Pro Arb November 2016

NOVEMBER 2016

AN INTERVIEW WITH

DAVID ABRAHAMS BAWDEN TREE CARE

SANDOWN PARK NOVEMBER 15

KITTED OUT INSIDE AN ARBORIST’S TOOLBOX WHY YOU SHOULD LISTEN TO THE

LOLER INSPECTOR

ONE TO WATCH VIDEO MARKETING

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TOP TEN TIPS

CHOOSING INSURANCE

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THE HAAS VELOX

The HAAS Velox comprising of ascender, bungie cord and foot tether. The Velox is one of the most efficient rope ascent systems on the market. The bungie for the Velox runs over a sealed stainless steel bearing for minimum friction. The Velox can be used with stationery or a moving rope system. The amount of useable bungie cord in the system, allows for movement within the canopy without having to store the Velox, making it readily available throughout your climb if need be.

The updated Velox has an improved range of motion for a one size fits all design, the Velox also improves on the foot strap, by making it adjustable with one hand, as apposes to the two handed adjustment with the original.

Whether you are looking to expand the range of the original Velox, improve your current ascent system or just looking to make those long pulls feel shorter, The HAAS Velox improves the efficiency in arborist rope accent

Find your closest dealer at www.workware.co.uk or by calling 01228 591091

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CONTENTS

PRO ARB MAGAZINE November 2016 | Volume 3 | Issue 11

Welcome 04 AGENDA

What challenges do you foresee for your business in 2017?

06 NEWS

A roundup of industry news

Business 11

AN INTERVIEW WITH

15

VIDEO MARKETING

16

PESTS AND DISEASES

17

19

David Abrahams, tree care manager at Bawden Tree Care Ross Hewitt offers tips on video marketing for your business Bartlett Tree Experts considers aphids and how to control them

TRAINING

The last in Jonathan Hazell's series on training in arboriculture

WEST LANCASHIRE BOROUGH COUNCIL A closer look at the council's 'free tree scheme'

22

WORKING AT HEIGHT

25

LOLER INSPECTIONS

We speak to Graham Dawdry of bts Group about best practice for working at height The importance of LOLER inspections and the best ways to go about them

W

WELCOME

elcome to the November issue of Pro Arb. November is a busy month for us at Pro Arb HQ; FutureArb, part of the industry leading FutureScape event, is just around the corner and it promises to be a great day with leading trade suppliers, seminar programmes and an industry debate on the future of the sector, all under one roof. If you're attending, come along to our stand and say hello.

This issue is once again full of cutting edge articles. Our interview subject is David Abrahams from Bawden Tree Care, who talks about his role at the Wiltshire-based company. David explains why being active in the industry associations is so important, as well as discussing recruitment and arb courses. David’s interview can be found on page 11.

We’ve got a great article on page 15 from Ross Hewitt about video marketing for your business, Bartlett Tree Experts opens our eyes to aphids on page and onat an a ell rounds o is series on training on page 17.

Roland Jones and John Hodson from West Lancashire Borough Council share what they do with the borough’s trees on page 19, and we speak to Simon Coombes from Cedardale about the importance of LOLER inspections on page 25.

On top of all this we're featuring tips on arboricultural insurance and best practice when working at height, and our usual roundup of the latest arb kit.

That’s it for this month. I hope to meet as many of you as possible at FutureScape on Tuesday 15 November.

Have a great month.

JOE WILKINSON

28 TOP TEN TIPS

Stephen Lewis of Lycetts offers his best advice for purchasing arboricultural insurance

Kit 32

TOOL BOX

We ask the director of Arbor Cura for his kit preferences, from PPE to chainsaws

34 WHICH WOULD YOU BUY? Software

37

LATEST KIT

Stump grinders and tree protection

43 ARB KIT 47

TRADING WITH GreenMech Ltd

48 BOOK REVIEW

Ancient Trees of the National Trust

by Edward Parker and Brian Muelaner

Regulars 50 CAREERS 51 WWW.PROARBMAGAZINE.COM ANCIENT TREE COLUMN

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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 roduction ditor usie u susie duff elja s com Editorial Reporter – Joe Betts joe.betts@eljays44.com Editorial Assistant – Billy Shanley billy.shanley@eljays44.com Editorial Assistant – Max Dodd max.dodd@eljays44.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, Fay Pritchard, Mandy Armstrong 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.

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

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

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AGENDA

AGENDA PRO ARB ASKS INDUSTRY INSIDERS

“WHAT CHALLENGES DO YOU FORESEE FOR YOUR BUSINESS IN 2017?”

JOHN MCKENNA

Business and operations development manager, ISS Facilities Services Landscaping

“Uncertainty leads to a focus on short term, with companies shying away from long term planning” Following Brexit, the industry is facing a period of uncertainty whilst our political leaders determine the way forward. In the meantime, we must prepare for a time when the UK is outside the EU in some way, a challenge which applies not only to UK businesses operating within the EU but also to those EU businesses with activities in the UK. Uncertainty leads to a focus on the short term, with companies tending to shy away from long term planning in favour of more immediate goals. As a global business with a significant presence in t e and urope, the goal for ISS is to recognise the critical challenges facing our existing and future clients and help them to negotiate this period of uncertainty amidst the growing climate of risk aversion. We will do this by recognising

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Pro Arb | November 2016

our own strategic challenges, adjusting our approach accordingly and continuing to provide market leading services and operational support through increased e ciencies and added alue.

and we want to continue to see this happening alongside our predicted growth. However, we see successful growth management as one of the key challenges we will continue to face heading into 2017.

CHRIS HOARE

NICK EDDISON

Director, Christopher Hoare Tree Services Ltd “We see successful growth management as one of the key challenges we will face” As we continue to renew and secure new contracts, we are looking for e er more sta to fulfil our commitments. t ristop er oare ree er ices td we consider finding a su cient amount of suitably qualified sta a key challenge that we will face in 2017.

Further to this, we want to ensure that our growth complements our quality service and that our expansion moving into 2017 does not have a detrimental impact on the quality of service that we provide. Through reinvestment, we are continually improving t e kit and equipment pro ided to our sta ,

Arboriculture manager, Burleys “Finding the right calibre of people is always challenging in such a niche profession” In 2017, I see challenges as opportunities for growth and improvement. Burleys arboriculture department will be focusing on growing its client list and consequently will need e tra sta . inding t e rig t calibre of people is always challenging in such a niche profession, so we will also prioritise de eloping present sta to progress into more responsible roles.

We will also look to expand our service pro ision, so upskilling o ce sta is also on the agenda. ne specific c allenge to o ercome will be renewing our eet to e icles wit

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greater load capacity t an t e transit type , and t e consequent training of dri ers not presently licenced to dri e bigger e icles.

MIKE BRUNSKILL

Sales and marketing director, Glendale Managed Services “We’re noticing a general decrease in tender opportunities within the local authority sector” Recruitment will continue to be a challenge a ecting many arboricultural ser ice pro iders, wit a general s ortage of qualified candidates. ile we a e a number of initiati es in place to address t is, including internal training and apprentices ip programmes aimed at t e ne t generation of arborists, t ere is still more work to be done. e re also noticing a general decrease in tender opportunities wit in t e local aut ority sector, and pressures on costs will continue to be a focus, particularly in terms of mitigating t e impact on ser ice standards, as well as t e ational i ing age. ur strategy will be to continue deli ering quality, reliable ser ices to our clients and maintaining t e ig est industry standards.

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MARK CHESTER

Cedarwood Tree Care

“The challenge will be in ensuring sufficient, well-skilled staff to meet the needs of our clients” s t e business e pands, t e c allenge will be in ensuring su cient, well skilled sta to meet t e needs of our clients. is includes being able to deli er to tig t timescales.

Another ongoing challenge will be disseminating to t e wider audience t e benefits of professional consultants w o know w at we are doing, rat er t an t ose wit a limited understanding. ere is more to a tree report t an t e ability to sur ey trees, and e en to categorise t em. or t e onsulting rborist ociety, ensuring t at we can continue to elp t ose w o benefit from quality training and career de elopment w en budgets are disappearing.

NEXT MONTH

MAGGIE WRIGHT

Principal tree officer, London Borough of Sutton “Local authority budgets will be subject to further cuts, so resources will be pressured” ocal aut ority budgets will be sub ect to furt er cuts, so resources for training and sta will be pressured. t is likely t at merging ser ices wit neig bouring boroug s will be looked into. uc budget c allenges will undoubtedly c ange t e way a planning o ce works, but t ese c anges need not necessarily be negati e pressures could create opportunities to seek impro ements in work processes or create a more unified approac to issues t at breac boroug boundaries. orking toget er strengt ens t e industry, particularly on a local le el, and we s ould not necessarily treat merges as a risk.

Pro Arb asks: Have you seen any evidence that Brexit will impact your business?

Have your say: joe.wilkinson@eljays44.com

Pro Arb | November 2016

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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

LAST-DITCH EFFORT TO SAVE FAMOUS NOTTS TREE LAUNCHED A last-ditch attempt to save the original 200-year-old Bramley apple tree in Southwell has been launched.

All attempts to save the historic ‘mother’ tree from honey fungus disease have so far failed, and experts fear that it can only survive another two years at most.

But a new chemical, developed by a Nottingham-

based environmental technologies firm, could eradicate t e fungus .

“It is really very much a

SADIQ KHAN AXES HIS PLAN TO PLANT 2M TREES BY 2020

London mayor Sadiq Khan has quietly axed his own election pledge of planting 2m trees across t e city in is first term in o ce.

Khan made the vow as part of his plans to make London

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more environmentally friendly, with a package of measures including the pedestrianisation of Oxford Street.

It is the latest in a series of moves by the mayor to tweak his election promises, including is ig profile ow to free e f fares for four years, and a pledge to scrap the Garden Bridge.

