FEBRUARY 2015
AN EXCITING NEW EVENT
AN INTERVIEW WITH
KAREN MARTIN Chief Executive of the Arboricultural Association
APPRENTICESHIPS
ACME TREE SERVICES JAMIE SAUNDERS TRAILBLAZER
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BIOSECURITY
DART
CHIPPERS
Jon Heuch explores the UK’s biosecurity risks, looking at the import of the oak processionary moth
Pro Arb’s special feature on the international work undertaken by the Disaster Arborist Response Team
Machinery expert David Murison reviews the latest chippers on the market
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PRO ARB MAGAZINE 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 Production Editor – Susie Duff susie.duff@eljays44.com Subeditor – Toby Wilsdon toby.wilsdon@eljays44.com ADVERTISING Business Development Manager – Jamie Wilkinson jamie.wilkinson@eljays44.com Account Manager – Dean Lawrence dean.lawrence@eljays44.com Sales Executive – Amber Bernabe amber.bernabe@eljays44.com Horticulture Careers – Laura Harris laura.harris@eljays44.com Accounts – Lisa Woollard accounts@eljays44.com PRODUCTION Design – Kara Thomas, Amy Downes and Alan Wares Printed by Pensord Press Ltd, Gwent, UK Published by ©Eljays44 Ltd CIRCULATION Subscription enquiries: jessica.garrard@eljays44.com Pro Arb is published 12 times per year by Eljays44 Ltd. The 2015 subscription price is £95.00. Subscription records are maintained at Eljays44 Ltd, 3 Churchill Court, 112 The Street, Rustington, West Sussex BN16 3DA, UK. Articles and information contained in this publication are the copyright of Eljays44 Ltd and may not be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publishers. The publishers cannot accept responsibility for loss of, or damage to, uncommissioned photographs or manuscripts. MANAGEMENT Managing Director – Jim Wilkinson Director – Lisa Wilkinson Business Development Manager – Jamie Wilkinson FOLLOW US ONLINE www.proarbmagazine.com Follow us on Twitter @ProArbmagazine Like us on Facebook Proarbmagazine Connect to our LinkedIn group Pro Arb UK For careers in arboriculture and horticulture go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk Every week we send out ‘Pro Arb: The Tuesday Recap’, in which we highlight the most popular news stories from the last week. If you aren’t subscribed to The Tuesday Recap but would like to be, please email Jessica Garrard at jessica.garrard@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
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February 2015 | Volume 2 | Issue 2
WELCOME F
ebruary is here and thoughts of Christmas are now long gone. The weather has been very cold of late, but it can only get better from here... can’t it? In the January issue of Pro Arb we launched our apprenticeship feature where we talk to an apprentice in the industry to find out more about what they do and why they chose arboriculture. It’s gone down really well. It seems like most people are keen to promote arboriculture as a great career choice, and to have so many passionate people in this industry can only benefit us all as a whole. In this issue, we take a look at the new apprenticeship scheme that will be coming into force in 2017, with Simon Richmond from the Arboricultural Association explaining the new Trailblazers apprenticeships (page 25). And to stick with this theme, regular contributor Jamie Saunders also has his say on apprenticeships (page 15). It seems to be a big talking point at the moment. Further on we have a feature on the Disaster Arborist Response Team (DART). They are offering support all over the world in terms of their arboricultural knowledge and know-how, read more on page 28. We also managed to catch up with the Chief Executive of the Arboricultural Association, Karen Martin, about her first couple of years in the job and what she sees as the future for the association and the rest of the industry. You can read Karen’s views on page 21. In the latest kit section this month we take a look at the chippers and shredders available to you, with David Murison of Acle Garden Machinery in Norfolk offering his expert view on what you should expect from your chippers. Turn to page 33 for a round-up of the latest chippers available to buy. That’s it from me this month. Enjoy the issue, stay safe when out working and just remember – it’s always getting closer to the warm weather!
