Pro Arb July 2016

JULY 2016

AN INTERVIEW WITH

PAUL WRIGHT TEIGN TREES & LANDSCAPES

TOP 10 TIPS

STATIONARY ROPE TECHNIQUE

AGENDA

HAS 2016 BEEN BUSINESS AS USUAL?

HOME GROWN

INTRODUCING THE UK’S FINEST TREE NURSERIES

Cover.indd 2

BUYER’S GUIDE BATTERY POWERED

CHAINSAWS 07/07/2016 11:04

Powerful & robust wood chippers 0% FINANCE AVAILABLE

TWO YEAR

* WARRANTY

WS/16-35DT

WS/18-35D

WS/20-50DT

• • • • •

• Kubota 35hp, 4-cyl, diesel engine • 270º adjustable chimney • Quick and easy access to all service points • Up to 18cm material diameter • 360º rotatable turntable (WS/18-35DT only)

• • • • •

WS/23-75DT

Wood - PTO Range

• • • • •

• • • • • •

Ideal for arborists

<750kg Kubota 34hp, 3-cyl, diesel engine 270º adjustable chimney 360º rotatable turntable Up to 16cm material diameter

Innovative & robust

Always ready for action

Kubota 50hp, 4-cyl, diesel engine 270º adjustable chimney Rotatable turntable Hopper: 1290mm(l) x1540mm(w) Up to 20cm material diameter

All-purpose & efficient shredders

Convenience & safety • 20cm max material diameter • Mixed rotor technology (blades & hammers) • Eco mixed chips

Kohler 75hp, 4-cyl, diesel engine 270º adjustable chimney Rotatable turntable Hopper: 1290mm(l) x1540mm(w) Up to 23cm material diameter

Functional & cost effective

270º adjustable chimney WS/10 – 18-30hp, 10cm max diameter WS/15 – 25-35hp, 15cm max diameter WS/18 – 30-50hp, 18cm max diameter WS/20 – 40-75hp, 20cm max diameter WS/23 – 45-75hp, 23cm max diameter

Please contact us for more information: Tel: 08450 773 773 Email: sales@psdgroundscare.com Web: www.psdgroundscare.com *Terms & conditions available upon request.

PSD-TS woodchip advert 210mm ADVERTS.indd 175 Advert template for Susie.indd 32x 265mm.indd 1

26/11/2015 03/02/2016 11:08 15:34 05/07/2016 10:57

CONTENTS

PRO ARB MAGAZINE July 2016 | Volume 3 | Issue 7

Welcome 04 AGENDA

Pro Arb asks how the first half of 2016 has been for business

06 NEWS

A roundup of industry news

Business 8

KAREN MARTIN

Karen speaks to Pro Arb as she steps down as CEO of the Arboricultural Assocation

10

STATE OF THE MARKET

Pro Arb reports on the state of the market from a business perspective

13

AN INTERVIEW WITH

Paul Wright at Teign Trees in Devon talks about his time in arboriculture and what more we can all do to promote the industry

17

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?

Jonathan Hazell explains the fundamental differences between contractor and consultant

18

SCALE INSECTS

Bartlett Tree Experts gives advice on the threat that scale insects pose to our trees

21

30 UNDER 30 The launch of this year's 30 Under 30

22

Terry Banyard offers his tips on single rope technique

Kit WHICH WILL YOU BUY?

Battery powered chainsaws

28 LATEST KIT: CLIMBING KIT 30 LATEST KIT: PPE 32

ARB KIT

Regulars 34 CAREERS 35

elcome to the July issue of Pro Arb. We’re over halfway through the year now, so we've asked a few members of our industry how business has fared in 2016 so far. You can read the answers on page 4.

The big news since our last issue is the decision of the British public to leave the EU. No one is really sure how, or if, this will a ect the arboriculture industry. It’s going to be a tough time, but we will get through it and come out stronger. Keep doing what you’re doing.

In other news this month, Karen Martin has left the position of CEO of the Arboricultural Association. Karen has been instrumental in bringing a fragmented industry together, injecting new ideas into the association and generally raising the profile of the industry in the four years she’s been in the role. Everyone at Pro Arb magazine wishes Karen all the best with her future endeavours. We have an exclusive interview with Karen on page 8 in which she re ects on her time at the helm of the .

Moving forward, we’ve got a great interview with Paul Wright of Devon-based Teign Trees & Landscapes. Paul started his company 24 years

ago and has gone from strength to strength, in that time growing to a team of 21.

We’ve also got a good look at the country’s leading tree suppliers this month. Check out page for Pro rb s nursery profiles.

Our kit pages are packed full of the latest products and equipment. We've compared battery powered chainsaws on page 26 and showcased the latest products in the climbing and PPE sectors on pages 28 and 30. We’ve got our usual roundup of all the latest arb kit on page 32.

That’s it for this month. See you in August for our big APF issue.

JOE WILKINSON

TREE NURSERIES

Profiling the top tree nurseries in the UK

24 TOP TEN TIPS

26

W

WELCOME

ANCIENT TREE COLUMN WWW.PROARBMAGAZINE.COM

Contents and leader.indd 3

ALL ENQUIRIES Tel: 01903 777 570 Eljays44 Ltd 3 Churchill Court, 112 The Street, Rustington, West Sussex BN16 3DA EDITORIAL Commissioning Editor – Joe Wilkinson joe.wilkinson@eljays44.com Director – Lisa Wilkinson lisa.wilkinson@eljays44.com Editorial Assistant – Holly Gillespie holly.gillespie@eljays44.com Production ditor Susie u susie duff el ays com Subeditor – Charlotte Cook charlotte.cook@eljays44.com ADVERTISING Business Development Manager – Jamie Wilkinson jamie.wilkinson@eljays44.com Sales Manager – Luke Chaplin luke.chaplin@eljays44.com Sales Executive – Laura Harris laura.harris@eljays44.com Horticulture Careers – Amber Bernabe amber.bernabe@eljays44.com

PRODUCTION Design – Kara Thomas Printed by Pensord Press Ltd Published by ©Eljays44 Ltd CIRCULATION Subscription enquiries: amber.bernabe@eljays44.com Pro Arb is published 12 times per year by Eljays44 Ltd. The 2016 subscription price is £95. Subscription records are maintained at Eljays44 Ltd, 3 Churchill Court, 112 The Street, Rustington, West Sussex BN16 3DA, UK. Articles and information contained in this publication are the copyright of Eljays44 Ltd and may not be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publishers. The publishers cannot accept responsibility for loss of, or damage to, uncommissioned photographs or manuscripts.

MANAGEMENT Managing Director – Jim Wilkinson Director – Lisa Wilkinson Business Development Manager – Jamie Wilkinson

FOLLOW US ONLINE www.proarbmagazine.com Follow us on Twitter @ProArbmagazine Like us on Facebook Proarbmagazine Connect to our LinkedIn group Pro Arb UK For careers in arboriculture and horticulture go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk Every 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 Recap 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 Recap, please email Joe Wilkinson at joe.wilkinson@eljays44.com

Pro Arb | November 2015

3

07/07/2016 10:52

AGENDA

AGENDA PRO ARB ASKS INDUSTRY INSIDERS

“HOW HAS 2016 BEEN FOR BUSINESS SO FAR?” JON COULING

Arborist representative, Bartlett Tree Company “I don’t think we’ll see a spike in the business for at least another four or ve months” From a monetary standpoint, the last six months have been even more di cult than the recession back in 2008 and 2009. I think generally it’s down to people’s fear of not knowing what’s going to happen to the economy, and how that could a ect their personal finances. ow that we re leaving the EU it’s unlikely that business will be greatly a ected in terms of trade, but it s the economy that could be concerning. I don’t think we’ll see a spike in the business for at least another four or five months.

Overall, competition from smaller businesses remains an issue for us as a larger company. We aren’t getting the client appointments we’re accustomed to, and competition in the local area is vast. Our overheads as a national company are gigantic, whereas smaller businesses aren’t concerned by them. In some cases, the cheap services they o er undervalue the services provided by the arboriculture industry. Every time that occurs, it damages us as a larger, long-

4

Agenda.indd 4

Pro Arb | July 2016

standing business. I think what we’re lacking as an industry is governmental guidelines that control what we do. It prevents larger businesses from entering the private domestic sector, as the public are uneducated as to which companies can provide a quality service.

PHILLIP ELLIS

Arboricultural consultant, Phillip Ellis Arboriculture Consultancy “When you hear people talking about the referendum slowing things down a bit, you get into that mindset as well” Business at the beginning of the year was better than it is currently. There’s still work available but not as much. There are numerous planning applications still going through, so it s growing increasingly di cult to precisely predict what has caused business to slow.

Word is spreading that it’s due to the referendum, but that opinion holds no certainty.

Arboricultural work is seasonal at the best of times, and so although it can be claimed that the referendum is a ecting trade, nobody can be positive. But when you hear people talking about the referendum slowing things down a bit, you get into that mindset as well.

