Pro Arb December 2016 by Eljays44

DECEMBER 2016

AN INTERVIEW WITH

STEWART WARDROP CEO, ARBORICULTURAL ASSOCIATION

TALK OF THE TOWN DEBATING ARBORICULTURE’S FUTURE PRO ARB’S GUIDE TO

CHAINSAWS AGENDA

ARTICLE 50: WILL IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE? PRO ARB DEC COVER.indd 16

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CONTENTS

PRO ARB MAGAZINE December 2016 | Volume 3 | Issue 12

Welcome 04 AGENDA Do you think your business will be impacted if Article 50 is invoked?

NEWS A roundup of industry news

Business 10

FUTUREARB IN PICTURES Highlights from FutureArb 2016

AN INTERVIEW WITH Stewart Wardrop, CEO of the Arboricultural Association

THE FUTURE OF ARBORICULTURE Jonathan Hazell reports back from the panel debate at FutureArb

PESTS AND DISEASES Bartlett Tree Experts discuss ﬁreblight and how to tackle it

ANNUAL WEBSITE MOT Ross Hewitt on how to keep your

website looking and running its best

NORWICH CITY COUNCIL A closer look at the council's tree strategy

WELCOME

elcome to the 1 th and final issue of the year, the ecember issue. FutureArb was a huge success last month, with hundreds of arborists coming through the doors at Sandown ark acecourse on 1 ovember, to see a range of arb-related e uipment and listen to some of the top industry personnel speak in seminars. There is a pictorial roundup of the show on page 10. lans are already in place for 01 keep your eyes open for announcements over the next couple of months. ou ll definitely want to attend the 01 event. This issue is packed full of excellent content to round o the year. e ve spoken to the new of the Arboricultural Association, Stewart ardrop, about his plans to take the association forward. ou can see this on page 1 . e ve also got our regular articles from oss ewitt, running through annual website checks, Bartlett Tree xperts discuss fireblight and onathan a ell summarises the Future of Arboriculture panel debate he chaired at FutureArb.

e catch up with orwich ity ouncil to see how it works when it comes to its catalogue of trees, speak to chipper expert eremy Smithers who gives his top tips for chipper maintenance and visited Treeco in orsham, est Sussex to ﬁnd out about its preferred tools. Finally, we take a look at which chainsaws are currently on the market, speak to as ilson about trading and showcase a selection of the best new products released to market in 01 . That s it for this month, and this year. njoy the festive period, we ll be back with even more unmissable content in 01 .

JOE WILKINSON

TOP TEN TIPS Best practice and guidance for keeping your chipper in top shape ALL ENQUIRIES Tel 01 0 0

Kit 24 TOOLBOX We ﬁnd out from Horsham-based Treeco what it prefers in terms of kit and machinery

WHICH WOULD YOU BUY? Chainsaws

29 ARB KIT: BEST OF 2016 32

TRADING WITH Jas P Wilson

BOOK REVIEW The Hillier Manual of Trees and Shrubs by Hillier Nurseries and the RHS

Regulars 34 CAREERS 35 WWW.PROARBMAGAZINE.COM ANCIENT TREE COLUMN

Contents and leader.indd 3

Eljays44 Ltd hurchill ourt, 11 The Street, ustington, est Sussex B 1 A EDITORIAL ommissioning ditor oe ilkinson joe.wilkinson@eljays44.com irector isa ilkinson lisa.wilkinson@eljays44.com roduction ditor Susie u susie du e a s com ditorial eporter oe Betts joe.betts@eljays44.com ditorial Assistant Max odd max.dodd@eljays44.com Subeditor harlie ook charlotte.cook@eljays44.com ADVERTISING Business evelopment Manager amie ilkinson jamie.wilkinson@eljays44.com Sales Manager uke haplin luke.chaplin@eljays44.com Sales xecutive aura arris laura.harris@eljays44.com orticulture areers iam olclough liam.colclough@eljays44.com

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FOLLOW US ONLINE www.proarbmagazine.com Follow us on Twitter @ProArbmagazine ike us on Facebook Proarbmagazine onnect to our inkedIn group Pro Arb UK For careers in arboriculture and horticulture go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk very week we send out Pro Arb: The Tuesday Recap , in which we highlight the most popular news stories from the last week. If you aren t subscribed to The Tuesday ecap but would like to be, please email Amber Bernabe at amber.bernabe@eljays44.com If you would like to send us press releases to post online and potentially feature in The Tuesday ecap, please email oe ilkinson at joe.wilkinson@eljays44.com

MANAGEMENT Managing irector im ilkinson irector isa ilkinson Business evelopment Manager amie ilkinson

Pro Arb | November 2015

07/12/2016 11:12

AGENDA

AGENDA PRO ARB ASKS INDUSTRY INSIDERS

DO YOU THINK YOUR BUSINESS WILL BE IMPACTED IF ARTICLE 50 IS INVOKED? DAVID ABRAHAMS Tree care manager, Bawden Tree Care

“Bawden sources where possible from Britain – prices have not uctuated since the rexit vote Since the referendum Bawden Tree Care has not seen any impact on business. Most notably it acts as a point of discussion with clients during site visits. Our business model is such that much of our work is local, with a healthy split between commercial and domestic clients, ensuring Bawden Tree Care has limited reliance on one large client that may be a ected by Brexit. Overall, Bawden sources where possible from Britain, though this is di cult at times for larger pieces of machinery – nonetheless prices have not uctuated signiﬁcantly since the Brexit vote. Bawden has in fact purchased a new Isuzu Grafter and 8in chipper due to its increased workload and the positive outlook for the short and medium term forecasts. If article 50 is invoked, I would like to ensure the safety of my sta is maintained and importantly the level of protection

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Pro Arb | December 2016

towards our unique tree stock enhanced, with special recognition of irreplaceable habitat and a common-sense approach to tree management. There are areas that require further research such as SRT with its beneﬁts to arborists and fungi strategy these areas could be reviewed extensively in Britain and therefore help us become a world leader in research and development. I’m aware there are extensive arguments for and against Brexit and its e ects on the industry. Whatever the outcome, let’s all work together and keep building a successful arb industry.

MAGGIE WRIGHT

Principal tree officer, London Borough of Sutton “Article 50 is a mechanism to trigger negotiations – it just starts the c ock for a decision Article 50 is just a mechanism to trigger negotiations directives that a ect planning (BREAM, EIAs, etc.) would have to be attended to later with the repeal act, so article 50 won’t have any immediate

e ect as far as I can tell it just starts the clock for a decision. I don’t imagine there is great political appetite to rework all that, so I expect nothing will change unless duty on alcohol drops whereby I will be ﬁrst on the ferry and this o ce will roll to a standstill

DEBS EVANS

Company secretary, Acme Tree Services “I don’t foresee any problems for us when article 50 is invoked – we’re busier than we’ve ever been We’ve had no change to our business – we’re actually busier than we’ve ever been. I don’t foresee any problems for us when article 50 is invoked. Prices for work will have to increase, but not because of Brexit. It’s more to do with building in the costs for running the company pensions and employee contributions, which are now kicking in for smaller businesses along with wage and other cost increases such as insurance, which is a massive cost to legitimate business in the arb industry.