JOE WILKINSON
Pro Arb | February 2015
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A BRAND NEW EVENT FOR THE ARBORICULTURE INDUSTRY...
Date: Tuesday 17 November 2015 Venue: Sandown Park Racecourse, Esher, Surrey
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FOR MORE INFORMATION: WWW.FUTURESCAPEEVENT.COM ProArb Feb15 P04 Future Arb.indd 4
05/02/2015 09:34
Welcome 06 NEWS
Four pages of news from the world of arboriculture over the last month
10 NEWS EXTRA
Sheffield Council is planting 50,000 trees around the city, Tim Shortland gives us the lowdown
Business tips 11 BUSINESS
Regular contributor Jonathan Hazell shares his tips about defining your customers' requirements
12 SALES & MARKETING
FEBRUARY 2015
Continuing Steve Clarke's series on sales and marketing. This month, it’s about looking forwards, not backwards
21
14 CONSULTING ARBORIST SOCIETY Mark Chester at CAS outlines a new event that the society is hosting
Opinion
16
15 APPRENTICESHIPS
Pro Arb regular Jamie Saunders offers his industry opinion on apprenticeships within arboriculture
16 BIOSECURITY
New to Pro Arb, Jon Heuch gives his opinion on the UK’s biosecurity hazards, such as the oak processionary moth.
Features 21 INTERVIEW WITH KAREN MARTIN Karen Martin talks about her first two years as Chief Executive of The Arboricultural Association.
25 TRAILBLAZERS APPRENTICESHIP SCHEME
Pro Arb finds out what the Trailblazers apprenticeship scheme is all about with help from Lantra and the Arboricultural Association
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26 APPRENTICESHIPS: TOM MILES
Tom lets Pro Arb know how he's getting on learning the ropes – literally – at Acme Trees Services
Latest kit 32 A FOCUS ON CHIPPERS
26
Machinery expert David Murison gives his advice on what you should look for in a chipper
33 LATEST PRODUCTS: CHIPPERS 34 LATEST PRODUCTS: TREE ANCHORS 36 ARB KIT
Regulars 40 BOOK REVIEW 42 CAREERS 43 THE ANCIENT TREE COLUMN
A monthly column from the Ancient Tree Forum and the Woodland Trust. This month the ATF takes a look at the Thorpeness Apple
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34 Pro Arb | February 2015
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NEWS
NEWSBEAT GROUND CONTROL AWARDED NEW WPD CONTRACTS Ground Control has secured three new contracts with Western Power Distribution (WPD), estimated to be valued in excess of £50m. The five year contracts are set to cover ‘vegetation management – storm resilience first cycle’, ‘vegetation management – EHV/ HV/LV and storm resilience maintenance’, and ‘vegetation management (132kV)’. Ground Control has been working in partnership with WPD since 2012 following an acquisition from UPM Tilhill and it is expanding its coverage
across the whole of the east and west Midlands. Director of arboriculture, Peter Allen said: “This is a fantastic achievement. We have to thank those people behind the scenes who work extremely hard as well as those on the frontline who continue to provide the highest levels of customer service.” The news caps a fantastic 12 months for the company which began with its inclusion in the London Stock Exchange’s list of the top ‘1000 Companies to Inspire Britain’. www.ground-control.co.uk
NEWS IN BRIEF Pupils at Framwellgate School, Durham have branched out to help pave the way for a park restoration scheme. Tree surgery has been added to the teenagers’ timetable as they help spruce up Wharton Park. www.thenorthernecho.co.uk The Consulting Arborist Society’s Young Trees course will run from 23-25 March 2015 at Barcham Trees in Cambridgeshire. The course covers species selection and sourcing and the importance of formative pruning. mark@consultingarboristsociety.com
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A roundup of all the latest arboriculture news from around the UK. For more stories visit www.proarbmagazine.com
ACT NOW OR NEW PESTS WILL WIPE OUT BRITISH TREES SAY SCIENTISTS
Urgent action must be taken to save Britain’s trees from being devastated by a wave of new diseases brought by climate change and the global trade in plants, leading scientists have warned. Species such as oak, ash, Scots pine, larch, beech, birch and juniper are all at risk from a host of new bugs, fungi and bacteria, some of which are already in the country with others expected to arrive soon. One expert has warned that Britain’s forests could suffer a similar fate to woodlands in much of the US, where vast stands of trees have been wiped out by beetles, whose numbers have