Numbers from the Forestry Commission last year suggested that London has a current total of 8.4m trees. www.cityam.com

race against time, but we are optimistic that a chemical that we have developed could eradicate the fungus that is slowly killing it,” said Guy Eatch, managing director of BioActive Environmental Technologies Ltd. The Bramley apple tree was grown from a single pip planted between 1809 and 1815 by a girl named Mary Ann Brailsford in

a cottage garden in Church Street, Southwell.

Bio-scientist Professor Ted Cocking, of the University of Nottingham, who has studied the tree for many years, said that he is now convinced that the new chemical compound is “worthwhile testing with good chance of success.” www.nottinghampost.com

HISTORIC COLNE TREES FELLED FOR PUBLIC SAFETY

Four black poplars which were situated alongside Cotton Tree Lane in Colne have been taken down on the advice of an independent arboriculturist.

Pendle Council’s deputy leader, councillor Tony Greaves had called for the felling of the

trees to be halted because of their historical value and the lack of public consultation, but county councillor Paul White believed that the right decision was made.

Cuttings have been taken and there are plans to replant further away from the road and properties. The reason the area became ‘Cotton Tree’ is because e ery do en years or so, w en conditions are favourable, black poplars drop their seeds which look like cotton buds. www.pendletoday.co.uk

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NEWS

1,000 TREES PLANTED IN WHITEFIELD 1,000 trees in Hurst Wood across two days on Thursday 13 October and Saturday 15 October.

The City of Trees group, working alongside The Forestry Commission, has organised a series of tree planting sessions to help plant more than 4,000 trees in the woodland.

A thousand trees were planted in itefield as part of a new special campaign.

More than 80 people got their hands dirty when they helped plant

ndy ong, woodlands o cer at City of Trees, said: “Trees deli er a w ole range of benefits from creating healthier, happier communities to helping tackle climate change, reconnecting our children to the natural world, and providing essential habitats for wildlife.

“The addition of the 4,000 trees will help contribute to the City of Trees vision of planting millions of trees within a generation – one for every man, woman and child in Greater Manchester. We’re hugely grateful to the volunteers who came down to get their hands dirty.” www.burytimes.co.uk

MAKITA BACKS NEW ‘GUIDE TO CHAINSAW MAINTENANCE’ Makita UK has supported the publication of an invaluable ‘Guide to Chainsaw Maintenance’, a free to download book, written by experienced City and Guilds NPTC trainer and assessor David Vickers of Drivelink Training.

The 131 page guide covers the theory and practical tasks required to look after and maintain a chainsaw in regular use. It is

ideally suited to those new to chainsaws, or those taking their Level 2 assessment.

High quality detailed photographs cover all the routine

maintenance tasks for chainsaw operators. It includes bar and c ain configurations, guidance on fuel systems and air cleaner routines, and safety precautions.

Kevin Brannigan, marketing manager at Makita UK, commented: “Makita UK has supported David Vickers in the production of this very useful guide, as we recognise that all chainsaw operators need to be mindful of routine maintenance to keep the performance levels of their saws in top notch condition.” www.makitauk.com

CONKER TREES COULD VANISH FROM UK IN 15 YEARS As many as 2m conker trees in the UK could become a thing of the past over the next 15 years due to disease and an invasive moth. The leaf-mining moth was found in Europe in 1985, spreading rapidly through the continent and being found in southern England around 2002. Councils are also removing many horse chestnut trees to prevent people being hit by diseased branches when they fall.

The moth may also be responsible for bleeding canker, a fungal disease which can kill trees. A Forestry Commission survey in 2007 found more than 70% of trees in some parts of England had the disease, with 36% in Wales and 42% in Scotland showing some symptoms. www.news.sky.com

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NEWS

AIR AMBULANCE CALLED AFTER PETERBOROUGH TREE SURGEON FALLS 20FT

At 9.57am, Wednesday 19 October, Magpas doctors Andy Lindsay and Tom Odbert and paramedic Dan Phillips landed in Peterborough, via the Magpas air ambulance, to treat a tree surgeon who had fallen 20ft while working up a tree.

The Magpas medical team assessed a man, understood to be in his 20s, who had sustained leg injuries. They provided him with pain relief before an ambulance took the patient to Peterborough City Hospital in a stable condition. www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk

‘DING DONG TREE’ IS NAMED SCOTLAND’S TREE OF THE YEAR A tree which has become an important part of school life has been named Scottish Tree of the Year.

The ‘Ding Dong Tree’, which sits in the playground of Prestonpans rimary c ool, beat o competition.

The award, which was announced at a reception at the Scottish Parliament in October, will be formally revealed on television next month.

Iain Gray, East Lothian MSP, said: “I attended the Scottish Tree of the Year reception and

was delighted when the Ding Dong Tree was announced as the winner. It was up against some amazing contenders from around Scotland, so it really is a fantastic achievement. This is a wonderful accolade for the school and the local community.”

The tree will now go forward to compete for the title of European Tree of the Year. www.eastlothiancourier.com

INCREASED FUNDING FOR WOODLAND CREATION IN SCOTLAND Plans to plant 2,965 acres (1,200 ha) of new woodland across Scotland have been backed with £6.5m in funding. e figure is t e ig est le el of funding awarded since the Scotland’s Forestry Grant Scheme was set up in 2015, the Scottish government said.

The projects to receive funding include schemes in Knoydart, Perthshire, Argyll and the Borders. ural a airs secretary ergus Ewing announced the funding

during a visit to a sawmill in Boat of Garten.

Mr Ewing held talks with industry leaders at the site near Aviemore as part of a series of summits on the future of forestry.

It is understood there has been a recent spike in applications for government grants for new plantings.

About 25,000 jobs are dependent on forestry and the creation of timber products in Scotland, but there have been

warnings that the growth of the sector is the result of planting during the Seventies and Eighties.

Industry leaders have said there has to be continued encouragement for landowners and managers to put more trees in the ground now if the industry is to have a sustainable future. www.bbc.co.uk

PROARB LTD HIGHLY COMMENDED FOR EMERGENCY RESCUE WORK The work of Welsh tree surgeons, Proarb Ltd, has been recognised

by Scottish Power. The company based in Bodelwyddan, Denbighshire, was

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highly commended at the annual Scottish Power Supplier Awards.

Managing director of Proarb Ltd, John Paul Williams, said: “I am delighted that Proarb Ltd has been nominated for an award in the

Emergency Response category.

“Over the last 12 years, Proarb Ltd has been providing out of hours response for Scottish Power and this nomination is credit to the hard work and commitment of the team. They are required to work often during challenging weather conditions

in order to ensure that power is restored to Scottish Power customers in a timely fashion.

Many of our team members have given up family time during weekends and Christmas to assist in restoring power supplies.” www.proarb.co.uk

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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

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BUSINESS

An interview with

DAVID ABRAHAMS

TREE CARE MANAGER, BAWDEN TREE CARE Pro Arb magazine caught up with David Abrahams of Bawden Tree Care to talk about his role as the tree care manager at the Wiltshire-based company. Bawden has a long history in the sector and works closely with the industry associations. We spoke to David about why this is so important, and asked for his views on recruiting policies and the role of arb colleges and courses

Starting them young: David’s son Oliver at a tree climbing day

When and how did you get involved in arboriculture?

After getting my degree in sports science, I moved back home to Westbury in Wiltshire but couldn’t find a related job. I ended up working in financial services where I was stuck indoors, and with a young family I wanted to spend more time with them growing up. I decided to give it up and did some ground works for a friend in the tree business. I loved the hard graft and being outdoors, and my first encounter with a chainsaw made me realise there was more to trees than meets the eye, so I trained to be a tree surgeon six years ago.

Did you study arboriculture at college?

I attended Norton Radstock College in Somerset and did a Level 2 diploma in forestry and arboriculture under the inspirational tutelage of Martin Palfrey. Once I’d qualified and got the necessary NPTC

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tickets, I started off working as a subcontractor for Pearns Tree Services in Frome and Acer Tree Surgeons in Westbury. After three years or so I decided I needed the security of being employed full time, and so I was lucky enough to join Bawden Tree Care two and a half years ago. They have really supported and encouraged me and I have just completed my Level 4 in arboriculture.

How many staff do you employ currently?

We have five tree surgeons, including one

I’ve developed a real passion for the science of arboriculture and have been supported

by Bawden in my efforts to develop beyond being a tree surgeon

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BUSINESS

You need careful observation by the tutor so that they can spot bad practice and nip it in the bud when you’re learning apprentice doing a Level 2 diploma in forestry and arboriculture at Sparsholt College. We’re currently advertising for more climbers as business is good and we want to take advantage of it.

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

I’m mainly in a customer and team management role now, undertaking the initial assessments and quoting, as well as managing the team. I do occasionally help if necessary but very rarely these days. Each morning I discuss the jobs for the day with the team leader and then leave him to brief his team. There’s more planning involved for contract work but, again, I rely on the team to do a professional job every time.

Are you comfortable with the size of the team you’ve got now?

I’m keen to build the number of teams – there is a growing demand for specialist arboricultural services, including tree surveys, woodland management and veteran trees. We have just taken delivery of an Isuzu Grafter which is being sign written as we speak.

We are also currently researching the market to purchase a new 6in chipper.

Did you find it quite easy to find good quality staff?

Finding qualified tree surgeons is difficult as they tend to want to be self employed and work as sub-contractors. At Bawden Tree Care our ethos is to provide a comprehensive range of services, including emergency call-outs, and we could not achieve this without employing our own

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staff. The initial financial gains of selfemployment are soon outweighed by the lack of career development beyond the climbing role. I know from personal experience that once climbing starts to be a daily mission and the joints start aching, you need to have somewhere for your career to go. I’ve developed a real passion for the science of arboriculture and have been extremely fortunate to have been supported by Bawden in my efforts to develop beyond being a tree surgeon.

My prospects now are a world away from when I started out with my Level 2.

