when they can’t be in the fields, and the trees will regenerate from the stumps to start the next crop. Are you located near urban sprawl? Empress Splendor™ trees can boost the value of land for new subdivisions. What suburban family wouldn’t want a house in a forest of beautiful flowering trees versus bare ground?

e World of Trees


1 year old Empress - Leaves are the Lungs of Our Planet!

WTT feels these trees present a unique opportunity for growers in the new “Green World”. Whether you are in agreement with Global Warming or not, no one can argue that we are cutting down more trees than we are planting. The Empress Splendor™ is also now being sought after because of its natural properties to produce Biomass for cellulosic Ethanol! This is being done right now, on poor quality soil without competing with the food supply of our nation. Another reason given is to diversify their crops to offset commodity fluctuations, or to grow a crop that can be harvested and processed by the farmer during the winter months. The trees then are planted on an 8x8 foot grid. In its first year the tree is harvested and then regenerates from the stump without the need for replanting or soil prep. In closing, Ms Burton said she believes our farmers, the best in the world, have mastered the ability to put food on our tables, yet they are the ones starving. To move towards a plantation based timber so that we can stop the destruction of old growth forests and supply the world with a natural renewable resource is the way our future is heading. Our Empress trees are going to be able to put cash back into the farmer’s hands and restore the wealth to individuals who work hard for the people and our environment. As an added bonus, not only are we planting trees for timber and bio fuel, but in the process we are offsetting our carbon emissions and ultimately restoring the lungs of Mother Earth and building a world rich in natural resources for future generations.

a World of Trees

11 year old Empress tree

8 Year Old Managed Plantation

How does one become an Empress Splendor™ grower? It’s easy. Get educated, talk to people, call the office, ask questions, and make sure of the product you are buying. There is a lot of misinformation out there and we want to make sure your experience with the Empress Splendor™ is a positive one. Wendy S. Burton, President & Founder World Tree Technologies Inc. www.worldtreetech.com

Empress blossom

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