ALAN ENGLEY

Arboricultural consultant, Engley Trees “ would say we ve been busier due to the state of the general economy” Arboricultural work appears to go in cycles – years might pass where you seem to be moving swiftly, before it all drops away. I would say we’ve been busier due to the state of the general economy.

When there is a political agenda on the horizon, things tend to go a bit quieter. However, no one can predict the future and even as we leave the EU I do not think it will have much of a long term e ect on business. m confident that no matter the outcome, I won’t be short of work. In my view, any lasting e ects shouldn t be felt for at least two years, so the industry would have time to adjust.

DARREN KILBY Head of sales, Gristwood and Toms

“I think the main challenge, an industry-wide issue, is recruitment” Last year was a year of consolidation, so focus was placed on streamlining our internal

WWW.PROARBMAGAZINE.COM

07/07/2016 10:24

processes in order to ma e sure the company would be ready for its ne t stage of growth. fter venturing into the commercial sector for the first si months of 0 , it s been relatively successful. owever thin the main challenge, an industry-wide issue, is recruitment, a problem we foresaw as a company. he increasing ease at which people can set up their own businesses is resulting in an industry-wide problem, where good tree surgeons are hard to come by. t s leading to high levels of saturation in the industry, meaning competition is fiercer, and larger businesses loo ing to do wor in the domestic sector can t compete.

STUART MCCRUDDEN Marketing representative, Makita “We make the machines the operators ask for, not the machines we think would do well in the market” Business continues to grow for a ita, with increased sales across the brand in its entirety. his is in part due to an increased investment in advertising and mar eting, but also our aim

WWW.PROARBMAGAZINE.COM

Agenda.indd 5

to listen to our consumers. Business is strong for a ita, so strong in fact that during the recession when the construction industry was su ering, a ita was still able to grow its mar et share. f people aren t buying that many tools, they ma e sure to invest in the best tools available. e ma e the machines the operators as for, not the machines we thin would do well in the mar et. his leads me to believe that for the rest of the year, a ita should continue to do well and bring in new products and models. believe the rest of the year will continue to be as successful as the beginning. he world is a strange place at the moment, especially with the politicians, but don t believe all of that will a ect the groundscare and forestry world directly at least in the short term. don t thin subsidies have a great deal of bearing on the maintenance world. nless industry comes to a complete stop, we re going to have to eep some infrastructure going, therefore would e pect our business to continue.

NEXT MONTH

CHRISTOPHER HOARE Director, Christopher Hoare Tree Services Ltd

“We have been able to offer more opportunities for employment during 2016” ollowing a di cult start to 0 5, hristopher oare ree Services td en oyed a strong finish to the year, and we have been able to build on this during the first si months of 0 . ue to several successful tender applications securing long term wor we have been able to reinvest heavily in new vans, machinery and e uipment during the first si months of 0 more than at any point throughout our history.

By consistently adding more long term contracts to our client base we have ultimately been able to o er more opportunities for employment during 0 , on both our domestic and utilities departments, and we are constantly loo ing to add to our wor force to maintain our growth.

Pro Arb asks: how has the National Living Wage affected your business?

Have your say: joe.wilkinson@eljays44.com

Pro Arb | July 2016

5

07/07/2016 10:25

NEWS

NEWSBEAT

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

TREES, PEOPLE AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT 3 PAPER CALL A call for papers has been issued for a major triennial international urban trees research conference.

Trees, People and the Built Environment 3 (TPBE 3) will take place on 5 to 6 April 2017, at the University of Birmingham.

This year the conference will focus on two significant areas of research: Roads to Place – Why trees are an integral part of highway transport design on day one and The Health Crisis – The role of trees in improving human health (mental, physical, social and cultural) on day two.

APP REVIEW Winter Tree ID

British Isles Tree Guide The event will provide a platform for UK and international researchers and practitioners to showcase their vital work in these areas, and help both built and natural environment professionals turn this research into action.

Papers that address the conference topics in both the social and natural sciences are welcomed. Papers will be reviewed by industry specialists

from the Conference Steering Group. Authors whose papers are selected will be invited to present their work at the conference.

Most presentations will last no longer than 30 minutes.

The papers accepted will be peer reviewed and appear in an online publication of the conference proceedings. www.charteredforesters.org

DEVELOPER: Mullen & Pohland GbR PRICE: £2.99 The Winter Tree ID – British Isles Tree Guide is a clear and concise app for the iPhone. It contains clear, detailed pictures to help identify trees and gives full descriptions of the appearance of the tree in winter, so you can be sure that the

BOOKING OPEN FOR NATIONAL TREE OFFICERS CONFERENCE

identification is accurate. he app has an easy to use identification chart with questions

he 0 ational ree cers Conference is due to take place on 9 November in Telford, and booking is now open. t is the first event organised by the ondon ree cers Association (LTOA) and the unicipal ree cers Association (MTOA), facilitated by the Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF).

6

News.indd 6

Pro Arb | July 2016

he conference will o er a knowledge-sharing forum on all areas of local authority arboricultural work and will allow tree o cers to learn from their colleagues on the latest research and best practice.

A program of arboricultural and urban forestry speakers will cover topics including canopy cover targets in planning policy,

council tree contract models, tree health threats, community engagement and the future of local authority tree services.

John Parker, chair of the LTOA, commented: “In the current political climate I believe it is more important than ever for us as an industry to communicate and collaborate.” www.charteredforesters.org

and images, making sure you arrive at the correct result – it even gives you a percentage of certainty. The app is simple, runs very quickly and is overall a great app to use, with a quiz for a bit of fun. The only downside may be the price.

WWW.PROARBMAGAZINE.COM

07/07/2016 10:40

NEWS

GLASGOW COUNCIL FACED WITH TREE PETITION

ENGLAND’S BEECHES AT RISK FROM DROUGHT

Glasgow City Council has dismissed claims that they are planning on cutting down a large majority of trees in Kelvingrove Park.

It was reported at the end of May that Glasgow City Council were facing a petition from the Green Party against the loss of trees in Kelvingrove Park. The petition, initiated by Daryl Tayar, was established in an attempt to persuade Glasgow City Council to preserve the wooded areas of the park.

However, Glasgow City Council has dismissed the claims that it plans to cut back on Kelvingrove Park’s forestry

England’s beeches could be in greater danger than previously anticipated, recent reports state.

According to environmental scientists at the University of Stirling, beech forests across western Europe are increasingly at risk from drought, with areas of southern England predicted to be the worst a ected.

In a new £1.2m study, researchers have been examining tree ring data from across western Europe to help uncover the extent to which beech forests are being

after over 10,000 people have thrown their support behind the online petition entitled ‘Save the trees in Kelvingrove Park’. www.glasgowlive.co.uk

BARCHAM TREES SHARES MEASURING SYSTEMS Barcham rees is o ering treecare professionals the chance to view, first-hand, how it tests the health of trees on its Cambridgeshire nursery.

Specifically, Barcham is keen to share how it uses the Arborcheck Nursery Benchmark System, developed by Hansatech Instruments Ltd and the nursery.

It is based on data relating to tree health accumulated independently at Barcham

by Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories. It is then measured

by Hansatech’s chlorophyll uorescence measuring systems.

The Arborcheck system measures chlorophyll uorescence emissions from the leaves of a tree and compares the measured values with the benchmarks for the same genus, species or cultivar of trees tested at Barcham during recent years. It all comes as part of the nursery’s intensive tree health and biosecurity programme. www.barchamtrees.co.uk

WWW.PROARBMAGAZINE.COM

News.indd 7

impacted by ongoing changes in climate.

Global Change Biology published the results, which revealed beech trees located at the centre of the region where the species grows, in this case southern England, were least resistant to drought compared to forests located elsewhere in Europe.

Interestingly, the research also revealed that the damage in icted in the record-brea ing summer of 1967 continues to impact the UK’s forests. www.sciencedaily.com

TREE SURGEON AWARDED MBE Syd House, head of one of the national forest agency s five regions, has been awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for his contribution to forestry in Perth and Kinross.

The recently retired head of the Perth and Argyll Region of Forestry Commission Scotland, Syd became a renowned expert in the history of the trees and landscapes of Perthshire.

Following his recognition, colleagues were quick to praise the popular and dedicated tree champion.

Morag Watson, manager of the Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust, commented: “Syd was one of our trustees

for many years and it was his passion, energy and expertise that drove the recognition that, with over 200,000 acres of woodland which includes more champion trees than anywhere else in the UK, Perthshire is Big Tree Country.

“The initiative he helped found has raised over £2m to protect and promote the trees and woodlands of Perthshire including the Fortingall Yew, Europe’s oldest tree, and the Birnam Oak, the last survivor of Shakespeare’s Birnam Wood.