exploded due to the warmer temperatures in recent years. Researchers have laid out a number of techniques that could help build resistance to pests and diseases. These include creating genetically modified trees designed to withstand conditions such as ash dieback, and persuading the forestry industry to plant more natural forests that are better able to withstand such onslaughts than regimented, single-species plantations. There is also hope that friendly bacteria and other microbes that live on trees can be enlisted in the fight against their lethal cousins. www.independent.co.uk
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05/02/2015 13:31
NEWS
RELIEF FOR TREE SURGEON AFTER WINNING FOUR-YEAR LEGAL BATTLE
BAWDEN ACHIEVES COVETED APPROVED CONTRACTOR STATUS
A tree surgeon has spoken of his massive relief after winning a four-year legal battle following an accident that left him with serious injuries. Chris Baxter was airlifted to hospital after the cherry picker he was working in toppled over. A judge has now ruled that the machine was not fit for purpose. Mr Baxter says he wants to raise awareness of the importance of having the right tools for the job to ensure what happened to him doesn’t happen to others. Mr Baxter was working from the basket of an RQG 18 E Spider cherry-picker pruning trees at a property in Milborne St Andrew, Dorset when the machine slipped off
Amesbury-based tree surgery and grounds maintenance contractor, Bawden Contracting Services has achieved the coveted Approved Contractor accolade from the Arboricultural Association (AA) at the first attempt. The assessment took place recently with the AA’s assessor observing Bawden’s tree teams at work and scrutinising the tree surgery division’s operational and health and safety management, record keeping, and its approach to customer service. Bawden’s tree care manager Charlie Horsfall was full of praise for his two tree teams and the tremendous support they receive from office staff: “This was a massive effort by the tree teams
its floor pads, toppled over and crashed to the ground. The accident left the 33-year-old with serious injuries including a fractured spine and spinal cord injury, a dislocated shoulder, fractured ribs, pelvis and right leg and broken teeth. The judge ruled in Mr Baxter’s favour that Up and Out Platform Hire supplied a machine to him that was not safe to use. This judgement now paves the way for a settlement to be negotiated. www.dorsetecho.co.uk
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www.bawdengroup.com
HS2 PEAR TREE FELLING ‘TO BE REVIEWED’, SAYS GOVERNMENT
Although larch only makes up seven per cent of the total forest area, its impact is said to be significant.
the 200-year-old tree could be replanted in another location. However, experts said replanting the tree was likely to fail. The Ancient Tree Forum, a charity set up to promote conservation, said the replanting scheme was fraught with problems. Neville Fay, founder of the forum, said: “The tree probably wouldn’t survive. In an ideal world it would be preserved, as would all ancient trees but unfortunately we don’t have that kind of protection in the UK.”
www.bbc.co.uk
www.bbc.co.uk
CRITICAL PHASE IN FIGHT AGAINST PHYTOPHTHORA RAMORUM Forestry chiefs say the fight against a killer tree disease in the Galloway Forest Park, Dumfries and Galloway, is entering a critical phase. Forestry Commission Scotland is working with contractors to clear around a million tonnes of timber affected by Phytophthora ramorum. It was first found in larch trees in the region in 2010.
and by the team in the office, who are in daily contact with clients, they all take tremendous pride in their work. We are privileged to carry out tree surgery works for local authorities, the Defence Estate and many town and parish councils across the south of England and although they already know we always do an excellent job, Approved Contractor status acknowledges our position amongst the top tree surgery companies in the country.”