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JOHN MCKENNA

Business and operations development manager for arboriculture, ISS Facility Services Landscaping “Any delay in invoking article 50 wi continue to sti e business and consumer confidence UK business and consumers are generally wary of transitions, fearing that heightened uncertainty over Britain’s relationships with other countries will damage confidence and investment. Any delay in invoking article 50 will continue to sti e business and consumer confidence. In order for business to progress, it is important that government set a date for invoking article 50. Two years of negotiations between the EU and the UK will commence, and this will a ect everything from trade to immigration policies. Some EU laws which directly a ect us will have to be re-legislated. The economic outlook will remain uncertain and very much open to debate. We now need strong leadership from government, to guide the country through this period and negotiate the best deal possible with Europe.

WWW.PROARBMAGAZINE.COM

Agenda.indd 5

MARK CHESTER

Cedarwood Tree Care and The Consulting Arborist Society Some of m business invo ves purchases in dollars, and these have become more cost At the time of campaigning, it seemed that some of the more dire warnings were unfounded. For my business, work was quieter in the lead up to the referendum, while the past four months have been very busy. Some of my business involves purchases in dollars, and these have become more costly. owever, I see scope for improvement. I wonder whether leaving the single market will enable greater restriction of imports of trees and shrubs to manage plant health – the recommendation of using quarantine to restrict the import of pests and diseases had to be removed from BS8545:2014 due to free movement of goods.

NEXT MONTH

NICK EDDISON

Arboriculture manager, Burleys “Perhaps we will see the cost of equipment rise, as there are very few based roducers I ve not seen anything that would unduly in uence the business yet. The only concern right now is that UK plc may be adversely a ected, in terms of currency value and overall viability, but that hasn’t translated to anything concrete for the arb industry so far. As we seem to have an overwhelmingly home-grown workforce, there hasn’t been any panic in terms of sta retention worries. Perhaps we will see the cost of equipment and machinery rise, as there are very few UK based producers of arb equipment, but like everything else, those price rises will in some way inevitably be passed onto the customer. It may make the industry a bit more competitive.

Pro Arb asks: Are you going to increase your prices in 2017? Have your say: joe.wilkinson@eljays44.com

Pro Arb | December 2016

06/12/2016 15:04

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NEWS

NEWSBEAT

A roundup of all the latest arboriculture news from around the UK. For more stories visit www.proarbmagazine.com

ICF APPOINTS ANDY LEDERER AS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

DEADLY DISEASE COULD AFFECT 65% OF TREES IN MILTON KEYNES

The Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF) has welcomed Andy Lederer as its new development director. Andy brings with him more than 11 years’ experience in the arboriculture sector, having worked with both the ondon Tree cers Association (LTOA) and the London Borough of Islington. ICF President David Henderson described the importance of Andy’s role at the ICF as it enters a new phase of growth. He said: “The institute is at an exciting point in its history, and our development director is a key role that will aid our development and membership growth. We are delighted to have Andy join us in this position. He will be a fantastic addition to the team.”

halara dieback a ects ash trees and has been found in Milton Keynes. In the area 65% of trees are ash, and once a tree is infected the disease is usually fatal, although complete death in a mature tree can take some years. Symptoms of the disease were seen in the early autumn on young sapling ash in Linford Wood, in the west of the city and on the Swan’s Way bridle route at Kingsmead. Samples from each site were sent to the Forestry Commission for testing and conﬁrmed positive. It is highly likely

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Andy will take up his role at the institute in January, succeeding outgoing development director Russell Horsey MICFor. Andy said: “I am extremely excited to begin working for the Institute of Chartered Foresters. I’m enthusiastic and motivated to highlight the importance of the forestry and arboriculture sectors within the UK, and the necessity to have suitable trained professionals involved in all aspects of tree and forestry management and maintenance.” www.charteredforesters.org

the disease is elsewhere in the city and the Parks Trust continues to monitor its sites for further outbreaks, but it will be next year’s growing season when a ected trees will be more clearly identified. Chalara was initially reported in Buckinghamshire in 01 , the first time it had appeared in the UK. Rob Riekie from the Parks Trust, said “The confirmation that Chalara has spread to our trees is unfortunate, but we have been preparing for the arrival of this disease for the last few years.” www.theparkstrust.com

ECHO LAUNCHES NEW TOP HANDLE CHAINSAW The latest top handle chainsaw in ECHO’s range of new generation chainsaws is now available in the UK. The CS2511TES weighs in at 2.3kg (dry weight excluding bar and chain) and is ECHO’s lightest and most compact saw to date, highly

manoeuvrable and easy to use for long periods with little fatigue, thanks to the compact design. www.echo-tools.co.uk

Pro Arb | December 2016

07/12/2016 10:05

NEWS

PALM TREES FACE EXTINCTION AFTER KILLER BEETLE DISCOVERED

Britain’s palm trees are under threat from a parasite which has already destroyed trees across the Mediterranean. The red palm weevil has been found infesting an imported European fan palm purchased from an Essex garden centre. There are now fears that the pest could become established in places like Torquay, Devon or central London where the climate is mild. The weevil has already wiped out French Riviera palm trees. The bug also attacks ornamental palms like the fan palm and chusan palms. The Animal and Plant Health Agency is investigating the discovery. www.telegraph.co.uk

‘GOVERNMENT WILL TAKE 12.2 YEARS TO MEET TREE PLEDGE’ The current rate of woodland creation in England means the government will be seven years late in hitting its 11m tree target, according to forestry trade body Confor. The target of planting 11m trees in the 2015-2020 parliamentary term has been repeated regularly by successive cabinet ministers, including

Andrea Leadsom, Secretary of State for the Environment, and her predecessor Elizabeth Truss. However, latest Forestry Commission statistics show just 1.35m trees have been planted since the Conservative government came to o ce in the May 2015 election – an average of 75,166 trees per month. “At that rate, it will take 12.2

years, taking us into late summer 0 , before the target is hit,” said Confor’s Chief Executive Stuart Goodall. “This simply isn’t good enough. More needs to be done.” www.farminguk.com

UK GOVERNMENT NOT FUNDING NATURAL FLOOD PREVENTION METHODS Natural ways of preventing ooding, such as planting trees, have no government funding despite ministers repeatedly backing the idea, according to a freedom of information request by Friends of the Earth (FoE). Almost a year since devastating oods hits swathes of northern Britain, environment secretary, Andrea Leadsom, and oods minister, Therese o ey, both support the approach, which aims to slow the ow of water o hills and reduce peak levels.

But the Department of Environment, Food and Rural A airs efra said “there is no funding earmarked speciﬁcally for natural ood management”. The response came shortly after a cross-party committee of MPs concluded last month that natural ways of stopping oods

must be a key part of protecting the nation as climate change intensiﬁes rain storms. In April the results of a £500k tree planting project showed it had helped the Yorkshire town of Pickering avoid last winter’s oods, and other projects have shown promise as cost e ective ways of cutting ood risk. Cumbria was hard hit last winter but a plan for a ‘catchment pioneer project’ published in June remains unfunded. www.theguardian.com

DAWN TREE FELLING IN SHEFFIELD SPARKS OUTRAGE Angry scenes erupted when council workers arrived at dawn to fell trees in a long-running She eld neighbourhood row. She eld ity ouncil began cutting down eight trees as part of a street improvement scheme. Residents had demanded the trees remain. Three people arrested after confrontations

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Pro Arb | December 2016

with workers were released without charge. She eld allam M ick Clegg said he was outraged by

the council’s action. The council said the work needed to be done as part of a £2bn scheme to improve streets and get rid of diseased, damaging or dangerous trees. Residents said the trees were healthy and should remain. South orkshire olice conﬁrmed

that 1 o cers “provided assistance at the request of the council”. In April a High Court judge dismissed a bid for a judicial review into the tree-felling programme. She eld ity Council has felled more than 3,300 trees since 2012. www.bbc.co.uk

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NEWS

FutureArb returned to FutureScape in 2016 for its second year. With FutureScape celebrating its ﬁfth anniversary, the focus was on the future. Jonathan Hazell chaired an industry debate, and a Trailblazers apprenticeship scheme refresher was given by John McKenna. Here are some of the day’s highlights

10 Pro Arb | December 2016

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NEWS ProArbMagazine @ProArbMagazine The room is ďŹ lling for the Future of Arboriculture debate at @FuturescapeUK

ProArbMagazine @ProArbMagazine Jonathan Hazell: the nature of the industry is changing. Are we going to smaller, more niche specialists?