Our Perthshire Big Tree Country partnership is an amazing legacy of Syd’s dedication.” www.scotland.forestry.gov.uk

Pro Arb | July 2016

7

07/07/2016 10:41

NEWS

“It’s all about relationships” We need to harness the industry’s passion and enthusiasm and maintain our increasingly collaborative approach, says Karen Martin who is stepping down from her position as CEO of the Arboricultural Association after four years at the helm sectors on green urban infrastructure. With an increased awareness of biosecurity in the public eye, there is now an opportunity for us all to work together to ensure that both the threats to our tree population, and where those risks can be mitigated, is fully understood.

Lastly, I think it’s important to note that throughout my career, I have never before worked in a sector where people are so passionate and enthusiastic about what they do. We’re a

After nearly four years as CEO of the Arboricultural Association, what are some o you e ections Firstly, although I’ve always been a keen environmentalist, the Arboricultural Association (AA) has highlighted how valuable trees are in terms of their impact on the ecosystem, human health, culture, and aesthetics. It’s highlighted the need to raise the awareness, appreciation and understanding of trees. I’d like to think collectively we have started that process here, along with other organisations like TDAG. Secondly, it became apparent to me from the outset that

8

Pro Arb | July 2016

Karen Martin News Extra.indd 8

arboriculture was an incredibly fragmented sector, which prevented us working to the best of our ability. However, when I approached other organisations in the sector, everyone was so receptive to collaborative working, it became clear that there were far fewer hurdles than I’d anticipated.

I recall using the phrase: “We all agree with these things, so does it matter who’s driving the bus?” at a conference once, and that still rings true today. Collaborative working still needs development, but there’s no resistance to it.

Furthermore, we must build upon working with the allied

We have a strategy, a business plan, a strong board and a real enthusiasm that is so prominent in our membership vast industry with many roles, yet everyone I’ve had the opportunity to work with has been incredibly positive.

What are the greatest contributions you’ve made to the o icultu al ssociation I believe I’ve brought energy and enthusiasm to the AA, alongside an increasingly collaborative approach.

During my time at the AA, we’ve promoted a direct focus on membership engagement, and its

consolidation for the future. We’ve taken the time to listen to our members by conducting surveys and talking to them directly, and it’s made a difference in our approach.

We’ve put in place a wider range of training and increased the amount of technical advice we give, whilst also helping put numerous mechanisms into place to increase contact with the government, local authorities, the public and the media. We’ve built a new web platform which is our shop window for arboriculture.

We’ve improved the way we run things, the way we represent arboriculture and the way in which our website looks and functions.

Overall we’re in a really strong position now in terms of membership, relationships, systems, and processes. We have a strategy, a business plan, a strong board and a real enthusiasm that is so prominent in our membership. We’ve got a greater influence now than ever before, with 273 media partners, and inclusion on the Sunday Times list of experts. We want to become the go-to body, and that’s what we’re trying to be.

Are there any areas you wish you’d had the chance to i o e u on I wouldn’t use the word ‘improve’ per se, but rather ‘build upon’.

WWW.PROARBMAGAZINE.COM

07/07/2016 11:45

NEWS

We need both the public and the official bodies to recognise the importance of what we’re doing There are many areas that we need to continue to consolidate as an organisation. For example, we’ve made great progress technologically, with the implementation of our Customer Relations Management (CRM) System enabling us to manage our monthly direct debits, post blogs and host forums groups, and provide a members owned area of the website. This now means our focus is consolidating this progress.

As an organisation there are lots of things that we’ve started to

focus on. Public engagement and engaging on national platforms are two of the most important progressions that we will look to maintain. We have within our membership lots of people who are highly knowledgeable, and we’ll continue to push for more of our members to act as ambassadors, in order to raise the voice of arboriculture and to get these messages out.

Would you continue to encourage people to join the Arboricultural Association?

As I plan to remain a member of the AA, I would definitely urge people to join the association.

I consider the AA to be the voice of arboriculture, and it’s important we remain a strong organisation if we want to ensure that the value of trees and their proper maintenance is recognised.

We’re a membership organisation, but we’re also a registered charity. One of our roles is to serve the public, which we can do by raising the profile, knowledge and awareness of the value of arboriculture, the people who work in it, have careers in it, and the need for trees in urban environments. I think a dual approach is needed when raising awareness, as we need both the public and official bodies to recognise the importance of what we’re doing.

Why is it that you’ve decided to leave your position as chief executive?

Though I have reasons for leaving my executive position in the organisation, I’m keen to remain an active member of the AA – I just feel I need to shift my life balance.

I’m going to revert back to doing freelance work with my own company, which is what I did

WWW.PROARBMAGAZINE.COM

Karen Martin News Extra.indd 9

prior to joining the association, but I’m not going to work in a full time capacity.

I want to dedicate time to more personal pursuits which includes supporting a number of charities in a voluntary capacity, whilst also pursuing my own passions, climbing and art. As for my future with the AA, though I won’t be on committees or working parties, I’m keen to support the association in any other way I can.

Do you have any advice for the next chief executive?

It’s all about relationships. You don’t need to be a tree expert, but you do need to build relationships with your membership, with your board, with the sector, outside the sector and the government bodies.

Pro Arb | July 2016

9

07/07/2016 11:45

NEWS

STATE OF THE MARKET As we approach the busiest season for the arboriculture industry, Pro Arb examines the achievements of the first six months of 2016 in terms of business opportunity and the impact of the political agenda, and considers what challenges could arise for the rest of the year

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Businesses, both small and large, report benefitting from the steady availability of work.

Small businesses in particular have been positive about 2016’s offerings. Phillip Ellis, an arboricultural consultant, claims part of his success lies in the thorough consideration of the profit available in a job before accepting it.

Part of the success lies in the thorough consideration of the profit available in a job before accepting it Similarly, larger businesses also report a successful year so far, with the majority of their accomplishments owing to the development of internal processes, exploration and research of new market bases, and a focus on the product.

Darren Kilby, head of sales at Gristwood

10

Pro Arb | July 2016

State of the Market.indd 10

and Toms, explained: “I think for us, last year was one of consolidation. We were looking at ourselves internally, from business processes to IT systems and recruitment, to make sure they were under control for the company’s next stage of growth.

Now we’re venturing out to the market, to people in the commercial sector and looking at those markets in more depth.

This has resulted in an increase in business over the first six months of this year.”

Stuart McCrudden, marketing representative for Makita, also acknowledged the importance of market research: “The growth of Makita’s activities over the last 15 years I would always attribute to the skills of the PR company.

“It is always driven by quality product; the machines do what they say on the tin and they meet operators’ requirements. We make the machines that operators ask for, not machines that we think would be good in the market. We make machines that we first research with operators.”

EU REFERENDUM As the most influential political decision of 2016, the EU referendum has caused controversy in the industry. Though the decision to leave Europe is anticipated to affect trade, many experts in the arboriculture industry feel that exiting the EU is unlikely to bear many repercussions.

Jon Couling, arborist representative at Bartlett Trees, expressed views that the industry would hugely benefit from leaving the EU: “Everybody’s worried about what’s going to happen long term, which is understandable after the recession, and they’re all backing off the gas. They’re not spending money that they feel is unnecessary to spend on trees when they’re worried about their incomes and their future going forward.

“I think the referendum will have a negative effect on us in the short term, but I felt very strongly that we should get out of the EU, and get back to being Great Britain. Long term I think it will be a better decision for us.”

The opinion that Britain’s arboricultural industry would be largely unaffected by exiting the EU is also mirrored in the opinions of smaller business owners. Alan Engley, arboricultural consultant at Engley Trees, believes that the outcome holds limited importance in determining the success of the industry. Alan commented: “I don’t think [the EU referendum] will have much of a lasting effect at all. It

I’m reasonably confident that although we’ve decided to leave, we’ll always have something to do certainly shouldn’t for at least two years, because that’s when the process should begin to take effect.

I’m reasonably confident that although we’ve decided to leave the EU, we’ll always have something to do.”

Research also suggests that Britain’s involvement in the EU holds little bearing on the industries of arboriculture and forestry. The Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) which helps to pay for woodland grants is one of the few policies to be possibly affected if Britain were to leave. Furthermore, advocates of Brexit argue that some of the UK’s savings on the costs of EU membership could be used to maintain the payments.

However, the impact of Brexit on trading relationships, exchange rates and the profitability of the industry is still a concern for those wanting to remain.

WWW.PROARBMAGAZINE.COM

07/07/2016 10:46

NEWS

Business analysis: 2016 in review CHALLENGES Although the state of the industry in 2016 so far has been largely praised, challenges do remain on the horizon for both large and small businesses.

The two key challenges for the rest of 2016 identified by larger businesses are competition and recruitment. Jon Couling clarified: “[Smaller businesses] are saturating the market with cheap prices, and that undervalues the service. It’s so easy for people to do it now. Most of them used to work for big companies like us –

The two key challenges for the rest of 2016 identified by larger businesses are competition and recruitment

they’ll get trained, they’ll get all their experience and then they can start up a business overnight.

Equipment is a lot more reachable now; they can establish themselves on a fairly limited budget and start marketing in the area. Each small business hurts us as a bigger longstanding business.