Do you think that college courses should be adapted, or are students learning what they should?

My personal opinion is that there is not enough practical experience on the Level 2 – not enough climbing, practising knots and using chainsaws, and rather too much of the ‘soft’ skills of running a tree surgery business. We need well drilled and competent tree surgeons.

I also worry that the student to tutor ratio in some colleges is too high. There were just six students to one tutor on my Level 2, which was fantastic. You need careful observation by the tutor, so that they can spot bad practice and nip it in the bud when you’re learning. It’s too late once you’re out doing the job for real. I really believe that a good arborist is performing an art – no two trees are the same and it requires constant decision-making and interpretation, plus you need to have a sound technical foundation to do the job properly.

I believe a good arborist is performing an art – no two trees are the same and it requires constant decision-making and interpretation What sort of contracts do you go after?

We have a good mix of public sector, commercial and domestic. As Arb Association Approved Contractors, we have also managed to secure a number of local authority framework contracts, which we enjoy doing as we build up a really good relationship with our client officers and become familiar with the tree stock we’re dealing with.

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BUSINESS

What more do you think can be done by us as an industry to make arboriculture a career of choice for young people?

We have to get into schools and let career advisors know that university is not the be all and end all, and that many people would do far better by following a vocational route. Do careers advisors even know anything about tree surgery? Friends of mine who went to university are now, in their thirties, training to be plumbers and other trades. I’m glad the new Trailblazer Apprenticeship Standards for Forestry and Arboriculture has been launched. That should do something to raise the profile and encourage youngsters to consider tree surgery as a career.

What is your profit split between commercial and domestic work?

60/40.

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

I would say staffing – losing good climbers and trying to find suitable replacements – and the opportunistic theft of tools and equipment from our vans. As far as the wider industry goes, biosecurity is a concern and I instil in our guys the importance of observation and reporting anything insect or disease they see when they’re out working.

Do you get involved in the industry associations?

Bawden has been a BALI member for many

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1

Classic large beech removal that straddles three gardens

2

Mike Clements completing an awkward tree dismantle

3

Monolith at a prominent site in full view of the public

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Autumn fun clear up after a fallen apple tree removal

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Significantly decayed Lombardy poplar removal for Salisbury City Council

years and our director, Richard Stone, is the current honorary treasurer. We have also been Arb Association (AA) members for a good few years and achieved Approved Contractor status in 2014.

We’ve definitely benefited from our membership of both associations and I find the technical support from the AA to be particularly helpful in my role. I try to get involved with the Ancient Tree Forum (ATF), headed up by Ted Green, having walked Great Windsor Park with him as part of my Level 4 course. Ancient trees are invaluable for the biodiversity they afford and the ATF looks at the management principles of these wonderful trees.

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

Larger, established companies are happy to share scientific knowledge and experience on a national level, but there is a lot of competition in the industry and I think this makes people more wary of sharing business and contract experience, particularly amongst companies competing in the same part of the country. I rely on the AA and the ATF for technical talks and workshops, but less so for the business side of things.

Finally, what do you enjoy doing outside of work?

Whilst I’ve been doing my Level 4 diploma I haven’t really had any spare time! When I get the opportunity I love spending time with my wife and three boys, walking in the Somerset countryside, climbing trees and generally enjoying the great outdoors.

I also manage to play a bit of rugby during the season.

CONTACT Bawden Tree Care Unit 2, Mills Way Centre Mills Way, Amesbury, Salisbury Wiltshire SP4 7AU Tel 01980 623 015 Email info@bawdentreecare.co.uk Web www.bawdentreecare.co.uk Twitter @bawdenarb

Pro Arb | November 2016 13

02/11/2016 15:10

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BUSINESS

VIDEO MARK ETING

Ross Hewitt explains how you can use videos as a key marketing tool when promoting your business 2015 was widely labelled as the year of the video. If you spend too much time on Facebook, you might have noticed through last year that your friends stopped sharing so many pictures of cats and cakes and just began sharing videos instead.

In April 2015, stats were revealed showing that Facebook was playing host to a staggering 4bn video views e ery day. y ctober t at figure ad doubled and over 8bn videos were being watched every day just on that one social media platform.

Throw YouTube and Vimeo into the mix, as well as Instagram launching video capabilities, and it becomes clear that the moving picture is going to shift marketing

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pitches to a whole new level. You need to start setting your video stall up if you haven’t considered creating them already.

How can video content draw clients closer to you and encourage engagement with your business?

What questions can you answer?

What content is already prevalent and sewn up by others and, more importantly, what content is hard to find yet would be really useful to your audience? aking one ideo is not a strategy, neither will it get you found or sought after. You need to be consistent and start as you mean to go on. At least one video per month for the next four to six months is realistic, and will give you a great ‘test and learn’ environment to gauge whether video is something that can move your audience engagement up a few notches. deas for content will come a lot easier than you might imagine if you give it a little thought.

How about customer video testimonials? Can you tempt

someone who can clearly string a sentence together to get in front of the camera and big you up? Are you going to an event t at warrants a bit of film time that you can share? Maybe a

The moving picture is going to shift marketing pitches to a whole new level

video interview with a landscape architect or supplier? en you e brainstormed a list of videos, separate the wheat from c a , put t e final list into a calendar and give yourself plenty of time to get t em finis ed. ou need to make t e actual videos you create as polished as possible. We’re not talking Hollywood standard, but for

example, if someone is talking in the video you need to make sure the viewer can actually hear them. uy a tripod it makes for a muc better video than tired arm shakycam e ects. ilm somew ere t at has good lighting and get people to smile, even just a little bit. im to grab t e iewer s attention in t e first fi e to seconds it’s crucial to keeping them watching. Make sure you have a very clear call to action at the end of the video. en t e final cut is uploaded, don’t forget to share it as far and wide as possible. You want your work to take up bandwidth as well as disk space.

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

Pro Arb | November 2016 15

02/11/2016 14:16

BUSINESS Bartlett Tree Experts discusses the identification, biology and management of aphids, to educate on and help control these global pests

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phids are one of the most destructive pests of cultivated plants worldwide and can a ect all tree species. There are hundreds of di erent species of t is successful pest. The aphid’s life cycle and relationship with its environment is unusual, fascinating and in some cases, very strange. denti cati n Obvious visual symptoms of aphid infestations are curling leaves, distorted growth and sticky coatings on leaves or objects below plants. This sugary residue, known as honeydew, sometimes encourages growth of black sooty mould. Sooty mould doesn’t actively harm the plant but can reduce light levels reaching the leaf surface and therefore photosynthesis. Heavy aphid infestations may cause dieback and aphids are also known to spread viruses into host plants.

There are hundreds of different species of this successful pest

16 Pro Arb | November 2016

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APHID INFESTATION Aphids are soft bodied, generally 1-5mm long, with six relatively long and thin legs and a pair of similarly long antennae.

They are found in a range of colours including yellow, green, red, brown and black. This depends on the species and a range of other factors. They have two tube-like organs, one either side of their abdomen. These can secrete glue-like compounds for defence against predators. i Aphid populations consist of winged and wingless forms, with winged aphids found in smaller numbers. The winged forms, ot erwise known as green y or black y, spread between plants. ilst comparati ely weak iers, winged aphids can be blown long distances by the wind. One of the greatest tricks aphids have up their tiny sleeves is asexual reproduction. This means that the majority of aphids constantly give birth to clones of themselves, ensuring their populations stay high. Strangely, some aphids can even be pregnant before they are born.

Aphids use straw-like mouthparts to feed on plant sap. Sap is high in sugar but low in amino acids (protein building blocks) and so they must consume an excess of sap, which they release with other waste as sticky honeydew. Aphids

have special bacteria in their gut which make them extra amino acids from sugars. Ants are often found ‘farming’ aphids for their honeydew, as with scale insects.

In return for this food source the ants protect and tend to the aphids, even moving them between plants, increasing their populations and spread. ana e ent Conventional control of aphids is based on applying a combination of appropriate pesticides with bot p ysical su ocating oils and chemical modes of action.

Look for stresses which may be predisposing plants to aphid attack, such as water stress or nutrient issues. Avoid nitrogen fertilisation during aphid attacks, as there is a possibility it could benefit t e pest.

However, with adequate insecticidal controls this should not be an issue.

Sticky bands can help prevent ants re-establishing aphid herds.

Biological controls are available in the form of parasitoid wasps or predatory insects such as ladybirds, their larvae or those of lacewings, all of which are voracious predators of aphids.

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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02/11/2016 14:02

BUSINESS Jonathan Hazell rounds off his mini-series on training by talking about the delivery

I

n t e first two pieces of t is series, I’ve asked you to consider the importance of training for you and your team, and in t is final piece ll turn my attention to how the training you want to access may be delivered.

For those of you in employment, you will receive some training from t e company s training o cer, which will generally be routine procedures to best meet company targets. The larger the company, the greater the range of internally delivered training – quite simply, there will be more older heads on the payroll who may be called competent (years ago Bill Matthews, then of Southern Tree Surgeons, referred to this group of very useful people as mot er elep ants . or me there are three qualities to a competent person: • sound practical and theoretical knowledge and experience • an ability to identify a trainee’s weaknesses • an ability to assess the significance of t ose weaknesses.

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THE DELIVERY OF TRAINING Many of these pachyderms will help deliver toolbox talks and ensure that trainees move towards competence with good experience.

Companies will also buy in training to meet specific needs perhaps the business is moving into a new area of practical work or using new pieces of equipment which require refresher or updated training. Perhaps new starters need evidence of training to deliver particular skills for clients.

There is a huge network of quality assured independent trainers and assessors to be drawn upon, all of which will generally be recommended by word of mouth or contacted via one of the nationally recognised awarding organisations.