ProArbMagazine @ProArbMagazine Mark at Cedarwood discusses training. Asks are students really grasping their courses?

ProArbMagazine @ProArbMagazine Stuart @Lantra UK thinks we are doing very well at training people at base level, but skills gap is at top end of industry

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BUSINESS

An interview with

STEWART WARDROP

We have a great group of trustees past and present, along with other members and volunteers who represent the Association at many events. Their tireless efforts are crucial today and going forward

CEO, ARBORICULTURAL ASSOCIATION

The new CEO of the Arb Association faces challenging times but has already overseen the thriving Royal Pigeon Racing Association and comes armed with experience of running various manufacturing businesses What was your last role? For the last five and a half years I was the general manager for the Royal Pigeon Racing Association (RPRA) which has 23,500 members. Prior to this I ran various manufacturing businesses including a few based overseas – my formal background and training is as an engineer. How did you become involved with the Arboricultural Association (AA)? I joined on 3 October this year after taking the RPRA as far as I could. I was looking for a role in a growing and vibrant area, ideally with an environmental theme. I saw the job advert for the AA and it’s an understatement to say that I did a fair bit of research before I even applied. There appears to be a huge opportunity within arboriculture; it seems to be booming. Everybody I’ve spoken to so far is busy and there aren’t many economic sectors that can say that. Many companies aren’t members of the AA – why do you think that is? Honestly we need to be better at selfpromotion. We also need to make all the benefits of being a member of the Association clear, especially its future development. The larger the Association becomes, the louder its voice should become, the more weight it will carry and the more influence it will have.

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We are fortunate to have some very active supportive and knowledgeable trustees and committee members who are making sure the Association’s voice is being heard – we punch above our weight but can always do more. We’re now co-sponsors of an all-party parliamentary group on horticulture and starting to get our presence known within the parliamentary movers and shakers, which is a major step for us. We need to do some work on clarifying, promoting and publicising the benefits of membership, the conference, the Arb Show and the training opportunities. We offer free training and an approved contractor scheme where we provide free preparation day workshops. This enables companies who are considering this route to come and find out what’s required to take their business through to approved contractor status. Is the focus on growing membership? Growth of membership will

Pro Arb | December 2016 13

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BUSINESS

Westminster Trees Event June 2016

be one of the many measures of success. For the last couple of years, membership numbers have stayed steady, but like many membership organisations, there is an attrition rate. We are recruiting new members in, but over the last few years we’ve lost roughly the same number. Our objective is to make sure we reduce the attrition rate, whilst growing the number of new members. Do you think the lack of renewals is because people don’t see the value of their membership? I’m in a situation where I’ve not yet sat down with many members and the guys on the tools; this will change over the next few months. As the Association didn’t have a CEO for a few months, I’ve had to concentrate my time on the operational things at HQ. Having begun to get my feet under the table, I’m now able to get out meeting and talking with our stakeholders. Along with our chairman, Keith Sacre, we are planning to attend various branch meetings and already have dates in the diary for the South East and Scottish branches. I’ll also be present at several training courses that will be attended by both members and non-members, so I can talk directly to users of the Association’s services and gain a wider understanding. Like many other membership organisations that have a branch structure , there are some that are vibrantly active and others that are less so. I need to work and understand how the Association can help all branches with improving our member engagement. There is an awful lot we can

14 Pro Arb | December 2016

Interview.indd 14

50th AA Conference at Keele University

do going forward regarding promotion and growth of membership. We have a great group of trustees past and present, along with other members and volunteers who represent the Association at many events. Their tireless efforts are crucial today and going forward.

The Association is generating a surplus, thanks to the bold decisions taken and the great work carried out over recent years. It is budgeted to generate a surplus again next year Do you see the AA linking with any other associations? Funnily enough the opportunities to grow and develop the Association will be defined by working closely with key strategic partners in the future. For example, we’re now an associate organisation with the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA); I recently attended one of its workshops in the USA, which has reinforced the relationship and identified areas where we can work to both parties’ mutual benefit. More will become clear over the coming months. Has the ISA closed its UK and Ireland chapter? The AA will promote various aspects of the ISA activity in the UK. We’ve been open and honest with the ISA; we’re not going to offer

The Arb Show 2016

everything that a typical chapter would, as this would require duplication of services we already provide. The ISA has a fabulous international network which by working together we can ensure we spread the word about activities and information that will benefit a wider audience, to both organisations mutual benefit of course. We will also be marketing some of the ISA’s relevant products to our members – they offer the certified arborist programme, which according to the technical team here is a well crafted programme. Are you under any pressure to reduce costs? What business isn’t? The Association is generating a surplus, thanks to the bold decisions taken and the great work carried out over recent years. It is budgeted to generate a surplus again next year. One target is to deliver year on year surplus which then allows the Association to widen its impact in accordance with its charitable aims, the science of arboriculture and enhanced member benefits. The industry is struggling in terms of recruiting. Is that a responsibility of the Association? Yes we should be influencing more. The technical team and members are having an input into the new trailblazer apprenticeship scheme and the new standard for arborist apprentices will be launched next year. We need to make children and parents understand that arboriculture is a long-term career path. As you increase your experience and knowledge that path should

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07/12/2016 10:21

BUSINESS be clearly defined. We want, and need, people to stay with arboriculture and not be something that you go into as a young person and then migrate out of; we need to demonstrate you can make a long term career from arboriculture. One of the things we’ll be developing and trialling is a school educational programme. In my previous role, we went to numerous schools, seeing over 12,000 school children in one year. We had an educational theme, however the draw was the story being told and the visuals. We have a great story to be told and brilliant visuals.

over reliance on any one of them, and to help grow the Association.

How does the membership work? There are a variety of memberships to suit different structures, ranging from student, to a public membership, associate, technician – this is where a person has had to reach a certain qualification and can demonstrate their status. We also have professional membership and fellow membership, which provide further career recognition, and finally corporate membership, which is an organisation joining to receive benefits for its employees and to keep up to date with industry standards. Depending on membership grade you can gain significant discounted training course rates and access to member discounts.

Is it the AA’s job to make the consumer aware that they should be choosing a registered contractor or consultant? That’s one part of the public activity that we must continue to improve. The more public awareness we raise as to the benefits of using a member of the Association and that somebody has assessed their capability, experience and training, the more dividends in the longer term.

Is most revenue generated from subscriptions or from training courses? The main income streams are subscriptions, training and certifications, the conference and the Arb Show and then the contractors and consultants schemes. But we need to develop others to avoid SRT Workshop (image credit: ISC)

We need to make school kids understand that arboriculture is a long-term career path. As you increase your experience and knowledge that path should be clearly defined

To become an Arb Association scheme member do you have to assess my work? For the consultant and contractor schemes, yes, there are detailed assessments. Basically, we’re saying that as an approved contractor, you meet certain criteria and it’s a quality ‘badge’. It’s like a TrustMark and is the only scheme of its kind in the UK.