“Since the recession back in 2008, we have seen a huge spike in small arboricultural businesses starting up in the area. I think it’s due to the fact that during the recession people weren’t paying quite as well, so it gave individuals a different focus, and they probably thought they could do better on their own.”

Interestingly, smaller businesses approached by Pro Arb held different concerns for the future.

Phillip Ellis, an arboricultural consultant and Green Flag judge, fears the lack of governmental

Local authorities just cannot afford to have tree inspections which to my mind is crazy. It’s all down to money involvement in the industry could endanger the public and the industry’s reputation. He commented: “I’m amazed at the number of local authorities that don’t have their trees inspected for safety, it’s quite frightening, they’re increasing the risks of someone getting injured, and they’re increasing the issues against themselves. What I’ve noticed is that local authorities just cannot afford to have tree inspections which to my mind is crazy. It’s all down to money.”

ALAN ENGLEY Arboricultural consultant, Engley Trees

STUART MCCRUDDEN Marketing representative, Makita

JON COULING Arborist representative, Bartlett Trees

DARREN KILBY Head of sales at Gristwood and Toms

PHILLIP ELLIS Phillip Ellis Arboricultural Consultancy

WWW.PROARBMAGAZINE.COM

State of the Market.indd 11

Pro Arb | July 2016 11

07/07/2016 10:47

Twin 18v Chainsaw DUC302Z Bar: 30cm

PROFESSIONAL SAWS FOR PROFESSIONAL ARBORISTS

31cc Petrol Chainsaw EA3100T30B Bar: 30cm

50cc Petrol Chainsaw DCS5121-45PROMO Bar: 45cm

61cc Petrol Chainsaw EA6100P45D Bar: 45cm

25.4cc Petrol Telescopic Pole Chainsaw EY2650H25H Bar: 25cm

79cc Petrol Chainsaw EA7900P45E Bar: 45cm

Telescopic: 2.7m - 3.9m

Grounds Maintenance & Landscaping Visit www.makitauk.com to view the full range.

Chainsaws.indd Advert template for1 Susie.indd 31

Follow Makita UK 28/06/2016 10:50 11:11 05/07/2016

BUSINESS

An interview with

PAUL WRIGHT TEIGN TREES & LANDSCAPES

Paul Wright is the owner of Teign Trees & Landscapes, coming from a self-taught background as a sub-contractor. Paul speaks to Pro Arb about his business and how we can all promote the industry

WWW.PROARBMAGAZINE.COM

Interview.indd 13

When did you start your own company?

I started the business 24 years ago. I was originally a subcontractor offering myself out as a climber to other organisations.

Did you study arboriculture at college?

Sadly, I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have the chance to study arboriculture at college although that would have been fantastic. I learned by working, observing others and putting myself through all the CS units, professional tree inspector training and health and safety qualifications.

What were the main costs you incurred when setting up your business?

Originally the main costs were my training plus buying vehicles, kit and plant equipment.

Did you buy brand new kit from the start?

I started the business at 17 years old so my first truck was a second-hand Toyota Hilux, which by the time I put it out to pasture easily rivalled the legendary Top Gear Hilux.

Pro Arb | July 2016 13

07/07/2016 10:49

BUSINESS

I believe that if we can set a national bar or level of quality, our industry would be rewarded with better rates of pay and recognition for the technical and dangerous job we do I bought this and a second-hand Gravely chipper via a small loan from my grandad. All my PPE and climbing gear was brand new and much prized.

Do you look at updating your kit regularly?

We make a point of it as in this industry, in this country, the weather and the amount of work we do takes its toll. It also brings more confidence to my staff, and allows us to try new techniques and feel secure knowing our kit is as efficient and safe as possible.

Do you get involved with the industry associations?

Yes, we are members and approved contractors for the Arb Association, plus I am now involved in the AWG (Arborist Working Group).

How many staff do you employ?

We are currently operating a team of 21, including office and support staff. The company has grown hugely since we became approved by the Arb Association. This accreditation has definitely helped to open many more doors for us.

14 Pro Arb | July 2016

Interview.indd 14

WWW.PROARBMAGAZINE.COM

07/07/2016 10:50

BUSINESS

Do you think the associations are doing the right things?

Completely – I believe that if we can set a national bar or level of quality, our industry would be rewarded with better rates of pay and recognition for the technical and dangerous job we do.

How do you structure your workforce daily – do you still go out with the team?

We currently run four three-man tree gangs and three two-man landscape gangs plus a team in the office. Myself and the two managers are out on site at least three days a week, helping with the more technical jobs, advising, monitoring and training.

Are you looking at growing your teams?

At present we’re in a good place workwise. We’re finding the balance works well and we have a great team who all work together brilliantly.

Did you find it easy to find good quality staff?

Finding good staff is always tricky. We’re at a great staff level at present, but it took some time to get our current lads, who are great assets to the company.

Do you think that college courses should be adapted, or do you think students are getting a good level of education?

We are involved in an apprenticeship with the Arb Academy at the moment, and the course is working very well with our business.

What sort of contracts do you tender for?

We have a number of large contracts with highway authorities, charities, local government and district councils as well as private companies and domestic clients.

What is your profit split between commercial and domestic work?

Percentage split between domestic and commercial is usually 35% to 65%.

WWW.PROARBMAGAZINE.COM

Interview.indd 15

Are there any issues you’ve faced this year in terms of running your business?

Rapid expansion due to the awarding of additional contracts and increasing domestic work brings its own issues. It can be difficult to hire good, experienced staff quickly to respond to increased

I spent years training and gaining experience but more importantly working at it, because I had a hunger for this industry demand. We’ve also had to purchase more equipment and update our systems to include office and administration processes to keep up with the workload, as well as improving and expanding our policies and safety systems, and adapting them to the size of the business.

Is there more that can be done by us as an industry to make arboriculture a career of choice for young people?

We need to keep pushing the industry into a national standard of quality, to remove tradesmen offering similar

services with no qualifications or insurance, who don’t understand or respect trees and don’t know how to promote growth.

Do you think that the industry is shy on sharing knowledge?

I believe that sometimes if it’s all there on a plate, you don’t work as hard for it. I‘m very proud of the way I spent years training, gaining experience and getting advice but more importantly working at it, because I had a hunger for this industry. As with many things in life, you get out what you put in.

How do you spend your free time?

I am a Helmsman for Teignmouth Lifeboat, which can be interesting when my pager goes off halfway up a tree! I also love surfing, water skiing and spending time with my friends and family.

CONTACT Teign Trees & Landscapes is a full service arboriculture and landscaping company.

Teign Trees & Landscapes Clearwater, Bishopsteignton Road Teignmouth, Devon TQ14 9PH Tel 01626 773 499 Email hello@teigntrees.co.uk Web www.teigntrees.co.uk

Pro Arb | July 2016 15

07/07/2016 10:50

DISTRIBUTED BY

HIGH PERFORMANCE ROPE HANDLING HARDWARE FOR MODERN SRT CLIMBERS INCLUDING:

HERBOL CAMBIUM SAVER The Herbol Cambium Saver has different colour rings for easy identification, easily installed and retrieved from the ground and comes complete with retriever.

TURBO CHEST ASCENDER This compact and lightweight ascender has been developed with rollers for lower friction giving improved climbing efficiency with no wear and tear on the rope.

TREE CLIMBING HARNESS The robust structure, thick padding, and optimally spaced front connection straps between the waist belt and leg loops provide exceptional comfort while working. The innovative mobile bridge system allows the user to fine-tune the position of the bridge in order to optimize the position while working.

TURBO FOOT ASCENDER Just hook this mini ascender to your foot and climb lines with greater ease. Smooth action rollers give longer product life for both the ascender and the rope.

TO FIND YOUR LOCAL STOCKIST CONTACT: UK SALES@MARLOWROPES.COM | TEL: +44 (0)1323 444 444 USA SALESUSA@MARLOWROPES.COM | TEL: +1 508 830 0444

WEE CHIPPERS

M200

M300

M400

M500

ProArb Ads so farSusie.indd 28

06/07/2016 11:54

BUSINESS

Jonathan Hazell explains the often blurred lines between tree surgeon and consultant

W

hilst the question is straightforward, the answer is not easy.

From the outset, forget any parallels with medicine, as there simply are none. In medicine a surgeon is ‘a practitioner ualified to practice surgery , whilst a consultant is ‘a hospital doctor of senior rank within a specific field .

There is no parallel ualification ladder or hierarchy of esteem in tree care; the barriers to entry in arboriculture are not based on education or experience, but in fact, money.

The cost of a bit of rope, a few saws, an old van and a secondhand chipper, as an absolute minimum, will allow a brash and self-confident upstart with a head for heights to start trading as a tree surgeon.

The law does require those who operate chainsaws to have evidence of training for the sort of work they are performing, but few of the general public would be aware of that. Regrettably, there stand even fewer barriers for those who wish to operate as a consultant. The more conscientious will have taken a vocational ualification, such as those that used to be o ered by the AA, the RFS and now

by ABC Awards, and will be maintaining their CPD.