Plans to chop down an ancient pear tree to make way for the HS2 high-speed rail link are to be reviewed. The pear tree near Cubbington in Warwickshire is one of the oldest in Britain, campaigners say. Transport minister John Hayes said he would look into whether
Pro Arb | February 2015
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NEWS
SIR TERRY FARRELL BECOMES TRUSTEE OF TDAG TRUST The Trees and Design Action Group (TDAG) and Farrells are pleased to announce that Sir Terry Farrell is now a trustee of the TDAG Trust. Sir Terry Farrell has a long standing reputation as an architect and master planner who has recognised the value of trees and the many benefits that they deliver. The Trees and Design Action Group was formed early in 2007 following a round table discussion convened by Martin Kelly, then director at Lovejoy London and now land planning director at Capita Property and Infrastructure. Over the last eight years TDAG has grown in membership and influence and it became a charitable trust in 2013. The trust is recognised as a pioneering
group of individuals, professionals and organisations from both the public and private sector who have come together to increase awareness of the role of trees in the built environment throughout the UK. The group set out a 10 Point Action Plan early on and this continues to guide its work.
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A woodland designed to enhance the view of Durham Cathedral and provide a tranquil haven for the city’s residents is being transformed. The woodlands and riverbanks surrounding Durham Cathedral are to undergo a carefully programmed tree management project, building on 18th century plans thanks to lottery funding.
Gina Davies, woodlands and riverbanks project officer at Durham Cathedral said: “We are extremely grateful to the Heritage Lottery Fund for supporting this project. The woodlands and riverbanks offer peace and quiet from the hustle and bustle of the city centre and we hope that once the tree management work is complete more people will be encouraged to visit this peaceful haven.” The tree management work is the third phase of a programme to rejuvenate the heritage woodlands and riverbanks around the Durham Peninsula. www.chroniclelive.co.uk
www.tdag.org.uk
BARCHAM’S BIOSECURITY POLICY PRAISED IN HOUSE OF LORDS DEBATE The voluntary code of practice devised, introduced and implemented by Barcham Trees to ensure the biosecurity of its tree stock has been praised by Lord Framlingham (Conservative). In a debate on the natural environment in the House of Lords on 15 January 2015 Lord Framlingham said: “Following the importation of ash dieback from Europe, there was a call, including one from me, for a reduction in the number of imported trees and for much more reliance on
DURHAM CATHEDRAL’S WOODLAND TO BE RESTORED TO ITS FORMER GLORY
home-grown stock to reduce the ever present and very real danger to our tree population. “Sadly, fi gures that I obtained through a written question show that in the last planting season we imported more trees than ever. “I acknowledge that this is not a simple matter. It involves long-term planning with appropriate commitments and contracts. But trees are a long-term business, and getting it wrong again would be disastrous.” www.barcham.co.uk
GLENDALE PROMOTION BOOSTS ARBORICULTURE TEAM Glendale has strengthened its senior management team with the promotion of James Thomson to the director of utility arboriculture role with immediate effect. He will oversee the company’s utility arboriculture work in the south, west and Midlands regions. Andy Corcoran, managing director of Glendale said: “James’ promotion meets our strategic aim to advance our existing staff and reaffirms Glendale’s intention to provide ongoing training and development to ensure our staff are the first choice when promotion opportunities arise. “Our growth in employees, assets and sales means it is necessary to strengthen our
senior management team and I am delighted to be able to do this from within the company. James’ commitment, enthusiasm and performance mean he was our first choice.” www.glendale-services.co.uk