And you have to balance various different sized companies, each of which have their own needs... Everybody has their own objectives, goals and agendas and we need to make sure that, although we know we will never get it 100% right, we do maintain those balances to deliver as good a service as we can to all our contributing members, our sponsors, the industry in general and the public. 3ATC Climbing Competition

Broadly, we are always striving to promote the importance of trees and their proper management. The need to increase public awareness was evident throughout our 2016 member survey, and will be a strong point of focus for the Association in 2017, as nearly a quarter of those surveyed said the public had no awareness of the arboriculture industry in their area. We have a wide range of people with an interest in the Association and we have to try and deliver benefits to all. Is your role on a fixed term contract? No, I’m an employee of the Association and I shall be here for as long as the AA wants me. So far it’s been good; the staff are extremely knowledgeable and helpful and they, along with chairman Keith Sacre and past chairman Jago Keen, have given me a good induction. In terms of changes, do you have to get everything signed off by the board? No, the board sets the vision and the strategic direction. They inform me where they want the Association to go; it’s my job to get us there. As to how we deliver, it’s a team effort including the trustees, committees, staff and myself. The trustees’ message is a simple one – we must fulfil our charitable aims. We have a strategy and a vision, part of which is to raise the profile and the voice of the Arboricultural Association so that the public and decision makers understand what we do. CONTACT The Arboricultural Association The Malthouse, Stroud Green, Standish, Stonehouse, Gloucestershire GL10 3DL Tel 01242 522 152 Email admin@trees.org.uk Web www.trees.org.uk

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07/12/2016 10:21

BUSINESS Following on from the panel debate he chaired at FutureScape, Jonathan Hazell looks forward to the future of arboriculture

e had interesting and informative exchanges during our debate on the future of arboriculture at FutureScape, dealing with the competition for funding, skills training and the need to see the bigger picture or be left behind. Our panel consisted of Alastair Durkin, Andrew Turner, Keith Sacre, John McKenna, John Parker and Stuart Phillips, and so represented the breadth of arboriculture. Thanks to each and every one for their valuable contributions made throughout the debate. Graham Banks raised the issue of securing funding for trees in the face of apparently more deserving causes in these austere times. He was eloquent in his description of the conundrum he faces daily, to spread a very thin budget across the most deserving corners of his county to meet his duty of

When discussing master planning and sweeping visions, the arboriculturist needs to be able to hold their head high and talk about the bigger picture

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THE FUTURE OF ARBORICULTURE

care. Keith and others wondered if an understanding of the value of ecosystem services and the beneﬁts that tree populations provide would lead to better funding, but to be practical there is much for politicians, purse string holders and electorate to learn before that may happen. And, of course, the challenge remains as to how to fund the exercise to demonstrate the value that a tree population has. The next area that was considered was skills. There are undoubtedly many young and technically competent tree pruners all around us, but how many are arborists? By which I mean, how many know why they are undertaking the pruning and what might the consequences be for the tree in its setting? Stuart made the valid point that competent supervision will help to raise standards, but where are the next generation of competent team leaders to come from? One suggestion from the oor was that if training were made more attractive and delivered at the right level and at the right size, leading

to suitable awards, then more people would come forward. But, there was an alternative view that colleges are now businesses, rather than centres of educational excellence, which process students through the sausage machine rather than teach them anything worthwhile. Graham had earlier mentioned that he had only £800k to manage 2m trees, amounting to 40p per tree. I raised my concern that tendering for tree work which drove down prices across the borough or county would give rise to false expectations among the public – a quoted price for a day’s tree work may be thought of as unconscionably high, albeit in commercial terms realistic! This will have consequences across the industry and limit the money available to pay wages, therefore failing to meet the expectations of those with certain skill levels and leading to the employment of lower skilled sta . The last area of discussion revolved around the need for the arboricultural profession to lift its vision and become strategic, not

simply become expert in narrow matters like pests and diseases or BS5837. When discussing master planning and sweeping visions, the arboriculturist needs to be able to hold their head high and talk about the bigger picture, including the wide-reaching in uences and beneﬁts that tree populations can provide for citizens – not simply the narrow impacts that proposals may have on individual trees. Looking forward to next year’s FutureScape already! ABOUT JONATHAN HAZELL Jonathan Hazell’s career began on the tools with the Ealing tree gang in 1980. Senior roles in the public, charity and commercial sectors followed and in October 2011 Jonathan established his own arboricultural consultancy practice. www.jhazell.com

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06/12/2016 14:13

BUSINESS

FIREBLIGHT Bartlett Tree Experts discusses what to look out for when identifying fireblight, and shares best practice when it comes to controlling the disease

ireblight is a bacterial disease of many UK tree and shrub species such as pear, crabapple, cotoneaster, rowan, hawthorn, pyracantha, spirea and rose. Depending on plant species, cultural practices and spring weather conditions, damage can range from death of one or more branches to severe branch mortality to tree death. The disease is most severe during warm, moist springs and on poorly drained sites. Young, vigorous plants, or those heavily fertilised with nitrogen, are usually most severely a ected. Symptoms The most characteristic and visible symptoms are wilting and blackening of the blossoms and

leaves on the terminal shoots. The a ected plant parts remain attached to the shoot terminal and appear as if they have been scorched by ﬁre. As the infection progresses into secondary branches, the bark blackens and cankers develop on the older, larger portions, particularly at the margins of living and dead tissue. A brown secretion develops at the site of these cankers during moist, warm weather. The cambial region of infected branches initially appears watersoaked and reddish to reddishbrown in colour. At death, the sapwood dries and becomes dark brown. Casual agents

Fireblight is caused by the bacterium Erwinia amylovora. The organism overwinters in branch cankers at the margins of living and dead tissue. During periods of moist, warm weather in the spring, a brown ‘ooze’ containing the bacteria is produced at the canker surface. Wind, rain-splash

The disease is most severe during warm, moist springs and on poorly drained sites and insects are responsible for the initial transport of the bacteria from the cankers to open blossoms, the primary infection site. Pollinating insects are primarily responsible for secondary infections whereby the bacteria are transported from infected to healthy blossoms. Sucking insects, including leafhoppers and aphids, and pruning tools are e cient wounding agents and also often act as vectors for the bacteria. Control Many species and varieties of crabapple, cotoneaster apple, pyracantha, etc. are resistant to ﬁreblight and should be used in landscape plantings when possible. ontrol of ﬁreblight on

susceptible plants is di cult and requires a comprehensive program of sanitation, correct cultural practices, and liquid copper spray applications in order to ensure that satisfactory results are attained. Sanitation refers to the removal of infected terminals and branches from the host. Terminal infections are best pruned out when ﬁrst noticed. Make cuts in the healthy wood well below the last observable symptom (approximately 25-30cm) and disinfect pruning tools in alcohol or bleach (1% solution). Branch infections should be removed during dry weather in the late summer or in the dormant season. Removal methods as outlined above are recommended. Susceptible species should be planted on well-drained soil and the pH maintained at the recommended level for the species in question (neutral to slightly acidic for most members of the Rosaceae). Fertilisation, when necessary, is best done in the late autumn or early spring using a balanced fertiliser. Do not over-fertilise or use a high nitrogen fertiliser. Prune often to avoid large pruning cuts and excessive opening of the crown, which promotes fast-growing suckers. Application of liquid copper oxychloride sprays in September, October and November are strongly recommended. ABOUT BARTLETT Emma Schaffert is a research technician at the Bartlett Tree Research Laboratory. Luke Hailey is a research technician and plant ecologist at the Bartlett Tree Research Laboratory.