WWW.PROARBMAGAZINE.COM

Jonathan Hazell.indd 17

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE

between a tree surgeon and a consultant?

Do customers know the answer? The vast majority will not. The general public can’t be expected to know, but commercial and governmental

The general public can’t be expected to know, but commercial and governmental clients should clients should. Intuitively, I would expect the domestic market to employ an army of unregulated local contractors performing to their own, often idiosyncratic, standards.

The domestic client will often opt for a simple solution to whatever they perceive to be their problem, which more often than not involves a

Google search for a local tree surgeon – it’s a tree problem after all, not an arboricultural one. A good contractor will advise on solutions to problems of overhang, loss of daylight, damage to paths and so on – matters within their expertise and competence. Others will even state, with hand on heart, that a specific tree will not cause structural damage.

A more sophisticated client, one that is bound by rules of openness and transparency, will want to separate out the deliberation over the preferred solution, for whatever the presenting problem might be, from the delivery of that solution.

They will often involve the tree consultant as the third leg of the stool – the customer, the advisor and the delivery team. Some of the better consultants have had

personal experience of tree work and so know the realities of what they are recommending, meaning their proposals should make sense.

As you will have read over the last three months there are skills involved in report writing, which to be honest are never completely learnt, and some are better suited to writing than others – I have seen reports that are woeful and completely inadequate, and they haven’t been limited to contractors’ outputs either.

As an answer to the question, I’d like to summarise by saying: • a contractor is paid to do and act • a consultant is paid to think and write.

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

Pro Arb | July 2016 17

07/07/2016 10:39

BUSINESS

S

ap-sucking insects are a common problem for many tree and shrub species, with the most wellnown o enders being aphids.

However a less-recognised pest known as ‘scale’ can also cause similar damage by feeding on your trees.

Scale insects are small, sap-feeding pests, commonly found across Britain and northern urope. hey are named scale insects because of their characteristically white, yellow or brown wax scales that can be up to 5mm long, and are produced by nymphs and mature females to protect their soft bodies.

Scales often give a woolly or u y appearance to the trun s and branches of trees, but they can also be found on the leaves, especially on conifers. ales tend to be winged and are not often seen, loo ing uite di erent from their partners. emales can lay hundreds of eggs either under their scales or their bodies. oung nymphs, known as crawlers, hatch some weeks or months later. hey disperse over plants before settling to feed. dult scale insects generally remain in one place on the plant and feed by inserting their stylets into plant tissue. hey feed directly on the sugary sap. rees can be weakened by this pest, with persistent infestations reducing growth and vitality. Scale is unlikely to kill a tree, but in

18 Pro Arb | July 2016

Bartlett.indd 18

SCALE

INSECTS

Horse Chestnut scale

of the tree, so it is very important to manage the scale populations before it reaches this stage.

Scale insects are a lesser known threat to trees that can exacerbate other diseases and cause major health issues, says Bartlett Tree Experts combination with other pests or diseases they could cause ma or health issues.

The damage Scales, much like other aphids and sap-sucking insects, excrete a sticky substance known as honey dew. he substance drips down onto the leaves and branches below, often encouraging the growth of sooty mould. Sooty mould isn’t directly damaging to plant growth, but the covering

of the leaf surface does reduce the capacity for photosynthesis. i erent species of scale are commonly seen on the trunks of Japanese maples, horse chestnut and beech, and can also often be found on the foliage of many conifer hedge species including leylandiis and thu as.

Disease Sometimes scale Euonomous scale insects can actually be a carrier or ‘vector’ for a disease, such as a bark disease of Beech, caused by two species of fungi, ectria coccinea var. faginata and ectria galligena. he feeding insect often leaves exposed areas of tissue, making the tree susceptible to fungal colonisation at these feeding site wounds. nce the trees have this disease, there are currently no control options except for generally improving the health

Treatment reatments are registered to control scale populations, and are best applied early in the season in order to kill young crawlers before they have settled and begun to form their protective scales. Biological options are also available, which can provide some level of control, but we would recommend using these in integrated pest management programs with comprehensive control treatments. inter washes are also e ective at controlling overwintering eggs and crawlers that may infest new spring growth. ertilising your shrub or tree with a high nitrogen content should also be avoided until populations are under control, as the nitrogen can encourage more shoot and leaf growth which may literally feed the problem .

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.

WWW.PROARBMAGAZINE.COM

07/07/2016 10:34

Up for the challenge Tree work demands the best of me. From the smallest karabiner to the right saw, everything goes towards getting the job done properly and safely. I need equipment that’s tough, safe, starts on first pull and keeps going through the day, every day.

That’s why I choose STIHL.

Chris Pratt Arborist since 1995

MS 201 TC-M STIHL’s most powerful top handled chainsaw with M-Tronic

Find out more at your local STIHL Approved Dealer or visit

www.stihl.co.uk/pro Advert template for Susie.indd 22

05/07/2016 10:45

High on Power...

Low on Co2

Also available...

Brushcutters

Mowers

One Battery, Multiple Options

Hedge Trimmers

Handheld Blowers

Pole Saws

Pruners

“

They are extremely lightweight with low noise and vibration levels.

Pellenc ticks all of our boxes.

ools Pellenc T able now avail with a

”

Peter Anderson, Machinery Maintenance Engineer at RHS Wisley

The Ultra Lithium Battery provides constant power and an operating range display, which indicates the remaining power level in real time. This provides between half a day and a full day of work depending on the type of tool used.

3 Yearty

Warran

Tel: 01295 680120 • email: sales@etesia.co.uk

www.etesia.co.uk

Seeing is believing

BUILT TO LAST ADD POWER TO YOUR WORK!

Etesia UK

@EtesiaUK

Specialist Commercial Vehicle Supply & Leasing

EtesiaUK

TI

P

MASTER SINCE 1968

New vehicles for the Arb industry supplied throughout the UK

UNIQUE FOUR TRACKS – FOR SENSITIVE SURFACES+TERRAINS – POWERFUL,STRONG WITH UNRIVALLED OFF ROAD ABILITY

EXTENSIVE RANGE OF MULTIFUNCTIONAL WHEELED MACHINES WITH A WIDE RANGE OF INTERCHANGEABLE ATTACHMENTS

Call NOW to and see how Norcar can improve the way you work

T: 0800 011 6828

M: 07867 426919

www.norcar.co.uk

ProArb Ads so farSusie.indd 33

Available on all Chassis Makes & Models Call 020 8539 0611

www.perkinscs.com

07/07/2016 10:33

AP

PL YN OW !

BRAND NEW

30 UNDER 30 Following a successful launch last year, Pro Landscaper and Pro Arb have begun the search for this year’s 30 Under 30: The Next Generation.

To mark the launch, we caught up with Eljays44’s managing director Jim Wilkinson and director Jamie Wilkinson to find out why it was set up and how you can apply Why was this initiative set up?

Jim: It came out of a debate at our FutureScape event. People in the audience were saying that if you looked around everyone was 40 or older – where was the next generation? How can we encourage young people to come on board? So we decided to take on the challenge. It was a combination of us wanting to highlight the fantastic work being carried out in the sector by those at that young age, and promoting them in a way which would enhance young people’s careers.

How successful was the inaugural launch?

Jim: It was amazing, even better than we expected. We had around 130 responses from every sector.

Jamie: It was refreshing to see so many young faces in the audience last year. I’m sure they all enjoyed their evening as well.

What do you hope the winners will gain from being a 30 Under 30?

Jim: It will look great on their CV when applying for jobs – I know

WWW.PROARBMAGAZINE.COM

Arb 30 under 30.indd 21

two or three people who have already advanced or gained new jobs from being featured in it, but that wasn’t the reason we launched it. The reason was really to highlight some of the excellent work going on, to give people a platform to talk about themselves and what they’re doing.

We wanted to give people a platform to talk about themselves and what they’re doing What do you look for in an applicant?

Jamie: The guidelines are that they have worked in the industry for at least one year and they were under the age of 30 on 1 January 2016.

It’s open across the whole of the industry, to landscape architects, garden designers, landscapers, arborists and suppliers.

When is it officially launched this year?

Jamie: t was o cially launched

on 30 June 2016. As well as in Pro Landscaper, it will be on our websites and it will be covered in Pro Arb magazine.

How can you apply?

Jamie: It’s very simple. All we need is for you to drop us an email and we will send you across the details for entry. It will be an easy questionnaire either for yourself to fill out, or for you to fill out on behalf of a colleague.

When will applicants know if they have been successful?

Jim: We’re going to put the closing date as the end of September. This will give us time to consider all of the

applications in October, and following this we will inform those that have been successful.

When will the winners be announced?

Jim: It’s going to be published in the November issues of Pro Arb and Pro Landscaper, which will be with readers at the end of October, and we’re really keen on having the gala evening celebration at FutureScape and FutureArb which this year is on Tuesday 15 November – so put that date in your diary now.