For me, skills training and competency assessment are quite separate, and should be treated as such. I have never been persuaded that after a set number of guided learning hours of training, a tool or machine operator can be competent in the use of that piece of kit – there must be a period of consolidation of experience before competency can be assessed. I accept there’s a

I have never been persuaded that after a set number of hours training, a tool or machine operator can be competent in the use of that piece of kit cost involved, but isn’t that true of everything?

For those new entrants to arboriculture there are a variety of options to consider, including apprenticeships and entry level vocational courses at local colleges. Often these courses are structured so that the individual can both earn a wage and attend college to study, and once the individual is hooked and has decided upon a career in arboriculture there are higher le el qualifications to pursue, of di erent si es. e el indicates

the complexity of the knowledge associated wit t e qualification w ilst si e refers to t e estimated amount of time it could take to ac ie e t e qualification.

The role that the learned societies play must not be overlooked – they will often ad ertise field trips or targeted training in response to local issues. Another useful resource, which must be treated with some scepticism on occasion, is the wonderful world of the internet where any number of chat rooms o er global opportunities to s are knowledge and network.

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 | November 2016 17

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BUSINESS

TREE FOR ALL West Lancashire Borough Council recently ran its ‘free tree scheme’, offering residents the chance to pick up and plant a free apple or plum tree.

Pro Arb magazine caught up with John Hodson, portfolio holder for planning, and Roland Jones, tree and landscape officer, to find out more about the scheme and how beneficial it is to the area The Borough’s strapline for its arboriculture service reads ‘We care about trees’. In practice this involves the council running regular schemes and promoting the value of trees throughout West Lancashire. The area boasts a population of just over 110,000 and lies north-east of Liverpool, including rmskirk, w ere t e council is based, and kelmersdale.

Free Tree Scheme The free tree scheme is one such initiative run

by West Lancashire Borough Council. First set up in October 2008, nearly 6,000 trees have since been handed out for residents to plant throughout the Borough. The annual scheme has proven so popular with locals it was relaunched again this October. Applicants could choose between two di erent arieties of fruit tree Bramley Apple and Victoria Plum, and the trees provided were around two years old and one metre tall. e council also o ered packets of Flanders poppy seeds as a commemoration to the Battle of the Somme.

John Hodson, portfolio holder for planning

Roland Jones, tree and landscape cer

According to councillor John Hodson, the council’s portfolio holder for planning, the idea be ind t e sc eme is a simple one o improve the Borough’s environment and attract

The idea is to improve the Borough’s environment and attract more wildlife into our gardens by encouraging residents to plant more trees

Sollom Winter Sunrise

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more wildlife into our gardens by encouraging residents to plant more trees.”

Giving out trees to the public is certainly a di erent way to increase t e number of trees wit in t e oroug . o n is keen to point out t e alue of t e initiati e ere are many

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BUSINESS

positives to this scheme, including highlighting the importance of trees generally. Also, we are o ering fruit trees, so t is comes wit t e ob ious added benefit of residents growing their own fruit, promoting sustainability.”

So how popular has the scheme been?

“How many trees we give out each year depends on how many people apply and sign up for them, we can never second guess the uptake. Last year we gave out around 330 trees. This year’s scheme has already reached the budget limit and is now closed.

We have received a total of 379 applications.”

The current budget for the free tree scheme is £3,000 for the next three years, which will allow the council to provide free trees until 2018.

John continues: “The scheme is very popular and more and more residents are taking up t e o er e ery year. e try to encourage resident groups, allotment holders and schools to get involved too. People are constantly getting in touc wit us to find out if it is running again this year and to support the scheme.”

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The Borough asks that anyone who takes up its o er of a free tree is responsible for collecting, planting and maintaining it. It also asks that free trees should be planted in a position that can be seen from a road or public footpath or bridleway, thus ensuring the local area s ares t e benefits it gi es.

We actively highlight the many benefits of trees.

Fruit trees and orchards are deep-rooted in our heritage

Valuing trees It’s clear from schemes like this one that the council has a strong view on the value that trees bring to the local area. John is quick to agree: “We actively highlight the many benefits of trees. ruit trees and orc ards are deep-rooted in our heritage.”

Two of the Borough’s most popular type of tree are silver birch and oak: “Our topography is predominantly split in two; one half is mostly reclaimed mossland with hawthorn hedges, with the rest being typically native birch and oak woodlands.”

What about the eldest council-owned tree?

“The short answer is we are not entirely sure.

There is a Sessile Oak in Scarisbrick Park that has to be around 250 years of age. That area

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BUSINESS

relates to a Grade 1 listed building and the grounds are also listed as an historic park and garden. The old oak is recognised on the ancient tree forum.”

TPOs There are currently 593 Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) on trees that lie within the council’s remit. The council only puts TPOs on trees on privately owned land, but occasionally it adopts land with trees that already had preservation orders on them.

Roland Jones is the tree and landscape o cer for t e oroug . e asked im w y s are important for t e council. e can make new TPOs as and when necessary, they are an important tool for us to keep our trees and preserve our environment. So far t is year we a e made nine new orders. e have a great legal department who we work closely with, meaning we can make orders very quickly to protect important trees.” e are also one of t e only local authorities to have carried out a full and thorough review of all our existing

preservation orders, which is obviously helpful when dealing with tree work applications as well as with enforcement [of the orders].”

The busy department tenders out contracts to private contractors for works on councilowned trees. The council also has an approved list of arboricultural contractors for members of the public to use. oland continues e are a ery green and beautiful rural oroug , not many ot er aut orities a e as muc reen elt and open space as we have. It is a fantastically ama ing area of t e ritis landscape wit some great history. TPOs play a very big part in maintaining t at. e a e a real passion for trees and are very proactive in preserving trees as part of our day-to-day role.”

Tree Warden Scheme not er sc eme est ancas ire oroug ouncil takes part in is t e ree arden c eme, a national initiative with the aim of giving the public a say in the way trees in their area are managed. The scheme gives residents the chance to volunteer to gather information about

We have a real passion for trees and are very proactive in preserving trees as part of our day-to-day role their local trees and to encourage local practical projects related to trees and woods. y does t e council rate t e sc eme so ig ly e ree arden c eme is a fantastic asset for the council and members of the public alike,” John explains. “It is a great way for local people who are taking an interest in trees to get in ol ed wit our sc emes on arious le els. e do have some very proactive tree wardens who keep us informed of tree issues at local levels, saving us time and resources, and indeed one of them is my wife!”

The free tree scheme trees will be handed out to successful applicants during national tree week 2016, which runs from 26 November to 4 ecember. ou can find more information about the scheme at: www.westlancs.gov.uk/trees.

est ancas ire panorama iew

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BUSINESS

WORKING

AT HEIGHT The regulations

Working at height is an essential part of an arborist’s job.

But what training should be given and what are the regulations surrounding what can be a dangerous task? Pro Arb caught up with Graham Dawdry, arboricultural trainer at bts Group, to find out more

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Working at Height.indd 22

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ccording to the HSE, working at height is one of the biggest causes of death or major injury while working.

Its study showed 16% of all reported tree work related accidents involve falling from height, and another 6% are from uncontrolled swings resulting in the climber colliding with the trunk. The Work at Height Regulations 2005 give employers a duty to plan any work properly and select the appropriate equipment to ensure the work is as safe as possible. The regulations describe working at height as any work where there is a risk of personal injury through falling and/ or a potential risk to people below the work site being injured by falling objects.

Before a climb Before conducting climbing work using a personal fall protection system, the employer must have completed a risk assessment. This should show that the work and equipment is safe and that there are a su cient number of people a ailable w o a e recei ed training specific to t at task.

What can you do to try and ensure both you and your employee’s safety? Graham explains: “Regular training and refresher training is essential if standards are to be maintained. e monitor t e training le els of our sta meticulously. a ing qualified, confident and trained people is paramount if you’re to work at height in safety. ommunication wit sta is important, too. We discuss the techniques and approved practice directly with our workers. By delivering engaging tool bo talks we can brief all sta on changes to practice and updates to relevant laws and regulations.” ood communication between sta is necessary when working at height, as it is about more than just the person who is in the tree. When working at height there needs to be ground sta a ailable w o are appropriately trained and their role is equally key to the operation. It is the responsibility of the ground sta to plan t e ob wit t e climber before and so that everyone knows what their role is, to maintain concentration when watching the climbers and be ready for anything they need, such as passing equipment and keeping the

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BUSINESS

area clear of any potential problems such as knots in the ropes or any members of the public or vehicles which may get too close.

What else should be considered when planning for a climb? “All equipment is maintained and serviced regularly (LOLER) with daily inspections carried out on all vehicles.

We encourage people to ask about things they don’t understand, and to question when they disagree. Hazards and risks are assessed and managed, and appropriate rescue methods are planned, trained for and implemented for each specific operation.

Equipment When performing a climbing operation using a personal fall protection system, it should have first been decided t at using a mobile ele ating work platform is not ustifiable for t e task.

Graham comments: “Considering the working at height hierarchy, an elevating work platform (MEWP) is always preferred over climbing.

Having qualified, confident and trained people is paramount if you’re to work at height in safety

He continues: “While care should be taken to comply at all times with regulations, and any other restrictions imposed by employers or clients, MEWPs should be used whenever appropriate. This is particularly so on jobs where a tree is assessed to be in questionable ealt and, so, unsafe to climb.

As part of the planning, the employer should have chosen appropriate equipment for the task at hand and ensured that the equipment is safe to use.

We asked Graham what the risks were: “Using the wrong techniques and equipment can cause injury or death to oneself, or to those nearby including colleagues and the public. It’s also likely to damage tools and equipment.

“When carrying out utility arboriculture operations, there’s a risk of injury or death from contact with electricity power lines – as well as the threat of causing hundreds of homes and businesses to lose t eir electricity supply.

It’s recommended that when choosing equipment, depending on the task at hand, collective protection equipment should be considered before personal protection.