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07/12/2016 09:51

BUSINESS Ross Hewitt talks taking a trip around your website to make sure everything is as it should be for the first time visitor Managing a website and keeping everything up to date seems like a straightforward task, but some of you are running websites that are quite the behemoths. It’s a full time job keeping everything in order and it’s easy to lose track of every single paragraph and image. You need to throw some time at it, especially if you’re spending money driving tra c to the site. Block out an afternoon of your time, open a packet of biscuits (or a bottle of gin) and start browsing and clicking. Move around the website as if you were a ﬁrst time visitor, and try to think like your audience.

You need to throw some time at it, especially if you’re spending money driving traffic to the site Create a spreadsheet, paste in the URL of any pages that need attention and write a note about what needs sorting out. To give you an idea of what to look for, here are a few things that get people bouncing o your website very quickly and heading elsewhere.

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THE ANNUAL WEBSITE MOT 1 2

Missing images ‘Awaiting image’ or ‘Image to be supplied’ in place of a proper photo of a previous job is just wrong, and a bit lazy. The basics an a visitor ﬁnd a phone number easily and can they ﬁnd your address? How straightforward is it to send you a message?

Broken links / forms If you use a webform on your contact page, test it weekly. Things break down on web servers and there is a lot of code and software running behind webforms. It’s very irksome for someone to type a long message into a contact form only to have it fail when they click send. Likewise, clicking on links that don t work is e ually frustrating. Find them and ﬁx them. If your website links to other external websites, make sure they still exist and the expected content is there.

Browser testing If you have only ever looked at your website in Internet xplorer or Firefox, then you might be in for a testing time, literally. isit in Chrome, Edge and on your mobile or tablet. All browsers interpret code di erently, and what looks good in Firefox might look awful in Microsoft Edge. Times have also changed. Five years ago web tra c was pretty much owned by Microsoft browsers. ow it is di erent don t be surprised if upwards of % of your tra c comes via Safari and Chrome combined, so make sure it looks right in these browsers and on any type of mobile too.

There’s plenty more to run at and list, such as typos, out of date content, badly cropped images, and links to blogs and social media accounts that never get updated, but you get the picture. Performing these checks will be a very beneﬁcial use of your time. You won’t get a certiﬁcate but you will convert more browsers into enquiries or purchases. ABOUT ROSS HEWITT Ross Hewitt is managing director of digital marketing consultancy Secret Pie and author of ‘Savvy Social Media’. Ross began his digital marketing career in 1998 and set up Secret Pie in 2010. www.secretpie.co.uk Twitter: @Secret_Pie

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07/12/2016 09:53

BUSINESS

DATA DRIVEN Norwich City Council drew up a tree strategy in 2010 in which it set itself a number of objectives that it wanted to meet to improve its service. We look at the way the council has used its online presence, and other ideas, to help accomplish its goals

Norwich has an urban population of 250,000 and has been recognised as one of Britain’s fastest growing regions. Like many councils, the challenge it faces is in ﬁnding an e ective balance between the needs of a thriving city and the welfare of its trees. Technology might not be immediately related to a council’s arboriculture work but orwich ity ouncil is looking to be innovative in its approach to dealing with requests from the public and the way that it provides information. Norwich has an ageing population of trees which are having to be replaced on a regular basis, and the extra work this generates is putting pressure on already overstretched resources. Imogen Mole, Lead Arboriculture cer at the ity ouncil describes how keeping certain information online reduces the amount of customer contact, saving them

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much-needed time and money. Residents can access a range of features on the council’s website, including the ability to request a TPO, or work on a tree in a conservation area. “The public can log in to our online mapping service where they can locate a tree just outside their house. ere they can ﬁnd all kinds of information about it, such as what type of tree it is and when it was last inspected.” Engaging the public roviding information online and allowing the public to ﬁll in re uests is all part of an e ort to meet one of the objectives that the council set itself in its tree strategy back in 2010: to better inform and involve the local population. iving the public a say in matters has been an important change at the council. In 2001 a series of ‘conkers bonkers’ stories made

headline news in the national press, when the council s decision to fell several horse chestnut trees because of the dangers of conkers caused huge debate and divide between the council and local residents. orwich ity ouncil is keen to move on and learn from the past. Imogen says the council has undertaken several other measures in addition to its online presence to ensure this objective is met “ e have upped our public consultations and meetings and run letter

Norwich City Council is looking to be innovative in its approach to dealing with requests from the public and the way that it provides information

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BUSINESS

Imogen Mole, ead r or c lt re cer Norwich City Council

drops. It s mutually beneﬁcial as we gain the trust of the people, making them less suspicious of the work the tree department is carrying out.” And the online database doesn t end with the public s use. The council is currently collecting data on the number of trees and variety of species so that the team can access accurate records of what they have and where. Imogen estimates the council has 0,000 trees plotted individually, as well as a number of woodland and conservation areas, and says orwich is lucky enough to have a very diverse tree stock which includes both native and exotic types.

Meeting objectives There were three additional objectives when the council drew up its tree strategy in 010 to enhance the city s natural environment, to achieve a better co-ordinated approach to the management of orwich s tree stock, and to improve the overall standard of tree care and

We have made huge changes. We are working on maintenance, allowing us to retain safer trees and more of them

create a healthier, safer tree population. e asked Imogen how the council has moved on since the strategy was created. “ e have made huge changes. hen I started we were in the early stages of becoming more proactive in tree management, the main focus being the removal of some large, dangerous trees. e have now turned that corner and are working on maintenance, allowing us to retain safer trees and more of them.” As part of the plan to retain trees for longer, a schedule has been determined for the maintenance of the city s trees. The area the city covers has been split into uarters, with one uarter being inspected each year. This

Norwich City Council’s website: tree section

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BUSINESS

means trees are inspected every four years – with the exception of trees growing in high risk areas, such as on main roads, which are inspected on an annual basis – allowing the team to stay on top of the workload and keep its data current, in turn giving the public access to the latest information on the trees in their neighbourhood online. Roots manoeuvre A measure of how far the council has come since the chestnut tree debate is its recent decision to remove 45 trees in residential streets due to invasive roots. The trees currently in place are mostly dawn redwoods planted 20 to 30 years ago. Imogen explains: “The roots had caused lifting and cracks in the pavement which isn’t unusual and is not a reason in itself to remove the trees. However they had started to lift walls and push up driveways.” The council decided it would be more economical to fell the trees and replace them with a new variety. Work had been taking place for ten years to repair damages that the roots had caused and it was costing too much money to keep those that were no longer a good fit for the area. “There have been a couple of objections to the removal but on the whole people are very happy,” says Imogen. “It has been about striking the right balance and the right amount of communication.” As part of the plan to keep the public more informed, the council put posters on each of the trees to be felled. These explained the council’s decision and provided contact details for relevant team members who would be able to deal with residents’ enquiries. The trees will be replaced with new varieties, including allery pear and field maple, which are deemed a better fit for an urban space. They will also be planting thorn trees and mountain ash. Added value A few years ago there were concerns from residents that budget cuts would mean more trees being felled than planted. There were

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We have planted 201 trees along the highway this year and 140 in housing areas. You can’t have a sustainable tree management function without planting also concerns raised over whether trees would only be planted in conservation areas. According to Imogen, thankfully this has not been the case: “We have planted 201 trees along the highway this year and a further 140 in housing areas, and there have been quite a few in parks. You can’t have a sustainable tree management function in a council without planting.” Only time will tell how successful Norwich City Council has been in implementing its tree strategy, but in the meantime it’s the team s passion and dedication that o ers hope for the future. “We are well known for our tree landscapes,” says Imogen, “they make the city quite distinct. We get many horticultural groups visiting and they are always astounded by the broad range that we have here.”