If you are interested in applying, please email Nina at nina.mason@eljays44.com

Pro Arb | July 2016 21

07/07/2016 10:45

BUSINESS

BARCHAM TREES PLC Managing director Mike Glover Established 1985 Turnover £5m+ Bestseller Anything home grown The Barcham Trees nursery is located just outside of Ely, Cambridgeshire, and covers 300 acres. It is a specialist tree grower, producing up to 120,000 container trees every year from 10-12cm girth to 40-45cm girth all grown in patented light pots. Barcham satisfies much of its container production from its own field production and applies a comprehensive biosecurity policy. Since the company was set up, it has supplied over 1m trees into the UK. www.barcham.co.uk

Many of the UK’s trees have been grown or supplied through reputable tree nurseries countrywide. The care and attention given to these plants by the experts is second to none, and you’re never far away from a tree grown or supplied by these companies. Here Pro Arb profiles the best of the best...

DEEPDALE TREES LTD Managing director, owner Matthias Anton Established 1995 Turnover £4m+ Bestseller Amelanchier lamarckii

Managing director, owner Richard McKenna Established 2013 Bestseller Betula utilis ‘Jacquemontii’ 25L multistem 175/200cm

Deepdale Trees is a specialist semi-mature tree supplier based just outside the small Bedfordshire village of Potton. The company was established in 1995 and specialises in the production of both air pot container and field grown semi-mature trees, shrubs and instant hedging. Over the years Deepdale Trees has built up an unrivalled reputation. With over 140 acres of UK production and access to an extensive supply network throughout Europe, they can meet the needs of any project, large or small.

Provender Nurseries supplies quality plants alongside landscaping products, soils and composts and related horticultural sundries.

Working closely with designers, landscapers and all other sectors of the industry, Provender Nurseries can meet a number of client needs, aiming to save time, expense and logistics.

Providing the finest plants, tools, soils and hard materials, the 17 acre site is well stocked with everything customers need to complete a job.

www.deepdale-trees.co.uk

22

PROVENDER NURSERIES LTD

Pro Arb | July 2016

Nurseries.indd 22

www.provendernurseries.co.uk

WWW.PROARBMAGAZINE.COM

07/07/2016 11:09

BUSINESS

BRITISH HARDWOOD TREE NURSERY LTD Managing director, owner Andrew Henderson Established 1995 Turnover £1m+ Bestseller Hawthorn

BRITISH HARDWOOD

TREE NURSERY LTD

BHT is one of the UK’s leading specialist tree suppliers of bare root trees, shrubs and hedgerow plants.

Providing wholesale, UK grown forestry trees, hedging and planting accessories, the company is a prime UK distributor of Tubex tree protection products. They supply plants and planting accessories into the forestry, farming and landscaping sectors. The company operates from a central base in Lincolnshire, providing swift and e cient service with a -wide delivery network. www.britishhardwood.co.uk

MAJESTIC TREES Managing director, owner Steve McCurdy Established 2002 Turnover £3.5m+ Bestseller Birch types Majestic Trees grows over 450 varieties of trees in a range of sizes, from 2m to 12m tall in 50-5,000 air pots. a estic rees is located ust o unction of the in Hertfordshire, very accessible to London and the 5. he company o ers nationwide delivery service by its own eet of customer built truc s driven by e perienced horticulturists. hey also o er their elivery to ree Pit service in which they provide all equipment and accept the liability for o oading and placement of the tree into the customer s tree pit. www.majestictrees.co.uk

WWW.PROARBMAGAZINE.COM

Nurseries.indd 23

WYKEHAM MATURE PLANTS General manager Adam Smith Owner The Rt Hon Viscount Downe Established 1975 Turnover £1m+ Bestseller Pleached Hornbeam Wykeham Mature Plants is a 150 acre North Yorkshire nursery and a specialist supplier and grower of instant hedging, conifers, specimen shrubs and container grown trees.

Pleached trees and other trained screening are available from stock or to order. Wykeham Mature Plants provides nationwide delivery, wholesale or retail, with contract growing available. Advisory and planting services are also available to give customer planting schemes the best possible start. www.wykehammatureplants.co.uk

PRACTICALITY BROWN LTD Managing director, owner Alastair Beddell Established 1981 Turnover £500,000+ Bestseller Hornbeam Practicality Brown Ltd (PBL) has been operating for 35 years in the horticulture and forestry industries, and has been at the forefront of developing new ideas and services, many of which have become industry standard. They pride themselves on being the ‘instant landscape specialists with a range of uality semimature trees, large shrubs, elegant topiary and instant hedging, including the mar et-leading lveden nstant Hedge, for which they are the sole distributor. hey have a eet of specialist machinery for tree moving and site clearance. www.pracbrown.co.uk

Pro Arb | July 2016 23

07/07/2016 11:09

BUSINESS

1

Practise installing your throwline. For SRT you will want to install your rope as high in the canopy as possible – so get practising. You can introduce a catapult for extra height and using a base anchor prevents the need to isolate a branch.

2

TOP TEN TIPS

BASIC SRT

6

Choose the right base anchor.

Initially, you will probably be climbing using a base anchor, ideally one that is quick and easy to install using equipment you have to hand. Make sure you have some basic knots nailed, such as the alpine butterfly – introducing this into your base anchor would allow a climber to be lowered in a rescue.

Buy a good quality foot Stationary rope technique (SRT) is a climbing ascender. When technique that has generated huge amounts of interest climbing SRT your in recent years. Used correctly it can be a very useful ascents will typically tool and, for some, a complete change in climbing be longer. Make sure style. In this month’s Top Ten Tips, TreeKit’s SRT you have a good quality specialist, Terry Banyard, offers advice foot ascender that you can lock shut, either Find the right way to progress your SRT system. with a built-in catch or by using a carabiner Because your hands will be holding the rope, you need through the purpose-built hole. something that will bring your climbing system along with you. There are various options: neck elastic, SRT chest Select a suitable carabiner for your harness, tape sling or your lanyard/side strop. rope wrench SRT system. Because you will be incorporating a stiff tether, Use the right re-directs. Re-directs are crucial when pulley and eye to eye hitch cord, you’ll need climbing SRT – make sure you have a few options in a carabiner with a wide top part. your toolkit. A simple solution is just a tape sling and a carabiner.

Choose the right rope. Because your rope will often be tied with a For optimum performance, try introducing a base anchor, you want a rope with as knee ascender. There are some purpose-built knee little stretch as possible. You’ll be using your ascenders on the market, or you could build your hands to grab the rope so don’t go too thin own.

They make long ascents feel quick and effortless.

– between 11-12mm is ideal.

3

4

5

Set up your system using the right hitch cord. When using your rope wrench system, you want everything to be compact. It is good practice to keep the top of your hitch away from the rope wrench.

Use an eye to eye hitch between 65-75mm with heat resistant properties.

7

8 9

10

Spend extra time planning your route.

Take some time before you start your climb to plan your route. Climbing SRT for work positioning is a very different approach to climbing DdRT.

AND FINALLY...

If you are new to SRT, make sure you get the right advice from someone with experience and remember to start low and slow. There are a number of people now offering SRT workshops. For more information and SRT tutorials contact TreeKit at www.treekit.com/srt or 01202 573 575. Terry Banyard is an NPTC assessor and training provider. He is also an experienced contract climber who has been using SRT in the workplace for the last five years. Terry is also one of the specialists leading SRT workshops at TreeKit. 24 Pro Arb | July 2016

Top ten tips.indd 24

WWW.PROARBMAGAZINE.COM

07/07/2016 10:28

www.deepdale-trees.co.uk www.deepdale-trees.co.uk

www.marshalllogging.co.uk

ProArb Ads so farSusie.indd 24

E:sales@marshalllogging.co.uk

mail@deepdale-trees.co.uk mail@deepdale-trees.co.uk Tel:01767 01767262636 262636 Tel: Fax:01767 01767262288 262288 Fax:

07/07/2016 11:08

WHICH WOULD YOU BUY? BATTERY POWERED CHAINSAWS Pro Arb rounds up the best of the battery powered chainsaws on the market

Husqvarna 536Li XP Run time 50 mins Charge time 50 mins Weight 2.6 kg Voltage 36V Price ÂŁ350 A high performance, lightweight chainsaw ideal for commercial use and agriculture and utility applications. The Husqvarna 536Li battery chainsa is esigne to have many bene ts over an e uivalent performance petrol model, and be easy to use thanks to an intuitive key pad. This rechargeable chainsa also o ers a o er saving mo e suitable for less eman ing tas s e ten ing the run time of the batteries. This heavy uty battery chainsa also has a i u chain oil tan hich can be o ene easily even when wearing gloves. www.husqvarna.com/uk

Pellenc Selion C21 HD Run time 6 hours (with Poly 5 ULiB) Charge time 2.5 hours (with 2.2 amp charger) Weight 2kg Voltage 44V Price ÂŁ850 Pellenc knows that tree pruning requires specialised knowledge and suitable e ui ment. ellenc o ers arborists a mo el that ill meet their e ectations in terms of weight, balance, manoeuvrability and power. The new Selion C21 HD chainsaw has more torque and is the lightest on the market. www.pellenc.com

26 Pro Arb | July 2016

Compare battery chainsaws.indd 26

WWW.PROARBMAGAZINE.COM

07/07/2016 10:42

KIT Makita DUC302Z Run time Use dependant Charge time 45 mins Weight 4.7kg Voltage 36V Price £205 Part of the Makita chainsaw range is the 300mm DUC302Z chainsaw, generating 800W output from the twin 18V batteries.