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05/02/2015 10:44
NEWS
NEWS IN BRIEF
TREE SURGEON FINED HUNDREDS AFTER FELLING LIMES IN WALSALL
Arborist 150 wood chipper
A tree surgeon has been fi ned hundreds of pounds after removing plantations that were protected by a legal order in a Walsall conservation area. Clement Kidney, trading as Town and Country Tree Surgeons, pulled down the three lime trees without the consent of Walsall Council. Walsall Magistrates’ Court heard that the trees were protected by a tree preservation order and that despite a resident advising him about the order, the 64-yearold tree surgeon continued to remove them. Mr Kidney pleaded guilty to a charge of contravening a tree preservation order and was ordered to pay more than £800 by magistrates, who also fi ned the property’s owner £2,000. Speaking after the case Councillor Lee Jeavons, portfolio holder for
Are
Work has begun to fell a huge ancient oak tree in Westonbirt Arboretum. The tree, a common oak near to the arboretum’s restaurant, has been in place since before the arboretum itself was established but has gradually become unhealthy. www.wiltsglosstandard.co.uk
environment and transport at Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council, said the situation could easily have been avoided. “Trees are an important part of our local environment and the council is committed to protecting them through the use of tree preservation orders. We will not hesitate to prosecute in these circumstances although it could have so easily been avoided if the tree surgeon had contacted the council to check whether a tree preservation order was in force.” www.walsalladvertiser.co.uk
FutureArb For more information on the brand new one-day event in the arboriculture industry, check out www.futurescapeevent.com or call Dean Lawrence on 01903 777570
MORE THAN 15,000 NEW TREES TO BE PLANTED IN LINCOLNSHIRE More than 15,000 trees will be planted across Lincolnshire in February, creating over 3km of hedgerow and one hectare of woodland. The trees, supplied by Lincolnshire County Council as part of the Hedge and Small Woodland Grant Scheme, aim to enhance the landscape and benefit habitats in the area. Since January 2000, 13,470km of hedgerow and trees have been maintained,
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ProArb Feb15 P6-9 News TW.indd 9
www.lincolnshireecho.co.uk
you feeling chipper? The wood chipper with
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restored or planted in Lincolnshire. The grant is open to anyone who owns or manages land within the county, with 20 schemes currently in place. Councillor Colin Davie, Executive Member for the Environment, said: “Our wildlife, woodlands and hedgerows are some of Lincolnshire’s most precious assets and it’s vital that we protect and enhance them.”
Tel: 01789 400044
www.greenmech.co.uk
Pro Arb | February 2015
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NEWS
NEWS EXTRA Sheffield to get 50,000 new trees The first of 50,000 new trees were planted in January, creating the ‘next generation’ of Sheffield’s woodlands. Sheffield Council has announced that 30 hectares of woodland are to be created across the city over the next three months in a £136,000 scheme funded by the Forestry Commission. According to Tim Shortland, community forestry manager at Sheffield Council, the project will hopefully be completed by the end of March 2015. Tim said: “Sheffield’s existing woodlands are renowned nationally, but many are in decline and despite being of great value to people and wildlife alike, will not last forever. The establishment of new woodland will perpetuate this amazing legacy for future generations and in the shorter term, provide a diversity of habitats for wildlife. “These new woodlands will maintain the city’s woodland legacy, increase biodiversity, clean the air, provide new amenity opportunities and create the next generation of woodland for future generations to enjoy.