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BUSINESS

10 TOP TIPS

1 2

TO MAINTAIN YOUR C

probably cut corners here and there, but if you have a failure later and that is somehow linked to a non-genuine part you may have di culty with a warranty claim.

Keep your machine clean Often overlooked, but essential if you want to keep a visual check on your chipper. Keep your blades sharp ot only will you reap the beneﬁts of better productivity, you will prolong the life of your machine. Blunt blades lead to bigger impact forces which place stress on your machine. Keep your brakes adjusted Many chippers have an over-run braking system which will need adjusting from time to time. A guide as to whether your brakes need attention is if your handbrake has a lot of travel. The other sign that adjustment is needed is when the chipper thumps into you as you brake. The brakes not only help keep the chipper in place when unhitched but they assist you in stopping while you’re on the road. Use genuine parts The manufacturer of your chipper has taken time to test the durability and performance of each component. Yes, you can

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Learn how to change your blades properly You’ve probably changed the blades already, without any issues it should be ﬁne, right ell, do you know the correct tor ue setting for the blade bolts id you thoroughly scrape the back of the blade and the surface of the rotor before attaching the blades hen did you last replace the securing nuts for the blade bolts If your blades don t have a wear indicator, have you checked their dimensions to be sure that they are still safe to use ne last thing back that tor ue wrench o to ero when you re done or the calibration will be out next time. I’ve changed my blades – that’s all I need to worry about, isn’t it? ave you looked at the anvil It is more durable than the blades but will still wear over time. hen it does you can experience issues feeding material and a deterioration of your chip quality.

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06/12/2016 15:42

BUSINESS

R CHIPPER

We asked British manufacturer Timberwolf for tips to make sure your chipper remains in tip top condition

Your chipper chips wood! A good habit to get into is to cut a suitably shaped stick to act as a pusher for those times that you get something awkward stuck in the feed funnel

Use the lock on your tow hitch This is an obvious one but worth remembering. You’ve worked hard to get your equipment; you wouldn’t leave your truck unlocked, so make sure you’ve used the hitch lock to stop opportunists from helping themselves. If you keep your chainsaws sharp and the air filter clean... The same applies to your chipper. Sharp is easier, right? Why do you clean the air filter on your saw so often Because you work it in dusty conditions. our chipper is no di erent, just more costly if you have an issue. A daily air filter check will prolong its life and increase your fuel economy. Keep a push stick handy Your chipper chips wood! A good habit to get into is to cut a suitably shaped stick to act as a pusher for those times that you get something awkward stuck in the feed funnel. If it’s taken by the rollers you ve just lost a push stick, no drama, but if you were using a rake or a shovel instead, the story would have a very di erent outcome.

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In cold weather... Check the radiator coolant mixture to protect from frost; if the mixture is too weak, the engine block will be damaged if it freezes. Has the battery been checked for condition and power? You don’t want to be let down on starting. Check the lamps are working correctly for the darker nights and check the condition and pressures of the tyres.

ABOUT JEREMY SMITHERS Jeremy Smithers is the UK and Ireland dealer manager for Timberwolf. With a background as an arborist, he has worked in the industry for more than 30 years. His role within Timberwolf is to look after the dealer network for the British Isles and work with Timberwolf’s key account customers. www.timberwolf-uk.com

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FEATURES

TOOLBOX Pro Arb visited Horsham-based Treeco to ﬁnd out about the team’s kit of choice for working on the trees of Sussex

Commercial vehicles We go for transit vans with tipper attachments for the main workload. They’re reliable and have a lot of space, making them ideal for our line of work.

Working at height e use Stein carbon ﬁbre poles and long reach Stihl hedgecutters with saw attachments.

Chainsaws Mainly Stihl, although we do have a larger Husqvarna saw. The Stihl 362 is the best ground saw for us, however of the power to weight ratio, it works far quicker than other saws. We use MS 00T when climbing as it s the most powerful saw. Stihl s battery powered kit is e cient the charge lasts much longer than a tank of petrol. Eventually we will upgrade to all battery which will save on fuel and keep noise to a minimum, which is important when working early in the morning.

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FEATURES Stump grinders We use lightweight stump grinders such as the Rayco RG13 as they are easy to transport and narrow, enabling us to manoeuvre with relative ease. In the long run we’re looking at upgrading to a Predator stump grinder.

Excavator We use a 1.6 Bobcat – it’s a reliable machine and quite powerful for the size.

Climbing ropes We are using Zigzag now as it makes climbing so much quicker, although we do still have people using Prusik ropes as they prefer the feel of them. We have a climbing ladder with three adjustable legs, making it safer for one person to use and the aluminium is lightweight which is really useful.

Chippers We have a Jensen 6in towable chipper; of everything we’ve used, it has the most power to pull heavy branches.

PPE We use Pfanner Stretch Air for trousers. They last the longest and are a good quality, robust and waterproof. We use a range of boots, usually Meindl as they are very durable, and we prefer Petzl helmets – the chinstrap is ideal for climbing, with a quality, simple design.

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06/12/2016 15:15

WHICH WOULD YOU BUY? CHAINSAWS Pro Arb rounds up the best of chainsaws

Husqvarna 576XP Autotune Price £1,124 Power output 5.6hp Weight 6.8kg Features the X-Torq engine that provides high torque over a wide rpm range, combined with low fuel consumption and low exhaust emission levels. Ergonomically improved handles reduce fatigue. Smart Start provides easy starting and Air Injection makes the saw run stronger and longer. www.husqvarna.com

TimberPro TimberPro 20in 62cc petrol chainsaw

Makita EA7900P45E 79cc chainsaw

Price £89.99 Power output 3.6hp Weight 9kg High quality design for both professional and domestic use. Comes with a two year warranty for home use, includes a carry bag and two chains, toolkit and detailed user manual. Also available with 16in bars and chains, 24in bars and chains or an Oregon bar and chain. www.timberpro-uk.com

Price £755 Power output 5.7hp Weight 6.6kg The Makita EA7900P45E 79cc chainsaw is a professional saw and comes with a 45cm bar. This chainsaw has an environmentally friendly two-stroke engine with Scavenging Losses Rejection (SLR) exhaust developed without a catalytic converter – up to 15% less fuel is consumed with SLR technology. The operator is protected from HAV risk by the anti-vibration system and this model features Makita’s easy-start system. The Makita EA7900P45E has a fuel tank capacity of 0.75L and is equipped with an automatic chain brake that stops the chain dri e instantly hen the top fin er bra e is tri ered www.makitauk.com

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KIT Stihl MS 441 C-M Price £1,020 Power output 4.2kW Weight 6.6kg

The MS 441 C-M features Stihl M-Tronic, fully electronic controlled ignition timing and a fuel metering system. This innovative, low vibration and high performance saw is simple to start and operate by automatically adjusting to specific or in conditions he ronic system remembers settin s from the last time it was used for quick and easy use. The machine boasts optimised power to weight ratio and low vibration levels. It features up to 20% less fuel consumption and 50% fewer emissions compared to conventional two-stroke engines without 2-MIX technology. www.stihl.co.uk

Lawnflite GCS 460045 petrol chainsaw

Cobra CS420-18 Price Including VAT £189.99 Power Output 52cc Weight 6kg

Price £170 Power Output 46.4cc Weight 5.4kg

The Cobra CS420-18 comes with an 18in bar and is powered by a 52cc Cobra petrol two-stroke engine. It also comes with an Oregon bar and chain with safety kickback and safety chain brake for additional protection for the operator.