Collective protection equipment does not require the climber to act in order for the equipment to be e ecti e, suc as s personal protection requires the act of the climber, for example selecting suitable anchor points to attach the harness to.

Graham said: “Using the wrong techniques and equipment is an example of bad practice that can encourage inexperienced and easily in uenced workers to adopt similar met ods. ood practice encourages e cellence.

Training As Graham points out, the best way to make working at height as safe as possible is to ensure t at all sta are trained and confident in

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what they’re doing. Training should be given for climbing methods, rescue techniques, how to use the equipment and how to communicate e ecti ely between sta .

So as an arboriculture trainer for bts Group, what does Graham do? “We have access to a selection of training sites, including estates and forests across the East of England, Scotland and the Midlands. I travel to these sites and to operational sites to train and assess our workforce. We also have indoor training areas at our o ces.

Graham continues: “Being accredited as an approved training centre by Lantra and City and Guilds means the training I provide to my bts colleagues is at the standard to provide t em wit accredited qualifications.

The regulations state that it is the employer’s responsibility to ensure that anyone involved in working at height is competent to provide it. If they are receiving training, they must be supervised by someone who is competent to do so. The full working at height regulations can be found on www.legislation.gov.uk.

Pro Arb | November 2016 23

02/11/2016 14:34

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16:28 02/11/2016 11:03

BUSINESS

Why it’s important to

LOLER

CLIMBING GEAR

LOLER inspections for climbing equipment must take place every six or 12 months, depending on the equipment. Pro Arb spoke to Simon, a LOLER inspector at Cedardale, to find out about what he’s looking out for

I

nspections on climbing equipment must take place every six months, and for rigging equipment once a year. LOLER stands for the Lifting Operations and Lifting Regulations 1998 and it places a duty on people or companies which operate, or have control over, lifting equipment. It requires all equipment to be fit for purpose, appropriate for the task, suitably marked, and subject to thorough examination.

The inspection Under the regulations it is stated that the inspection must be carried out by a ‘competent person’. We asked Simon about the training he has gone through to meet this requirement. “I have just re-done the NPTC Level 3 course, inspection of arboricultural equipment. There is no requirement for me to take the test but I put myself t roug it e ery fi e years. ou can do a refresher without being reassessed, but in my opinion if you are going to do it, you might as well do the whole smash.”

It’s about keeping an eye on what people are actually doing with the equipment Simon continued: “I have just done three full days with the best part of a day’s assessment. e first time did t e course it was a morning of training, a visit to a local factory, the ISC, and then an afternoon test,

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everything done and dusted in one day.”

So what is Simon looking out for when conducting the inspection? “Essentially it’s two parts; you are looking at equipment to make sure that it’s in the best order and further to that you’re looking to get an idea of the application. This is particularly important when it comes to the type of rope that people are using. For example, you wouldn’t want to use a rope with a low temperature rating as a friction hitch. So from one point of view it’s about keeping an eye on what people are actually doing with the equipment.”

We asked Simon for some examples of what he’s looking for. “On metal equipment such as carabiners and pulleys, we’re looking for corrosion. Aluminium carabiners actually get stronger with use but if corrosion is present

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03/11/2016 09:49

BUSINESS

and they start to go white and powdery, you can get micro cracks, and you need to be very hot on that. I also look for defamation, if it has been bent, cracking, chemical attack, abrasion, and material loss. Some

After an inspection has been conducted it is the owner’s responsibility to continually ensure that their equipment is safe

manufacturers will put a figure on acceptable material loss but broadly speaking you can’t have any more than 5% to 10% loss.”

Your responsibilities After an inspection has been conducted, it is the owner’s responsibility to continually ensure that their equipment is safe. It used to be recommended that every week an internal inspection should be conducted and written up. However, Simon suggests that it is sensible to do this once a month as well as a quick on site check before using the equipment every time.

When a LOLER inspection is due, it is important that you have all the information you need so that the inspection can go as smoothly as possible. What information do you need to have on hand? “It’s good to see, although very seldom are we given it, previous inspections and interim inspection records.” Simon explained. “It’s also useful to be given the manufacturer’s instructions, as even if you are the greatest inspector in the world you wouldn’t be able to recognise every rope – there are hundreds of them. Any information that you can bring to the table is useful, the more the better. We could also use details such as when the equipment was bought, who it was bought from, and perhaps a copy of the delivery note which usually doubles as a certificate of conformity.

Marking As well as checking the safety element, LOLER also requires all equipment to be marked with their own unique reference mark. Simon explained further what this means: “I have done inspections before with people who have put the same mark on every piece, thinking that this is a unique mark. Every single piece has to be uniquely identifiable.

So what does a unique mark need to be? “Ideally the manufacturing marking is the best, because this allows you to

26 Pro Arb | November 2016

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refer back. For instance we recently had DMM asking to do a conditional recall on some of their carabiners, but this was dependent on the serial number. The manufacturing number ties the equipment down to the machine and the day of the week that it was made.

“With ropes I very much want to see some kind of evidence as to when it was put in to service. That can be a manufacturing date.

I know some manufacturers have a colossal turnover of stock, so a rope of a certain type may only be in stock for a week and as a result you can get a great idea as to how long something has been in service.”

Why LOLER is important It seems an obvious point as to why LOLER inspections are a necessary task, but six months can come around quickly. We asked Simon why the inspections must be taken seriously: “You don’t get a second chance at life. Most of the time when I’m LOLER inspecting it’s all fairly mundane. ust occasionally you find somet ing t at could save someone’s life and it is on those occasions when I go home thinking I actually earned my keep today.

“It’s a harsh environment, much more so than rock climbing. All of the equipment is sub ect to abrasion and gets co ered in filt .

The weather also plays a big part, and all these things added together make it a very tough environment. It’s important to be able to go around it every six months to make sure all is well and that the user is not misinformed.”

To conclude, we asked Simon what he does when equipment is deemed unsafe. “My job is to tell them what needs to be quarantined,” imon e plained. t s not my ob to cut stu up, it doesn’t belong to me. Sometimes I come across items that I have failed previously. Obviously mistakes can be made and you have to keep this in mind, but if I think something has deliberately been put back into service then the next step would be to contact the Health and Safety Executive. Generally speaking I have a very good relationship with clients and fortunately I have never had to do this so far, although I have come very close.”

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03/11/2016 09:51

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BUSINESS

FOR PURCHASING

10 TOP

ARBORICULTURAL INSURANCE

TIPS

Stephen Lewis, head of office at Lycetts, gives his top tips on what to keep in mind when looking for arboricultural insurance

1

2

Buy insurance from a broker that you feel comfortable with who explains exactly what the cover does and doesn’t do. It is always worth checking that they use rated insurers to ensure that you have maximum security.

Make sure that you disclose all material facts that could prejudice an insurer’s decision as to whether they would provide cover, what premium they would charge and what conditions they would apply. Failure to do so may result in claims being turned down or the policy being cancelled. This can include, but is not limited to, claims history, security arrangement, lack of qualifications, bankruptcy and criminal records.

Take time to read through the terms and conditions to ensure that you can comply with these, as failure to do so may mean insurers refuse to deal with a claim. If you are unable to comply with any of these, speak to your broker as they may be able to amend these to suit your circumstances. These could include, but aren’t limited to, height limits, excluding damage within a trees radius and working at specific locations.

3

When choosing the level of cover (limit of indemnity) for both public liability and professional indemnity, you need to consider where you will be working and where the trees that you’re advising on are. This is to establish the risk of someone being injured – personal injury claims usually far exceed property damage claims.

28 Pro Arb | November 2016

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4

5

Professional indemnity insurance covers you for errors or omissions in professional advice given.

If you’re carrying out tree inspections or surveys for either private or commercial clients, regardless of whether or not you’re receiving a fee, you need to consider arranging this cover.

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02/11/2016 14:41

BUSINESS

Make sure that if you’re covering your tools and equipment, you understand the difference between indemnity (current market value) or reinstatement (new for old). f you re insuring on a reinstatement basis, you must ensure t at t e policy sum insured represents t e cost of replacing e eryt ing as new. ailure to do so may result in an a erage being applied, meaning t at t e claim will be proportionately reduced in line wit t e under insurance.

6

Don’t assume that all risks and hired in plant insurance will automatically pay out regardless when a loss occurs. ake sure t at you are aware of w at security conditions apply and ensure you re meeting t ese requirements eit er on site during t e day or o ernig t at your premises.

7

You should be aware that, regarding any person you engage to work under your control or supervision, it is highly likely you will be liable for any injury or illness that might occur in the course of their duties. e strongly recommend t at you arrange compulsory employers liability insurance to co er your liability for in ury to suc persons. n t e e ent of an accident, and failure to arrange employers liability co er w ere an employer employee relations ip e ists, you may be e posed to deal wit substantial claims from employees for compensation yourself. ou may also face prosecution under t e ealt and safety legislation for non compliance wit t e mployers iability ompulsory nsurance ct .

9

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If you’re hiring in equipment and arranging hired in plant insurance, you need to ensure that this is done under a written agreement (usually CPA) w ic outlines bot t e owner and irer responsibilities. standard ired in plant policy will usually e clude items t at a e been loaned or borrowed to you.

8

Make sure that you are aware of what security conditions apply and ensure you’re meeting these requirements ABOUT LYCETTS

10 Finally, don’t be afraid to ask questions if you don’t understand something or can’t comply with any conditions. It’s better to get t e co er rig t before a loss occurs and a claim is turned down.

Lycetts has specialised in arranging cost e ecti e insurance solutions for arborists, foresters, consultants and woodland owners since . e work closely wit trade associations and indi iduals in ol ed in t ese professions. nsurance becomes e er more comple and for your peace of mind it is ital to be assured t at your business needs will be looked after by e perienced professionals. e are delig ted to a e earned an en iable reputation for pro iding e pert, personal and e ecti e ser ices to all our clients from c ainsaw operators and woodland owners to companies co ering t e w ole of t e .