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“A mix of trees and woody shrubs are being used with Hawthorn, Hazel, Blackthorn, Guelder Rose, Dogwood, Silver Birch, Sessile Oak, Sweet Chestnut, Rowan, Common Alder and Wild Cherry being planted around the city.” Trees will be planted at 16 different sites, including Parson Cross Park, Greenhill Park, Sky Edge Open Space, Manor Playing Fields, Richmond Heights and Westwood Country Park. British provenance and grown bare root whips were specified in the tender documents. All of the new woodland will be accessible to the community and include areas of open space to incorporate footpaths, woodland edge habitat, rides and glades. It is hoped it will further back the council’s hopes of marketing Sheffield as an outdoor city after a recent study found activities such as climbing, cycling, mountain biking, walking and running generate more than £53m a year for the local economy. “A considerable amount of consultation was undertaken prior to planting. This included letters
Plans for the Bowden Wood Crescent area of Sheffield
to residents, local groups and partners, on-site publicity and public meetings. The outcome of the consultation process was taken into account while preparing the planting designs and the public have generally supported the scheme,” said Tim. “The trees will be planted and maintained by SPA Landscaping, a small family run business that employs 24 staff. The pre-establishment phase included herbicide application and weed control for three years. The planting sites are existing parks where decades of mowing without
the removal of rising has created good soil conditions.” Although SPA Landscaping are in control of the scheme, community groups, residents and schools will be involved in small areas on most of the sites. Tools and gloves will be provided on the day for those who attend. Alex Anthony, heading up the project for SPA Landscaping said: “We wanted to get involved in the project because it was an opportunity for us to carry out vast open space planting on a scale that may not be seen for considerable time. It was also an opportunity to carry out woodland installation to change the landscape of a city that our business and its employees call home.” When asked what the best thing about working on the project was, Alex responded: “Working on large open spaces to plant accurately is a rewarding process for all staff as the scale of the finished product is so impressive. It is always a pleasure to see new planting through to established woodland. Sheffield City Council’s woodland team are a pleasure to work with as a contractor.”
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05/02/2015 09:59
BUSINESS TIPS
W
e tend to like our aphorisms to come in threes. Those of you who spend hours behind the wheel will be used to seeing all sorts of things written on vans and lorries in an attempt to distinguish themselves from their competitors. One such slogan I saw on a long car journey down to the west country was 'define design deliver', and there are countless other examples. As I began to offer an arboricultural consultancy service, 'define, design, deliver' struck me as being really good advice to follow wherever you sit on the spectrum from customer to provider. Here's how to use it to improve your business: 1. Define I try to work with potential customers to identify what it is they need, or in other words to define their requirement. In some cases that’s really simple, for example the customer will want a tree report to BS 5837 to support an application for consent to develop a site. Or in other cases the polar opposite may be true, the customer wants a report that will support their objection to a particular proposal. For those trees protected by TPO regulations or in a conservation area, a customer may well require a tightly argued report that seeks consent for management intervention at some scale, be that crown lifting, crown reduction or maybe complete tree removal. Why is it important to define what is required? The principle reason is so that both sides understand each other and the limits of what is being offered, so that a competitive price can be agreed upon.
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DEFINE, DESIGN, DELIVER Jonathan Hazell says there are three key steps to successful project management. Set out what you aim to achieve, plan an effective solution and then make good on your promise
2. Design Having defined what you will do, you can then go on to design your response, ie decide which tests and resources you will need to use to assess the tree stock or determine what management intervention is appropriate to deliver the customer’s preferred end result. So agree what is required at the outset and when instructed, go on site with a clear purpose in mind. A report against BS 5837 will be very different from one referring to a tree hazard, an insurance issue or one that seeks to discharge a planning condition. According to the scope of BS 5837, the report will give recommendations and guidance on the relationship between trees and design, demolition and construction processes and set out the principles and procedures to be applied to achieve a harmonious and sustainable
relationship between trees and structures. The report may refer to tree health and condition or to future tree management but that will not have been the primary reason for it.