The GCS 460045 comes with a powerful 20.55L, 46.4cc two-stroke engine delivering large levels of torque. It also comes with a 45cm guide bar as well as a lateral chain tensioner and auto chain oiler for additional lubrication to make for easier cutting.

www.cobragarden.co.uk

www.lawnflite.co.uk

Ego Power+ CS1600E chainsaw Price £219 Power Output 56V Weight 3.86kg (without battery) The new 40cm chainsaw operates at a chain speed at 13.5m/s, making up to 100 cuts of 4in by 4in softwood per charge of a 2.0Ah 56V Ego battery. Operating at 6,300rpm, it has a kickback brake and a chain scabbard as standard. There is an easy to see oil level indicator on the tank and the D-shaped handle ensures easy manoeuvrability and maximum operator comfort and safety. The chainsaw is safe and convenient, with an automatic shutdown when not in use, as well as an automatic lubrication system and innovative tool-free chain tensioning. Additionally, the chainsaw’s low vibration reduces stress on limbs, cutting down on muscle ache. www.egopowerplus.co.uk

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NEXT MONTH: Commercial vehicles Pro Arb | December 2016 27

06/12/2016 15:22

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Tel: 01621 892907

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08/12/2016 11:08

KIT Teupen Maschinenbau GmbH Leo 21 GT • With 250kg in the basket the Leo 21 GT achieves 12m side reach • Hydraulically height and width adjustable track system permits narrowing and lowering the machine for passing entrances • Widening of the track footprint for more ground clearance and traction • Made of high strength steel boom telescopes all cables, hoses and hydraulic cylinders are safely routed through the booms and therefore protected against damage and weather

Teufelberger Fibre Rope GmbH Trex • Low stretch 12 strand hollow braid polyester rope • Each hi-vis strand is solution dyed to prevent loss of colour through use • Easy to splice • ffers e cellent abrasion resistance • Special wax coat keeps the rope surface from becoming rough fast www.teufelberger.com

www.teupen.com

ARB KIT

A roundup of the best new products from 2016 Forst Woodchippers XR8 Traxion • Fast, powerful and versatile woodchipper • Designed to traverse banks and slopes up to 35° • Parallel linkage leg system allows users to expand and retract legs independently • Powered by a 50HP, four cylinder Kubota diesel engine • En ine dri es hydraulic pump directly throu h the en ine s po er ta e off meaning all torque is transferred directly to the tracks www.forst-woodchippers.com

Husqvarna UK 365 • Rugged and versatile petrol chainsaw • Gives high performance in demanding conditions • Suitable for a variety of professional applications • X-Torq 70cc chainsaw engine improves fuel economy by up to 20% and torque up to 18% • Air injection system cleans air before entering the en ine to reduce en ine ear and air filter maintenance www.husqvarna.com/uk

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KIT DeepRoot Urban Solutions Ltd Silva Cell • Uses green infrastructure to bring the utility of the forest to the built environment • his modular product supports tra c loads • Provides uncompacted soil volumes for large tree growth and on-site stormwater management • The underground framework provides unlimited access to healthy soil • The Silva Cell meets engineering standards www.deeproot.com

Timberwolf TW 280TFTR 8in • Extra-wide feed funnel (280mm x 200mm) and open top section provide better visibility and ease of feeding • Designed to reduce snedding • Powered by a Kubota four cylinder turbo charged diesel engine, providing 45hp • Access panel for easier removal of blades and remote central greasing point www.timberwolf-uk.com

PSD Groundscare TS Industrie WS/18-35D • 35hp four cylinder Kubota diesel engine • Material diameter 18cm • Cutting disc technology • 270° adjustable chimney • Service hood – quick and easy access to all service points • Weight 1,085kg www.psdgroundscare.co.uk

Avant Tecno UK 225 Model Compact Tool Carrier • Weighs 700kg and is 995mm wide • Powered by a 25hp Kohler engine which provides a maximum speed of 10 km/h • Multi-function joystick as standard • Features LED front lights, a ROPS safety frame and FOPS canopy • Attachment change is aided by the auxiliary hydraulics coupling system www.avanttecno.com

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KIT

Forest and Arb HAIX Ultra Chainsaw Boots Greenfix: Genuine Geoweb for Tree Root Protection • Control measure for APN12 and BS5837 • Contains a three-dimensional structure that provides strength to the porous infill material • Distributes loads laterally along its system reducing compaction • Effects the tree root area and controls hydrocarbon pollution www.greenfix.co.uk

• Two colour options, signal red or lime green • Upper material is 2.8-3mm breathable suede • Features a four layer Gore-Tex inner lining • Class 2 boot with features including HAIX climate system • Sturdy multi-directional VIBRAM rubber/PU anti-slip sole www.forestandarb.com

Cheviot Trees Ltd Pottipukti Planting Tool • Manufactured in Finland from • Made of high strength steel • Ergonomically designed to achieve maximum planting rates with minimal planter stress • When used in combination with the planting harness, the Pottipukti ensures planting is carried out from an upright position www.cheviot-trees.co.uk

Central Platform Services Ltd Leguan L165 Self Propelled Spider Lift • Direct hydraulic controls for drive and lift functions • Available on wheels or tracks both with true 4x4 capability • Capable of 35% gradeability • Unrivalled rough terrain capability • Ideal for tree work with 230kg unrestricted basket capacity, 7.8m outreach, up to 11m vertical lifting, up to 4.5km drive speed and self-drive from the cage www.cpslift.com

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BUSINESS

TRADING WITH JAS P WILSON

Pro Arb spoke with Simon Clingan of Jas P Wilson about the company, its partnership with TP chippers and the future of the brand Can you tell us a little about Jas P Wilson? Jas P Wilson is a family business which has been trading since 1964. The business was set up by the late James Pearson Wilson at the family home in south west Scotland. Originally an agricultural contracting and plant hire business, it has grown into its present form under the direction of his three sons John, Billy and Iain. For the last 25 years the company has been supplying the forestry and arb industries with quality specialist machinery. The sister company, European Forest Machinery, is the UK designer and manufacturer of Botex forestry trailers and cranes. What are the main products you supply? We are the UK’s one-stop forestry shop. We supply a full range of forestry and ﬁrewood machinery including osch ﬁrewood equipment and Lasco cone splitters, Botex forestry cranes and trailers, TP woodchippers, Igland timber winches, Keto and Jak harvesting equipment and SP harvesting heads. We also hold the UK’s largest stock of used spare parts for all makes of timber harvesters and forwarders. What are the key values of Jas P Wilson? We are aware that although it would be nice, every enquiry doesn’t need to end in an order.

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We give genuine advice and ensure our customers make the right choices. We try to ensure that when our customers make a purchase they get the correct machine and get it at a fair price. We are available when they need technical advice or spare parts – we have them in stock and can get them out quickly to minimise any downtime. Is there a main area of the business you are currently looking at improving? With our history of providing quality equipment to the forestry and arb sectors, we have often been asked

to provide a quality woodchipper to service the needs of our large customer base. This opportunity came recently when we were appointed as sole UK and Ireland dealers for TP chippers. Its quality is well known and its wide range of machines suits our customer’s needs. We’re aiming to show the range to as many professional arb users as possible, as its quality and reliability makes it a very attractive proposition. The chippers’ ability to produce a uniform biomass quality chip can give our customers an added value to timber that would normally be chipped to waste.