Pro Arb | November 2016 29

02/11/2016 14:44

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FEATURES

TOOLBOX

ro rb isited ri hton-based rbor ura on site to nd out from director ill aternoster which are his referred ieces of kit

Commercial vehicles We have a Transit Tipper for our day to day arb truck, and we use it for deliveries as well. We also have a Mitsubishi L200 for o road use and towing trailers. is has been one of our best purchases.

The Transit has been cheap to run, cheap to buy, cheap to maintain and I would advise it to everyone.

Chainsaws Over the years there has been this whole Stihl / Husqvarna argument and I have always been a Stihl man. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve tried new bits and pieces, Husqvarna 135 and 395XP a Stihl 362. They seem to be the best combination of saws â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Husqvarna have got the top and the lower end, and Stihl have got that mid section absolutely nailed.

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03/11/2016 08:42

FEATURES Stump grinders

Chippers

I have used a lot of stump grinders. I think regarding build quality, the best brand is Rayco, but saying that, we run redator because t ey re great for narrow access. A 26” wide machine is crucial for us as it allows us to get to places no one else can. On our pedestrian grinder we have a turntable, which puts less fatigue on the operator and is very important for us.

e ad a lot of c ippers over the years, but if you want somet ing t at s going to stand the test of time the best chipper out there is Bandit. They really are built to a very high standard t ere s no compromise in t e quality. f you don t want somet ing so big, personally run a Schliesing. They have some amazing features, and you can see on t e inside t ey re well built. e recently also purchased a Vermeer BC190XL, which is another great machine.

Skid steers We run a Vermeer S725TX skid steer, which we were quite sceptical about at first, but it s turned out to be our best ever purchase. It allows us to have a log grab, pallet forks, a bucket for pushing up wood c ip piles, we can pick up logs o site and use it for loading and we now run our log splitter o of it. erall you can run anyt ing ydraulic o of it it s been a really versatile piece of kit.

PPE We have just upgraded to the Protos helmets, which are absolutely fantastic with the Bluetooth system. We use ArborTech trousers which have been fantastic for us. n terms of boots we wouldn t use anything but Meindl, and for seven years now we a en t boug t anyt ing else. would highly recommend them to anyone.

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Climbing ropes I use Yale rope and Zigzag which I think is the best invention ever.

I was really anti Zigzag at first was all about ropes and friction, couldn t stand mec anical de ices, but finally ga e ig ag a go and now t ink it s t e best t ing e er.

Pro Arb | November 2016 33

03/11/2016 08:43

WHICH WOULD YOU BUY? SOFTWARE Pro Arb rounds up the best of professional software products

AIT Spatial Ltd, Eye-TREE Eye-TREE, so much more than a tree survey, transforms your tree survey into a dynamic interactive information portal to embrace your duty of care and wildlife obligations.

Add Eye-TREE Analytics to use business intelligence to maximise data from your tree survey, allowing you to relay relevant and reliable information to the right people at the right time. Never miss another inspection of work task with the built-in Eye-ALERTS. Include Eye-TREE Lite to make information available to visiting public via web browsers.

All part of the ‘Eye’ range of software from AIT Spatial for estates, authorities, universities, ports, arboreta and business environments.

Price: from £995 www.aitspatial.co.uk

Arb Pro Software Ltd, office and mobile software for tree surgeons in business It’s amazing how much time admin takes everyday when running a tree surgery business.

Appointments, quotes, booking work, invoicing, risk management, marketing – our software helps cut admin time in half. Data collection is paperless, quotes are collected digitally, users send quotes and invoices instantly – there’s no data entry from scribbled notes. Capture and annotate pictures, map tree locations, manage risk, and with email-text messaging and a dashboard to manage quotes and invoices, it’s a complete management system for tree surgeons.

Price: from £1.66 per day www.arbprosoftware.com

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Arbortrack Systems Ltd, Arbortrack Web, Android and iOS Keeping abreast of the latest technology is an important part of the Arbortrack strategy to provide reliable and cost effective solutions. Working on over 20 years of experience throughout the world, we are pleased to announce the launch of Arbortrack Web and Arbortrack for Android and iOS. Our ability to embrace and invest in the latest and most appropriate technology for the task enables us to maintain a significant advantage over our competitors. Having thoroughly tested the systems over the last two years we are pleased the see how well the new products have been well received by our users.

Price: from £5,000 www.arbortrack.com

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02/11/2016 14:27

KIT

Bluesky’s National Tree Map (NTM) Bluesky’s National Tree Map (NTM) is the most detailed dataset of its kind ever produced. With coverage across the whole of England and Wales, NTM provides a unique, comprehensive database o location height and canopy cro n e tents or every single tree 3m and above in height. Created from our high resolution national aerial photography, accurate terrain and surface data, and colour infrared imagery using innovative processing techniques, NTM is already being used across sectors including insurance, utilities, forestry, government, planning and environmental management.

NTM is updated regularly as new aerial photography becomes available through our cyclic update program, ensuring that it remains the most detailed, comprehensive and up to date tree map ever.

Price: from £20 www.bluesky-world.com

Kaarbon Tech, Tree Smart

Pear Technology Services Ltd, tree management software Pear Technology supplies a complete range of tree management software and survey equipment designed primarily for the arboriculturist, forester and land manager. Our handheld GPS-based e ipment enables ast and e cient tree s rvey data capture, both for general surveys and to meet the latest BS5837 or equivalent requirements.

Surveys are also possible on Android phones or tablets. Huge productivity gains are achieved back in the o ce hen the s rvey res lts can be plotted onto a map (using PT-Mapper) and management reports produced within minutes (using TreeMinder). ffective training and e cellent post sales s pport mean you can quickly achieve payback on your investment.

Price: from under £1,000 for mapping software to £4,500 for full package www.peartechnology.co.uk

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Tree Smart is compatible with both iOS and Android, making it versatile for your working needs. With features such as automatic crown representation, ordnance survey mapping and BS5837 reporting, this is the ideal software for any arborist. Kaarbon Tech believes in making the job easier and faster, which is why we have incorporated cloud access to all data, automatic tree valuation and automatic RPA calculation, putting Tree Smart one step ahead of the competition.

Price: on request www.kaarbontech.co.uk

NEXT MONTH: Chainsaws

Pro Arb | November 2016 35

02/11/2016 14:27

KaarbonTech TREE SMART

iOS & Android compatible Automatic crown representation Ordnance Survey Mapping Cloud access to all data Automatic tree valuation Automatic RPA calculation Historical maintenance/inspections held against tree BS5837 reporting Call now for a demonstration

0800 804 8844

facebook/KaarbonTech www.twitter.com/KaarbonTech sales@kaarbontech.co.uk 0800 804 8844

www.kaarbontech.co.uk

PALAX NEW MODELS NOW IN STOCK AS LAUNCHED AT THE APF 2016 IF YOUR MODEL IS NOT AVAILABLE DELIVERY TIME IS FOUR WEEKS West Third, Tullibardine, Auchterarder PH3 1NJ T: 01764 663798 E: sales.cfs@hotmail.com

First Choice for Forestry Machinery

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KIT

STUMP GRINDERS latest kit

CAMON SG30 esigned and built by racmaster in t e ,t e is fitted wit eig t ardwearing reenteet w ic can be rotated t ree times to prolong t eir lifespan. ese teet are cost e ecti e, pro ide an e cient cut and put less strain on t e mac ine t an regular teet . e Honda banks engine will keep going even when the machine is tipped, and the narrow width means that access isn’t a problem. t er features include a reinforced chassis for additional strength, top-ofthe-range belts for optimum performance, and a folding and adjustable andlebar.

Price £2,995 exc VAT

Geko Stump Beaver The Stump Beaver tree stump grinder from Geko Engineering is a quality attac ment suitable for use on most micro and mini e ca ators. imed at landscapers and builders, it was designed to fill a gap in t e small plant tool ire market as a serious competitor to walk be ind stump grinders, o ering t e user benefits of safe, e ortless and ibration free operation. e grinder also as a ersatile stand for storage and teet c anging, so t at your digger does all t e ea y lifting.

Price POA

www.tracmaster.co.uk

Spectrum Plant ST20B

Predator Power 460 As the successor of the workhorse 450, the 460 has become one of Predator’s most popular stump grinders. it a central pivot and narrow design, combined with the high performance ulti ip cutting system, t e delivers results on a host of sites. e pi ot is a key feature that veteran stump grinding professionals will appreciate, the wide 4ft swing reduces fatigue, while t e ulti ip cutting system makes c anging teet a bree e.

Price £7,794 inc VAT

Thanks to the ST20’s innovative turntable design, the top of this machine slews e ortlessly on bearings so all your e ort goes into t e stump w ile t e braked w eels stay stationary.

Price POA

www.predator-mfg.com

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www.gekoengineering.co.uk

www.spectrum-plant.com

Pro Arb | November 2016 37

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KIT

DANequip Pedestrian

Herder-Fermex SCT-410H

The DANequip Pedestrian stump grinder is a compact and well balanced machine. Engine options include either a 25hp or 27hp Kohler Command, with electric start and low oil pressure alert fitted as standard.

The 36cm diameter cutter wheel is 12mm thick, using just eight standard teeth, producing more than enough inertia, but keeping running costs down. The DANequip SP meanwhile has a powerful, variable hydrostatic drive allowing the operator to get the machine to the stump quickly. The smaller push/pull model is just under 23in (560mm) wide, and the unit is supplied with a 13hp Honda engine. This model uses a 36cm x 10mm cutter wheel, again using eig t standard finger teet . is robust mac ine is ideal for t e ire market, or as a first mac ine wit a smaller outlay.

Price POA www.danequip.co.uk

Rock Original 13hp

www.woodfuelmachinery.co.uk

Rabaud Xylocrok 40

With a simple yet e ecti e design, this compact stump grinder is perfect for those hard to reach stumps that big grinders just can’t get to, and with its powerful 13hp Briggs and Stratton engine you can make those back garden stumps a thing of the past.