This provides ample power to run the 3/8in chain over the 300mm bar at up to 8.3m per second. The battery warning indicators show capacity measurements, and when this drops below a preset level the machine stops and indicates which battery requires replacement. Tool-less chain adjustment is by a new, easy to operate single lever positioned on the side of the housing. www.makitauk.com

Stihl MSA 160 T Run time Up to 35 mins (with AP200 battery) Charge time 30 mins Weight 2.3kg Voltage 36V lithium ion Price £306 Lightweight cordless arborist saw for use in noise-sensitive areas.

Designed to be quiet with no ear protection necessary. High cutting performance thanks to the brushless EC engine, 1/4in PM3 saw chain, handle with soft grip, secured nut on the sprocket cover. www.stihl.co.uk

Ego Power+ CS1600E Run time Up to 300 cuts Charge time 40 mins Weight 6.2kg Voltage 56V lithium ion Price £447 The new 40cm Ego Power+ chainsaw operates at a chain speed of 13.5m/s. There is an easily viewable oil level indicator on the tank and the D-shaped handle ensures easy manoeuvrability and maximum operator comfort and safety. The highly efficient brushless motor system gives a smooth cut, with its weight balance meaning the chainsaw is light and easy to manoeuvre. It 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

WWW.PROARBMAGAZINE.COM

Compare battery chainsaws.indd 27

NEXT MONTH: stump grinders

Pro Arb | July 2016 27

07/07/2016 10:43

KIT

CLIMBING KIT latest kit

Sorbus carabiners The new range of carabiners exclusive to Sorbus features steel pushers instead of plastic and a vibrant turquoise colour with blac barrels. vailable in B and ltra val, these three-way loc ing carabiners are hot forged and fully heat treated aluminium for lightness and ma imum strength. nodised to BS 5 0 0 0, sealed for corrosion protection. pproved to 004 B. ndividually mar ed for traceability.

Fitted with a steel pusher.

www.sorbus-intl.co.uk

Dragon spikes

New England Hi-Vee Rope Spliced

Braided Safety Blue is the industry standard strand climbing rope. ach strand in Braided Safety Blue is comprised of tightly plied fibres and feature fibrillated polyolefin, a better uality fibre than the sti P monofilament polypropylene used in other strand climbing ropes. ibrillated polyolefin is softer and more e ible which translates into a rope with superior notability, better handling and no memory the rope coils nicely and does not have in s after it s untied. he entire rope is coated with a protective finish to enhance abrasion resistance. www.honeybros.com

Edelrid Duke he u e sport climbing harness o ers many di erent possibilities for ad ustment. wo mm asyglider clasps on the saddle and fully ad ustable leg loops mean the u e can be made to fit any body si e. he two-clip construction on the hip belt allows for a precise centering of the tie-in point independent of the si e ad ustments. he u e comes with haul-loop, four e ible gear loops and ytrel Protector for better abrasion resistance at tie-in point. his fully ad ustable harness o ers a lot when it comes to comfort and features. www.treekit.com

A set of aluminium climbing spikes has been added to the Dragon range of climbing equipment. These spikes are constructed from lightweight aluminium and are adjustable to suit all leg lengths. The standard pads contain a thin metal sheet which is padded in wool to form a strong but comfortable pad which will mould to the wearer’s leg.

Each set of spikes is supplied with a spare set of long and short ga s so that any type of tree can be tackled. For regular users these spikes can be fitted with Buc ingham Velcro pads for extra comfort.

www.buxtons.net

28 Pro Arb | July 2016

LK Climbing kit.indd 28

The Transporter The Transporter is designed as a harness tool holder made for ease of use and security.

The gate is equipped with a manual locking mechanism and wing design. The manual locking gate is a dual push button design which can be locked if desired to prevent inadvertently snagging or hoo ing unwanted items. t can also be left unloc ed when needed so tools can be removed uic ly without fumbling to repetitively unloc the gate. Unique wings on the gate allow the user to single-handedly retrieve and sort gear, even with gloves on. The wide plate and rigid frame ensure the ransporter will stay in position when used with small or large tools. www.frjonesandson.co.uk

WWW.PROARBMAGAZINE.COM

07/07/2016 10:38

CALEDONIAN FORESTRY SERVICES LTD West Third, Tullibardine, Auchterarder, PH3 1NJ Tel: 01764 663798 Email: sales.cfs@hotmail.com

www.caledonianforestryservices.co.uk

WE HAVE A LARGE RANGE OF PALAX FIREWOOD PROCESSORS IN STOCK FOR IMMEDIATE DELIVERY, IF YOUR MODEL IS NOT AVAILABLE WE WILL HAVE IT WITHIN FOUR WEEKS FROM YOUR ORDER.

PALAX

A T OSBORNE LTD Shelley Lane, Ower, Romsey, Hampshire, SO51 6ZL Email: markosborne@atosborneltd.freeserve.co.uk

Legendary performance.

Split-Fire Fire Log Splitters Splitters.

Tel: 02380 814340

www.riko-uk.com

01420 487300

enquiries@riko-uk.com

Please call for a demonstration

ProArb Ads so farSusie.indd 34

07/07/2016 10:39

KIT

Zega rope bag

PPE

latest kit

Made from tough, waterproof PVC, the Zega bag has doublestitched load bearing seams for strength and a reinforced base for scu and tear resistance. he ergonomic profile, ad ustable shoulder straps and padded carry handles make it easy to carry as a bag or bac pac . vailable in two si es and two vivid colours, lime green or ame orange. he ega bag has been put through its paces and emerged durable, functional and visible.

Stihl Advance X-Flex trousers

Lightweight and highly breathable arborists’ trousers. he smart and distinctive peat and orange colours give these trousers a modern twist to the high-tech, durable design. ade from ultralight, e tremely breathable vertic Pro lite cut protection material and developed e clusively for Stihl. Blac and hi-vis orange colour, special crotch construction for freedom of movement, robust outer fabric, elastic and breathable, waterproof knee protection, thorn and water resistant in the lower leg area and dirt resistant, with long ventilation ippers on the bac of the legs. www.stihl.co.uk

Stein Enigma D3O

www.landmarktrading.co.uk

Technical Extreme range very garment in the premium echnical treme range has been designed with demanding professional situations in mind, o ering a number of ergonomic and protective features to satisfy the most demanding users. nsure you are protected from head to toe with us varna echnical 24 boots, with chainsaw protection (Class 2, 24m/s) and the new echnical forestry helmet, a sturdy, lightweight helmet with ear protection. lso features a lightweight shell with ventilation and high visibility element, a single hand ratchet head ad ustment and an improved protective visor.

www.husqvarna.com/uk

30 Pro Arb | July 2016

LK PPE.indd 30

he Stein nigma is a modern day technical chainsaw boot o ering e treme comfort combined with Class 2 chainsaw protection 4m s . he seamless upper construction manufactured from talian Perwanger eather o ers water repellency whilst remaining breathable. o benefit fully from the ibram technology the Enigma is equipped with ecell technology in the comfort insole which is designed to absorb negative impact forces. he asymmetric speed lace system allows the upper to be tightened in the correct places, giving the wearer the best fit possible. he introduction of at eyelets reduces the chance of snagging when using foot ascenders. www.frjonesandson.co.uk

Arbortec Breathflex trousers vailable in five colours lime and blac , orange and blac , red, blac and olive. he rbortec Breathe e chainsaw trousers are made from si -way stretch fabric, containing an ultralight chainsaw bloc ing system. he trousers come with a evlar abrasion resistant reinforced lower leg and hi-vis decals for added safety. ll colours are available in ype and ype , lass and lass , and small, medium and large leg available in lime. www.arbortecforestwear.com

WWW.PROARBMAGAZINE.COM

07/07/2016 10:36

Plantoil ad 118x91 Sept'14_PROARB 25/09/2014 14:44 Page 1

caring for the environment

• CHAINSAW OIL • 2-STROKE OIL • SAW BLADE OIL www.plantoil.co.uk 0800 013 7363 Secateurs, hedgeshears and the world’s finest pruning saws in superb, tempered Japanese steel KST 230