“I find it useful to identify what I intend to do, but equally to be clear what I will not do” Be sure you are properly equipped for the task. An enterprise-wide tree survey may be required for a variety of reasons. It is imperative to agree what the trigger is and what the deliverables are before designing the survey protocols, data capture and report forms. If your client wants a simple “splodge and spreadsheet” style report (a tree shape marked on a drawing, with some attribute
data in Excel) then all well and good, most of us can do that with little more than an AA conference clipboard. If a more sophisticated output is required, such as GIS plans and locations, then the resource requirements change to include hand held data loggers and software. You may find you don’t have the capacity to deliver the product, albeit you could carry out the survey quite easily. 3. Deliver To allow my customer to get a better feel for what will be delivered, I find it useful to identify what I intend to do, but equally, to be clear what I will not do. I will often refuse to tag trees on site or to speak to the local planning authority (on a development site that conversation may well have already have been had for example) – things the customer may think he would expect, but when you think about it, why would you? Having designed the approach to the defined task the next thing is to go out and deliver. Some will say that’s the easy part. 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
Agree what is required at the outset and go on site with a clear purpose in mind
Pro Arb | February 2015 11
05/02/2015 09:39
BUSINESS TIPS
ARE YOU IN THE DRIVING SEAT?
You can't get to your destination using only your rear view mirror, says Steve Clarke. And it's the same in business. The right driver and a clear road ahead are paramount
W
hat I’m going to share is relevant to all of us in business and will save you needlessly worrying about 100 things a day. It will allow you to kiss goodbye to the overwhelming feeling brought about by being exhausted by day and woken up at three in the morning worrying about cash flow, how you’re going to make payroll, where the next order is coming from and finding and keeping the right staff. Most of us wouldn't even think of driving to a meeting or heading off to deliver our goods without looking up our destination on the computer, punching it into our phone or, more likely, entering it into our SatNav. We need to know where we're going and why. Are there things we need to see or do on the way? We may need to know about the traffic and weather to decide how long it should take and plan accordingly.
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Once in the car, we should check we have enough fuel and keep an eye on our speed. Think about the similarities between this scenario and your business. We need a plan and a dashboard to give us vital feedback to help reach our destination.
they contribute? Can they help navigate or share the driving? Is their input actually valuable? The wrong people in the wrong seats will restrict your growth and could even be killing your business. Ironically, even the right people in the wrong seats can be disastrous.
Do you have a clear plan stating where you are going and how you expect to get there? Is the information on your business dashboard helping you get to your destination? I'm not referring to your P&L or last month’s sales results – that is your rear view mirror. You can't get to your destination just looking in the mirror. Do you have a clear plan stating where you are going and when and how you expect to get there? Who is in the car with you? Are they back seat drivers? Are they just along for the ride? Do
So what does the road ahead look like? Whether you’re planting or pruning, conserving or dismantling; whatever niche you’re in, where are you now and where are you heading? Do you really know why you do what you do? Have you mapped out your vision, values and destination and communicated them to your team? Have you got the right people in place so you’re all heading in the same direction? Do you know your numbers, not
your P&L, your indicators and your dashboard? How clear are your processes and procedures? Where can you increase sales? How effective is your marketing and how can you sell more to existing clients? What challenges do you face on your journey? Do you know where to turn when you reach a crossroads? When it’s time to put your foot down, do you take action with confidence? If you’d like some help with this, just ask. www.surveymonkey.com/r/ futurescape ABOUT STEVE CLARKE An exceptional sales mentor and sought after motivational business speaker who built his last UK business to £30m in annual sales in just eight years, sold out and retired at 45. Now he helps businesses around the world generate more leads, more sales and more profits. www.eurekasales.co.uk
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05/02/2015 09:40
BUSINESS TIPS
Q&A:
WHAT IS RATED PEOPLE?
4. During periods when you’re less busy you can utilise your Rated People membership to grow your customer base. 5. Our mobile app and SMS alerts allow you to manage job leads when you’re out and about. How many arborists are you currently working with in the UK? We are seeing a steady stream of arborists joining and currently have some 3,200 tree surgeons on the Rated People platform.
We take the hard work out of finding work and help you build your profile
Jason Emanuel, sales director of Rated People talks to Pro Arb about the benefits for arborists joining the online marketplace What does Rated People do? Rated People is the UK’s leading online marketplace connecting homeowners with around 26,000 tradesmen nationwide. Our goal is to offer an easier and more reliable approach to sourcing high quality local tradesmen and offer businesses a highly fl exible and cost-effective marketing channel. Since our launch in 2005 we have seen more than 3.5m jobs posted and in excess of 500,000 community ratings provided by homeowners who have used the service to source tradesmen. We cover all major trades including building, roofing, plumbing, electrical, joinery, painting and decorating and gardening work.