Highly portable, this grinder is perfect for gardens, paths and small places. Carry handles on each side of the grinder make for easy loading without the need of ramps. It boasts an easy lock wheel system that locks one wheel and allows the other to move freely, making it easier to swing the grinder. This machine comes with a year’s parts warranty and a three year Briggs and Stratton warranty.

Price £1,500 inc VAT and free delivery www.rockmachinery.co.uk

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Herder-Fermex’s SCT-410H is a tracked machine with a high cutting speed of up to 28m/s and a narrow cm widt for reac ing di cult to access areas. It also comes with a hydraulically adjustable undercarriage (79-107cm) and a 32hp diesel engine.

Although the price of Herder-Fermex machines appears expensive compared to other manufacturers, the after-sale costs are considerably lower as the machines are hydraulically driven, thus reducing ongoing expenses of wear parts and maintenance.

Price POA

The Xylocrok 40 is a compact machine with an 80cm width, allowing access to very narrow spaces. It is frame mounted on track and is specially designed for extreme, uneven grounds. Disc thickness is 20mm, with Tungsten Carbite 9in teeth which can be readjusted three times before being worn out. The Xylocrok 40 is driven by direct angle transmission and also features an electromagnetic clutch. Mounted on a 60° rotated frame to ensure left and right movements of +/-30°, the machine also includes height adjustability thanks to a hydraulic cylinder. A hydraulic blade (mini-excavator type) comes as standard, allowing for stabilisation while grinding and can also be used on an embankment.

Price POA

www.rabaud.com

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02/11/2016 15:00

Herder Fermex We at Dow pride ourselves in marketing quality machines and Herder Fermex stump grinders are no exception.

Machines for the professional user who is looking for a problem free machine with along service life and low maintenance.

More freedom thanks to hydraulic drive, and the security of a machine with maximum versatility and minimal wear.

Options of self propelled, excavator heads or three point linkage, whatever your requirement Herder Fermex is always the best stump cutter.

UK grown bare root plants Forestry & hedging stock specialists

Tel: 0844 800 7322 www.woodfuelmachinery.co.uk email: info@woodfuelmachinery.co.uk

Contact our team today for a competitive quotation

Visit us online: www.britishhardwood.co.uk

Pede

STUMP BEAVER Tree Stump Grinder Attachment

Let your mini-digger do the work! ● Low

Vibration, High productivity ● Low maintenance – no belts, no tyres, no engine ● Compact Size SEE US AT ● Quality Design Guarded ● Supplied with stand – no lifting ● Compatible with diggers up to 3.0t

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E-mail sales@gekoengineering.co.uk for more information

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WOW! DANequip’s stump grinders have the advantage of narrow access - down to 26”

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KIT

TREE PROTECTION latest kit

Christie Elite Agroprotector 0.6m & 1.2m This very popular solid tube is a c eaper alternati e to t e ube Standard. As well as protecting the tree from browsing by wildlife, the shelter creates a microclimate which helps the tree establish quicker, resulting in ig er sur i al rates in your planting scheme.

The tube also promotes higher air moisture within the tube, meaning the tree has a greater chance of survival in drought conditions. In addition the solid wall will protect the tree from sprayed herbicides.

Use a 1.2m tube if you have deer on site, while a 0.6m tube is designed for protection against hares and rabbits.

DeepRoot Urban Solutions Silva Cell

www.christie-elite.co.uk

A SureSet resin bound Tree Pit TradePack is a low maintenance, elegant alternative to metal grilles. The permeability of SureSet allows water to reach the roots of the tree and provides protection, durability and e ibility. eli ered wit full mi ing and installation instructions, a 40L bucket and paddle whisk attachment (drill not included), each Tree Pit TradePack is delivered on a pallet and provides a su cient quantity of aggregate and resin to install a 10m² area at a depth of 40mm.

Available in 10mm Chestnut, Sterling, Barley Beach and Norwegian Pearl.

Prices start from £725 including UK delivery, e cluding . www.sureset.co.uk

LK Tree Protection.indd 41

The latest addition to the Greentec ales Collection of urban planting products is a range of laser cut tree grilles. Contemporary in design, the new laser cut grilles will complement any urban landscape pro ect. e grilles create a unique profile and t e four finis es a ailable can be co ordinated wit t e overall look and feel of the project. Available in stainless steel, galvanised, powder coated to any RAL colour and the increasingly popular Cor-ten steel. www.green-tech.com.uk

SureSet Permeable Paving Tree Pit TradePack

WWW.PROARBMAGAZINE.COM

gtDales Collection Laser Cut Tree Grilles

The Silva Cell Integrated Tree and Stormwater System uses green infrastructure to bring the utility of the forest to the built environment. This modular product supports tra c loads while providing uncompacted soil volumes for large tree growth and on-site stormwater management.

The underground framework provides unlimited access to healthy soil, enabling the growth of large, functional trees and on-site stormwater management in urban settings. www.deeproot.com

Geosynthetics Cellweb TRP ellweb is a cellular confinement system specifically designed for tree root protection. The system creates a load bearing surface for tra c and pedestrians w ile reducing damage to roots. e system is comprised of t ree specific elements ellweb , reete geote tile and a clean angular stone infill. reete geote tile allows for drainage and separation whilst preventing contaminants reaching the roots. The walls of t e cells are perforated and w en combined wit an infill of clean angular stone enable free mo ement of water and o ygen.

www.geosyn.co.uk

Pro Arb | November 2016 41

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KIT

Makita UK DUC302Z Twin 18v LXT Chainsaw Makita’s twin battery power system, which utilises two 18V lithium-ion batteries in combination to deliver 36V power, is being increasingly used in the expanding range of Makita tools. An example of this is the DUC302Z chainsaw which generates 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 pre-set level the machine stops and indicates which battery requires replacement. Tool-less chain adjustment is by a new and easier to operate single lever positioned on the side of the housing.

Linddana TP 235 MOBILE TP 235 MOBILE is the perfect tool for the professional arborist or tree care company. It has aggressive vertical feed rollers and a 9 1/4in capacity throat.

The chipper has simple touch screen operation and easy service maintenance.

The 56hp Kohler/Lombardini engine with turbo charger based on common rail technology reduces both the fuel consumption and diesel particle emissions.

A height-adjustable ejector spout provides ejection of woodchip in a variety of heights as well as a low transport and parking height. www.tpchipper.com

www.makitauk.com

ARB KIT

A roundup of the latest products Treekit Art SpiderJack 3

Landmark Trading Shizll Spidersling with ArboRing

The SpiderJack 3 is a multifunctional, self-locking rope control device for running double rope. The rope is directly in front of the climber so it is possible to pull and feed the rope comfortably with one hand, or hand over hand into the device.

The SpiderJack 3 has a secure locking position which gives maximum safety when working.

When turned to the release position, pressing the thumb brake requires very little force, so speed regulation is very easy.

This smoother handling is more convenient and makes utilising the speed control safer.

The Shizll Spidersling is an innovative dead eye sling developed to make rigging easier and faster. The sling is secured in place quickly and effectively sing the spiderplate hich locks off the length whilst under load or immediately releases when load is removed, allowing for further adjustment if required. The ArboRing allows easy installation of a pulley, or alternatively the user can rig directly through the ArboRing for speed and convenience.

Suitable for use as a base anchor or high anchor. Prestretched, with an abrasion resistant coating. Length: 2.5m (adjustable from 14-60cm diameter).

www.treekit.com

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www.landmarktrading.com

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KIT

Husqvarna Technical Arborist Helmet ight eight and ventilated the s varna echnical Arborist elmet has been designed and developed or pro essional arborists Approved or orking at heights the helmet has an ni e harness ad stment hich eat res t o heels that centres the head in the helmet or best balance and stability on the head www.husqvarna.com/uk

Predator LS65 Wood Chipper redator s ne portable ood hipper is ideal or heeling into a back garden and sing near the tree yo re orking on st like the company s st mp grinders it s designed to be a big machine in a small package his light eight chipper ill s rprise everybody ho sees it ork ith it s aggressive po er l chipping ability A hp ohler engine t o knives and a in capacity really do get the ob done and all or ith a t o year arranty www.predator-mfg.com

King Feeders Eco Green Composter he co reen omposter hredder oďŹ&#x20AC;ers a simple reliable and economic means o green aste recycling eca se these machines operate at lo noise and n isance level they are avo red by many local a thorities or se in rban areas hey grind m lch and mi bio degradable prod cts rom grass mo ings roots and soil to in diameter tree loppings pallets aste paper etc he vol me o material is signiďŹ cantly red ced and can be reloaded and mi ed ith other prod cts arketed by ing eeders over the last years the machine has proven to be reliable and d rable www.ecogreencomposting.co.uk

FR Jones & Son: ISC HaulerBiner Compact Rescue Kit he a ler iner esc e is a compact kit hich can be orn on the harness and sed or ick oďŹ&#x20AC; esc e in ork at height and rope access resc es he a ler iner can also be sed to easily ad st the orientation o a stretcher and can be sed or short ha l tensioning he a ler iner device has a theoretical mechanical advantage o either or depending on the orientation the device is sed in tilises a p rpose developed mm in diameter rope or strength and easy handling best grip he p lley heels are mo nted in the body o the carabiner keeping them clear o the anti tangle mesh o ter preventing it rom amming the heels e to the in carabiner heel mo nting the a ler iner kit is very compact hen lly contracted giving ma im m ha l height www.frjonesandson.co.uk

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02/11/2016 15:18

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

Tel: 02380 814340

Please call for a demonstration

TIMBERWOLF CHIPPER DEALER

● 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 Call Emma on:

07956 087549

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Call Nick on:

07535 211338

WWW.PSMMOWERS.CO.UK

23/08/2016 16:04 02/11/2016 16:05

KIT Treekit SilverBull E-Vac Pack

Truncator 4Adaptor The Truncator 4Adaptor is not just for your own trestle. You can now adapt the system to mount onto your ATV or SUV. To make sure you get the most e cient c ts rom yo r logs r ncator has designed a Trailer mountable system. The 4Adaptor can be strapped to a tailgate of a trailer, ATV or pickup truck. Simply strap to the tailgate and load the 4Adaptor with cord, cut the logs to the required length and tip straight into the load bay. It could not be easier and quicker to cut logs into your truck. www.truncator.co.uk

The SilverBull E-Vac Pack is a minimalist and robust day pack which caters for the needs of the professional climber as well as the rec climber and Geo Cacher. It’s perfectly sized for a complete simple climbing kit, and can also be used as an aerial rescue pack. A wide top opening and free standing design enables effortless rope management, and the integrated rear pouch is built to neatly stow away the Falteimer throw cube.