Have you anything new for the coming months? After the recent successful launch of the osch S- 0 Turbo ﬁrewood processor at the APF, we are looking forward to the arrival of the all new TP215 mobile woodchipper. This is an exciting addition from TP to the competitive 8in chipper market. This model sees the introduction of the TP dual torque in-feed system which gives the chipper unsurpassed in-feed force and easy in-feed of branched material. The TP215 will be available early 2017 and we will have a demonstration model available. What is the next step? Continual improvement. Although we already pride ourselves on our customer service and ability to cover the UK and Ireland with our team of on-the-road sales and service sta , we can t a ord to rest on our laurels. As our customer base continues to grow and our product range expands we are aware that we need to keep moving with the times and enhance our customer experience wherever possible. That’s the challenge ahead and one we look forward to.

Simon Clingan

CONTACT Jas P Wilson Industrial Site, Coast Road Dalbeattie DG5 4QU Tel 01556 612 233 Email info@jaspwilson.co.uk Web www.jaspwilson.co.uk Twitter @jaspwilson

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BUSINESS

The Hillier Manual of Trees & Shrubs Edited by John G Hillier and Roy Lancaster Publisher Royal Horticultural Society RRP £19.99

ompiled by Hillier Nurseries and botanists from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), the Hillier Manual of Trees and Shrubs is a classic of horticultural literature and the deﬁnitive work for woody plant growers worldwide. Originally developed from the Hiller Nurseries catalogue by Sir Harold Hillier and Roy Lancaster and ﬁrst published in 1 1, this 8th edition was launched in 01 to coincide with the 1 0th anniversary of Hillier Nurseries and contains over 1, 00 new varieties. What it lacks in colourful imagery it makes up for with Sir Harold’s sometimes eccentric observations and the sheer number of plants over 1 ,000 entries across more than 00 genera. Listed in easy-to-use A-Z format, each species is covered in detail with information on how to identify them, whether from leaves, twigs or bark, advice on where the plant grows best and how high you can expect it to reach, plus cultural background and its unique

Listed in easyto-use A-Z format, each species is covered in detail with information on how to identify them, whether from leaves, twigs or bark

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BOOK REVIEW The Hillier Manual of Trees and Shrubs by Hillier Nurseries and the RHS coastal and exposed), ornamental e ect including weeping habit to upright, ornamental bark, and bold or fragrant foliage and fruit), and even owering trees and shrubs for every month of the year. Whether you’re after advice on woody plant selection, identiﬁcation or maintenance, this is the perfect addition to any arborist’s bookshelf.

Particularly useful for arborists is the revised ‘Trees and Shrubs in Garden and Landscape Design’ which recommends plants according to specific purposes

history, including origins. Use the handy ‘How to’ guide at the front to understand references and meaning throughout, including a scale to indicate height range, soil pH, hardiness, botanical terms, nomenclature and classiﬁcation among others. Particularly useful for arborists is the revised ‘Trees

and Shrubs in Garden and Landscape Design’ section towards the back of the book, which recommends plants according to speciﬁc purposes. ere you can ﬁnd the best trees for selected soils (everything from acid clay to shallow chalk), selected sites (from damp, polluted or shady to

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CAREERS

For full details on all jobs, please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk

Call 01903 777 574 or email liam.colclough@eljays44.com with your vacancy

DEPUTY ARBORICULTURAL OPERATIVE NORFOLK

Our client runs a successful landscape and grounds maintenance business which carries out work for a variety of clients, including housing developers, housing associations, local authorities and construction companies as well as undertaking works for the Highways Agency. An exciting opportunity has become available for a deputy arboricultural operative to join the expanding AA Approved Contractor team. The successful candidates will be punctual and reliable, have a willingness to undertake further training, be comfortable working alone and as part of a team, and have a positive attitude and good work ethic. The ideal candidate would have a minimum of two years' experience working in an arb environment.

LANDSCAPER / GROUNDS MAINTENANCE OPERATIVE ERITH

Barge Group Ltd is expanding and requires new crew members to join its dynamic company. Barge Group operates from its main depot near Dartford in Kent and undertakes a range of services, serving a multitude of sectors including trafﬁc management, highway vegetation management, grounds maintenance, arboriculture, hard and soft landscaping, fencing, 24/7 emergency callout and more. We are seeking applicants from across the range of divisions, ideally formally trained in the aspect of work that they specialise in. Applicants must have a full clean driving licence.

For more details please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk

ARBORISTS REQUIRED

SKILLED ARBORIST

The Tree Company is a well-established AA Approved Contractor with current termed contracts with the Royal Parks, specialising in veteran tree management, and is seeking to hire arborists. CS30, CS31, CS38 and CS39 preferred.

Our client is looking for a skilled arborist to join its team on its estate based in Wallingford, Oxfordshire. The ideal candidate will have excellent knowledge of tree and fungus identification, climbing experience, and experience in implementing tree work specifications, completing health and safety checks and completing site risk assessments. The successful candidate will hold the relevant arborist qualifications as standard which include the NPTC units CS30, CS31, CS32, CS38 and CS39.

For more details please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk

WEST LONDON

WALLINGFORD, OXFORDSHIRE

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The

ANCIENT TREE

ANCIENT TREE COLUMN

column

Each month we feature an ancient British tree. This month the Ancient Tree Forum introduces us to...

Beech trees at New King Barrows, Stonehenge, Wiltshire Just one mile from Stonehenge is a line of barrows, where the dead were buried during the Bronze Age. Huge areas of chalk downland were stripped of turf to create these important archaeological features within the greater

Stonehenge landscape. The barrows at King Barrow Ridge make a particularly impressive sight due to the line of ancient beech trees alongside them. One theory is that the trees date from the time when this area became part of the Amesbury Estate in the early 18th century, because they follow an old boundary line. However, the girths of some of them are up to around 7m, suggesting that they are likely to

be considerably older. This is particularly true as most of the largest beeches are of pollard form, although they have not been worked for a significant period of time. “Several of the trees have significant wounds with extensive heart decay, reducing the sound wood to a narrow shell and making them susceptible to collapse,” explains Ancient Tree Forum trustee Brian Muelaner, who surveyed the trees when he was ancient tree adviser for the National Trust. “They are now managed to keep them alive and healthy for as long as possible, and a simple management plan was produced for each tree. The two main risks identified were shallow-rooting due to the extremely thin chalk soils, and the danger of major limb

Several of the trees have significant wounds with extensive heart decay, reducing the sound wood to a narrow shell and making them susceptible to collapse

collapse, either of which would virtually guarantee the death of the tree.” “An additional issue was the overall lack of epicormic growth on virtually all of the trees. It was decided that the trees at greatest risk of imminent collapse had to have sensitive crown reductions around the whole of the crown. This was done very gradually, with only around 10% being removed in the first phase. If after three to five years the trees have responded to the increased light by producing epicormic growth, then further reductions are planned over the next fifteen to twenty years, reducing the trees to a point where they are thought to be stable.” With their dead and decaying wood, and other veteran features, the beech trees provide valuable wildlife habitat, and have particularly rich lichen interest. They also make this a great spot for enjoying the view of Stonehenge

and the wider landscape. The Ancient Tree Forum champions the biological, cultural and heritage value of Britain’s ancient and veteran trees, and provides advice on their value and management at www.ancienttreeforum.co.uk

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