KST 217

Silky Fox Saws

KST 103

TIMBERWOLF CHIPPER DEALER

Foxley Estate Office, Mansel Lacy, Hereford HR4 7HQ

Hayauchi 490

Tel: 01981 590224 Fax: 01981 590355

Pocketboy 170

enquiries@silkyfox.co.uk

Visit silkyfox.co.uk to find your local stockist

● Eliet Green Waste Shredder dealer ● Toro Stumpgrinder dealer ● Supplier of Husqvarna, Arbortec, Treehog, Marlow, Silky Saws, Stein, Petzl ● Chain and chipper blade sharpening ● Sales, service, spares for all makes and manufacturers

Tel 0115 9615431 Email info@psmmowers.co.uk

WWW.PSMMOWERS.CO.UK

ALL MATERIALS The New Prof 5 Shredder • • • • Makes easy work of branches, wet green waste and mixed leafage 4 Season shredder is effective in all conditions Smooth and easy suction feed system Produces easily compostable BioTech™ chips

Call: 08450 773 773

www.psdgroundscare.co.uk

PSD2700 - ELIET ProLandscaper Adverts 58x90.indd 1 ProArb Ads so farSusie.indd 30

ALL YEAR 13/03/2013 12:38 07/07/2016 11:33

KIT Truncator 6Pro • Safer working practice: cutting at waist height minimises the risk of lower leg and foot injury. Unlike other sawhorses you won’t need to hold the timber in place, removing the risk of hand injury • Easier on your back: cutting at waist height drastically decreases strain on your back, as does not having to repeatedly bend down to pick up cut logs from the oor an transfer them into a container • Consistent length logs: the cups can be spaced to create the perfect size log for your re or oo burner an any si e timber u to cm in iameter including bent pieces, can easily be cut • Chain friendly: all parts that might come in contact with your saw are nonmetal, so they won’t blunt your chain • Heavy-duty: built to last with a durable heavy duty steel trestle and tough recycled plastic cups, witha maximum load capacity of 120kg www.truncator.co.uk

ARB KIT

A roundup of the latest products Timberwolf 280TDHB • The Timberwolf 280TDHB is ideal for the most demanding arborists who require a bigger machine • An 8in road towable machine • Engineered to deliver incredible performance matched with reliability ease of use safety an efficiency all ithin the ne style Timberwolf silhouette • Supported by a professional and experienced dealer network across the UK www.timberwolf-uk.com

TS Industrie WS/23-75DT • Kohler 75hp, four-cylinder diesel engine • 270° adjustable chimney with rotatable turntable • Large Hopper: 1,290mm(L) x 1,540mm(W) • Up to 23cm material diameter • Two year warranty www.ts-industrie.eu

32 Pro Arb | July 2016

Arb Kit.indd 32

WWW.PROARBMAGAZINE.COM

07/07/2016 10:35

KIT Split-Fire log splitter ni ue esign has t o ay s litting action for higher out ut an ee s the log hel in the s litting area for re etitive s lits og remains in the s litting area rior to uring an after s litting nife an log sto esign almost eliminates ic outs logs shooting out une ecte ly ive mo els ranging from t to t tion of tractor hy raulic T electric or etrol motor www.split-fire.com

Arbrep Jensen dealers lton am shire base arboricultural machinery s ecialists rbre ervices t have eca es of e erience rovi ing a to class service an eace of min to a varie clientele toc ing servicing an su lying a large range of arboricultural arts an machinery rbre is the rou artner of some of the best no n names in the business t the beginning of this year rbre as a ointe the oďŹ&#x192;cial ealer in the south east for ensen the orl recognise rovi er of in ustry lea ing ro ucts base at the birth lace of the chi er aasbull in ermany www.arbrepservices.co.uk

Bomford Turner Flailbot

Jo Beau M200 2in gravity feed chipper ight eight at g on a h engine . in i th mm i e rum tional uic release ischarge an rotating chute

bility to or on iďŹ&#x192;cult an stee terrain u to Trac i th a ustable u to an e tra mm mm er si e utomatic electronic oat system for no sto mo ing shre ing atente ulti le alternative attachments inclu ing stum grin er trencher or forestry mulcher hea s m or ing istance from o erator for ultimate safety www.bomford-turner.com

www.jobeau.eu

WWW.PROARBMAGAZINE.COM

Arb Kit.indd 33

Pro Arb | July 2016 33

07/07/2016 10:35

CAREERS

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

Call 01903 777 570 or email hortcareers@eljays44.com with your vacancy

ARBORICULTURAL SURVEYOR / CONSULTANT LONDON

Landmark Trees is looking to hire an arboricultural surveyor / consultant. The role will be initially selfemployed two to three days per week. The schedule can be flexible, but the candidate must be available during school holidays and be happy working from home. The work will include a variety of different tasks, mostly surveying trees with potential to attend meetings and assist staff with reports and day-to-day administrative tasks. The ideal candidate will have a relevant degree, foundation degree or diploma as well as experience.

NEW TEAM MEMBER ERITH

Barge Group Ltd is looking to recruit new crew members to join its expanding team. Barge Group operates from its main depot near Dartford in Kent and undertakes a range of services in a multitude of sectors from highway vegetation management, grounds maintenance and arboriculture to hard and soft landscaping, 24/7 emergency callout and weed control. Applicants must have a full clean driving licence.

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

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

SKILLED ARBORIST

EXPERIENCED CLIMBERS & GROUND STAFF

OXFORDSHIRE

The client is looking for a skilled arborist to join their team on their estate based in Wallingford, Oxfordshire. The ideal candidate will have excellent knowledge of tree and fungus identification as well as climbing experience. The role will involve implementation of tree work specifications and completing health and safety checks as well as 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

DORKING

Advanced Tree Services is a specialised tree surgery company operating throughout London and the Home Counties. They are Arboricultural Association approved contractors and are the current term contractors for London Borough of Ealing, London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham, the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, Royal Parks Bushy Park, Epsom & Ewell District Council and Wycombe District Council. Climbers must have all relevant NPTC or equivalent qualifications with a minimum of CS30, CS31, CS38 and CS39, a full driving licence and at least three years' experience.

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

unfogable mesh eye protection

www.meshsafetyglasses.com 0845 2222 039

www.woodchipper-pro.com Jobs.indd 34

07/07/2016 11:19

The

ANCIENT TREE

ANCIENT TREE COLUMN

column

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

The Tortworth Chestnut, Tortworth Estate, South Gloucestershire

uc ed away in the corner of a gra ed field ne t to Saint eonard s hurch, you d forgive the untrained eye for not spotting the significance of this tree at first glance. owever, step through the gate on the southern side and the full wonder of this tree is revealed. nce beneath the tree it is apparent that the canopy is made up of

Regardless of the actual age of the tree, it is clearly remarkable. Thomas Pakenham refers to it as: ‘By far the most fully documented tree in Britain’

five or si stems, the original stem with little live growth in the middle. ver time the tree has moved out in all directions the result is more reminiscent of a woodland. ew trun s have been formed from the growth of epicormic shoots low on the stem or where subsiding branches have touched the ground, re-rooted and continued to grow. here is ongoing debate over the age of the tree. pla ue located beside it reads his tree supposed to be si hundred years old st anuary 00 . owever, the tree is dated as growing in the th and 4, and th century respectively by both ohn velyn writing in . o confuse things further, Britain s Sir obert t yn writing in , Peter ollinson, claims it grew leading amateur dendrologist of from a nut planted during the reign of ing gbert in 00 . egardless of its actual age, it is clearly remar able. istorian and arborist homas Pa enham refers to it as By far the most fully documented tree in Britain . his claim is supported by the number of

WWW.PROARBMAGAZINE.COM

Ancient Tree.indd 35

i e alnan

wood engravings, lithographs and paintings of the tree in the estate. shows that ohannes ip s engraving of ortworth below in otherwise the into d incorporate the tree was formal gardens of the manor house. han s to obert oreton of the ortworth state for providing access to, and use of, the estate s collection of tree memorabilia and i e alnan for allowing the use of his aerial photograph.

The ATF champions the biological, cultural and heritage value of Britain’s ancient and veteran trees and promotes best practice. See www.ancienttreeforum.co.uk

Pro Arb | July 2016 35

07/07/2016 10:27

44HP KUBOTA TURBO DIESEL ENGINE RADIO REMOTE CONTROLS SWING-OUT OPERATOR CONTROL STATION CAN BE OPERATED FROM HANDHELD REMOTE CONTROL OR FROM SWING OUT PANEL

RETRACTABLE UNDERCARRIAGE (50-INCH EX-

TENDED / 35-INCH RETRACTED)

RUBBER TRACKS (NON-MARKING

RUBBER TRACKS OPTIONAL) HYDRAULIC BACKFILL BLADE

TWO-

SPEED GROUND TRAVEL LOW CENTER OF GRAVITY SLEWING RING PIVOT DESIGN WestconEquipment (UK) Ltd Unit 2 Bridge St, Bailie Gate Industrial Estate, Sturminster Marshall, Dorset BH21 4DB

Tel: (01258) 859100 Fax: (01258) 858434 Email: sales@westconuk.co.uk www.westconuk.co.uk

CALL -

Westcon.indd 22

800.392.2686

VISIT -

07/07/2016 11:13