Comfortable and breathable back padding together with minimalist adjustable shoulder straps make or an ergonomic fit and several outside gear loops make it possible to clip in carabiners and other equipment for easy accessibility. www.treekit.com

PSD Groundscare Eliet Super Prof Max The new Super Prof Max – a Super Prof at its best: to add punch to this iconic shredder and to exceed expectations, 25% extra power has been added to the machine in the shape of a 23hp Vanguard engine. In line with its environmentally friendly characteristics, the machine has been equipped with a silent exhaust and the Eco Eye that cuts the engine rpm to save fuel when the operator is not feeding the machine. To absorb the extra power, the Super Prof Max is equipped with larger Eliet RESIST/10 blades. It is available in three models; self-propelled, cross country (tracked) for hard to reach areas and on the road (trailed) for fast transportation. www.psdgroundscare.co.uk

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Rock Exotica 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 that you can lock if desired.

But you can also leave it unlocked so you are able to remove tools quickly. Unique ‘wings’ on the gate allow the user to singlehandedly retrieve and sort gear, even with gloves on. The transPorter semi-permanently attaches to the harness, secured by an aluminum plate with removable screws. www.rockexotica.com

WWW.PROARBMAGAZINE.COM

02/11/2016 15:19

TRADING WITH GREENMECH LTD Pro Arb speaks with Martin Lucas of GreenMech about the history, products and developments at the company Can you tell us a little about GreenMech?

GreenMech is a family run business, trading in over 30 countries worldwide, that has spent over 23 years developing and manufacturing a range of woodc ippers, o ering a solution for the ever-growing issue of the disposal of wood waste in the commercial sector.

Can you give us a brief outline of the brand? How has it developed?

Our brand is one that is synonymous with innovation, quality and value for money. The

innovation comes from listening to customers and developing their ideas. Quality and value for money come from being in control of every stage of production from the sheet steel t roug to a final product all designed and built under one roof in the UK. What products do the company now supply?

GreenMech manufactures a range of chippers from the walk behind gravity fed 100mm machine for the landscape sector to a range of commercial towed and tracked chippers for the professional sector, w ic o er in feed si es

Jonathan Turner, managing director

Martin Lucas, sales director

Tony Turner, chairman

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Trading With GreenMech.indd 47

of 130mm to 220mm and tractor mounted mac ines o ering mm to 220mm capacities.

Our brand is one that is synonymous with innovation, quality and value for money What are the key selling points of the products? ur attention to build quality o ers longevity in use in a product that provides performance, reliability and value retention. USPs include our unique disc blade system t at o ers over 900 hours of use on one set of blades and the patented SAFE-Trak system that enables safe operation on slopes of up to 35°.

How do you market the business?

Normal marketing activities include advertising, shows, internet and social media activity. With over 7,000 units working in the world today, GreenMech has committed to a distribution c annel t at o ers local sales and support, and our dealer coverage provides essential service and after sales backup.

Do you expect business turnover to have increased, decreased, or stayed the same this year?

The launch of new machines at the recent APF will mean that by the end of 2016, GreenMech will see a marked growth in turnover

compared to last year. Already the international market is benefiting from the weak pound, which has allowed us to be even more competitive in some very price conscious markets.

What are the lead times?

Most of our products are running at four to six weeks.

Are you launching any new products?

We have just launched the Arborist 130 and 150 MkII products along with the Arborist and ArbTrak 200 units. These new products are defined by our new li ely branding, consisting of the GreenMech green, a grey chassis and red accents. Watch this space, though we a e fi e guys in t e design o ce all working on di erent advanced projects. We launched a prototype Arborist 150 with a petrol engine at the APF and it received considerable interest from visitors. This machine is currently undergoing test and evaluation and we are likely to see this on the market in the very near future.

What’s the next step for the brand?

Brand development is an ongoing project. We have just launched a new website and developed an new product brochure; both have a strong message w ic will definitely re ect w ere reen ec stands in the industry.

Pro Arb | November 2016 47

02/11/2016 14:21

BUSINESS

Pro Arb reviews Ancient Trees of the National Trust, a book full of stunning imagery of the UK’s ancient trees and the stories that go with them

T

he National Trust looks after a huge number of ancient trees within the UK and across Europe. Hundreds of volunteers have helped them to identify over 30,000 in their ancient tree hunt so far, and this book details a number of the fantastic examples that can be found within the UK. ‘Ancient Trees of the National Trust’ explores the historical and cultural associations of these wonderful trees and documents them with incredible photography from Edward Parker. The book provides a detailed account of a number of trees which all have their own fascinating stories to go alongside them. There are oak trees that support entire ecosystems, yew trees that were around before the Romans arrived in the UK, and woodland that has remained almost unchanged since the last ice age.

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BOOK REVIEW Ancient Trees of the National Trust

by Edward Parker and Brian Muelaner Edward Parker has been photographing and writing about trees and forests for over 25 years, working in over 40 countries and having written or co-written over 30 books including Trees That Live for a Thousand Years and Photographing Trees. He has twice been highly commended for Wildlife Photographer of the Year and been shortlisted for both Environmental Photojournalist of the Year and Garden Book Photographer of the Year. Brian Muelaner, who co-wrote the book, worked for the National Trust for nearly 30 years including as its ancient tree advisor. It is clear that both authors are devoted to the subject and their passion comes across throughout.

The book will inspire you to stop and appreciate ancient trees, looking past their gnarled branches, no longer seeing a diminishing tree but instead an example of living archaeology.

These trees have stood rooted while centuries have passed and the world has

The book will inspire you to stop and appreciate ancient trees, looking past their gnarled branches, no longer seeing a diminishing tree but instead an example of living archaeology changed. Featured in the book include the tree which dropped an apple onto Isaac Newton’s head, as well as the tree under which Magna Carta was sealed.

With all trees in the book being accessible in the UK, tree lovers will be inspired to get out, explore and appreciate the beauty around them. There is even a helpful map of ancient trees in the UK showing where the trees are dotted around the country.

The writers also take a look towards the future, highlighting the importance of building a greater understanding and awareness of the ancient trees in our

country. Trees do not have the same kind of protection that listed buildings have, but the superb imagery in this book provides a perfect example as to why perhaps they should.

If you would like to learn more about the stories of the ancient trees that reside in the UK, or simply love to indulge in stunning tree imagery, then this book is an essential read. More information about the ancient trees that are looked after by the National Trust can be found at: www.nationaltrust.org.uk

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02/11/2016 14:24

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03/11/2016 09:44

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

DEPUTY ARBORICULTURAL OPERATIVE

ARBORICULTURE OFFICER

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.

The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth present an opportunity to be part of a team who are working together to create a ground-breaking shared staffing structure across both boroughs. Based in Richmond, this role will be responsible for the monitoring of arboriculture contracts and providing regular performance information to enable effective contract management. Specific duties and responsibilities include carrying out site inspections, writing specifications and instructing contractors, ensuring work is achieved to the highest standard, to advise and represent the council on all matters relating to litigation in respect of trees, and more.

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

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.

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

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

NORFOLK

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LEADING JOB WEBSITE IN THE ARBORICULTURE SECTOR Jobs.indd 50

02/11/2016 15:26

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 Belvoir Oak, Belfast The Belvoir Oak is estimated to be 500 years old and is possibly the oldest oak in Northern Ireland. Located in Belvoir Park Forest, Belfast, it is recognised as part of the country’s living heritage, having witnessed the growth of Belfast from a small settlement to the city it is today.

The oak has a completely hollow trunk, and a huge girth of 8m. It’s probably in the last stages of its life, yet still provides life to others.

The rare bracket fungus, oak polypore (Piptoporus quercinus), pictured, t e first e er finding of t e fungus was disco ered on t e tree in in Northern Ireland. Oak polypore is a heartwood rotting species that requires exposed, seasoned wood of mature or dead veteran oak trees and is restricted to medieval forests, deer parks and wood pasture. With loss of habitat, it is in decline in

central Europe and is already extinct in many areas of northern Europe. In Great Britain, where records are extremely scarce, the species is considered endangered. The fruit bodies of oak polypore appear during the summer, but don’t last long, so monitoring the species can be di cult. el oir ark orest is ome to a significant number of veteran oaks, suggesting that the estate, which was created in the 1730s, managed to escape the timber demand of the 18th

It is recognised as part of the country’s living heritage, having witnessed the growth of l Belfast from a smal y settlement to the cit it is today

and 19th centuries, and during both world wars.

Around 270 trees in the forest have been found to have a girth of 3m or more, and nearly half of these are oaks. Genetic analysis of the old oaks at Belvoir has shown them to be similar to native oaks found in old woods such as Breen in County Antrim, suggesting that they are of native stock rather than introduced. e el oir ak was a finalist in t is year s of Tree the Year competition for Northern Ireland, which is organised by the Woodland Trust.

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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Pro Arb | November 2016 51

02/11/2016 13:59

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