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Why should an arborist choose Rated People? Rated People is a cost-effective way to secure a healthy amount of work throughout the year. For every pound spent buying jobs leads, tradesmen typically make £20 or more in revenue. The top 5 reasons why you should register with us are: 1. As a member of Rated People you will receive a continuous supply of job leads. 2. Your profile page is a great way to showcase your credentials, company information and photos of past work. 3. Your ratings serve as your online word of mouth and will help you win new customers.
Is there a screening process when joining the site? Tradesmen are required to register online and we work with one of the UK’s leading identity specialists to confirm the applicant is who they say they are – including having a valid, traceable address. We also require a passport or driving licence number as further proof of identity. By law, some trade work requires additional proof of qualifications. We encourage all tradesmen with qualifications and accreditations to include these on their personal profile pages. We also have ongoing screening in the form of our ratings community whereby homeowners rate tradesmen based on their experiences. What can an arborist expect from you? We take the hard work out of finding work and can help you build your profile and customer base. And don’t just take our word for it, we have testimonials from tradesmen
who attribute the success of their business to the work they secure through our platform. In 2014 alone, a staggering 130,000 garden related jobs were posted by homeowners to ratedpeople.com. Of these, more than 7,000 were specifically for tree surgeons; so there is plenty of work ready and waiting for you! When you register you will have access to strategic partnerships to help save money on necessities such as fuel and insurance and increase productivity with offers on business tools such as a virtual phone service. How much does the service cost to join? We recognise that no two businesses are the same, so we have a number of membership options including monthly, annually and pay as you go, with some tariffs offering free lead credit to get you started. When you join Rated People we will work with you to ensure you are on the membership tariff to suit your requirements – whether they are securing constant work or filling your diary during quiet times. Who are the key contacts at Rated People? We have a dedicated team of contact centre operatives who are on hand to answer your questions. We also send out regular e-newsletters, which will give you an update on our latest business platform and partner news. How do I join? Go to www.ratedpeople.com and follow the tradesman sign up process. For companies with more than 10 employees we have a specialist enterprise service with a dedicated account manager to offer a free business review.
Pro Arb | February 2015 13
05/02/2015 09:42
BUSINESS TIPS
THE CONSULTING ARBORIST SOCIETY Experts' Question Time 3: Managing Risk
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ssues relating to the management of tree safety are high on the agenda for many arborists. Frequency of inspections, knowing what makes for a defendable inspection and being unsure of when we have done enough can all cause concern. In 2014, these matters were considered by the coroner in relation to an accident which happened at Kew Gardens. Several of the key parties connected to this case will share their experiences, both of tree management in general and the Kew Gardens case
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study, at the Experts' Question Time 3: Managing Risk event at Myerscough College in June. The day will commence with Dr David Lonsdale sharing some of the key principles he has experienced from a range of cases where he has been engaged as an expert witness. David is a well-regarded authority on the subject and the author of several books on tree health and risk management. He will evaluate some of the methods by which tree risk can be managed, including the International Society
The Consulting Arborist Society's one-day event will cover everything you need to know about the management of tree safety. Book your place now, says Mark Chester
of Arboriculture's (ISA) TRAQ (Tree Risk Assessment Qualification). He will talk about the case involving Kew Gardens, where he was instructed by the coroner to comment on the tree management system in place there. Separately, David will explore the role of the expert, and how the courts have viewed cases involving trees and people over the past decade or so. Ian ‘Mac’ McDermott spent 35 years managing trees for local authorities. A long standing ISA member, he was a contributor to the steering group which produced TRAQ, and is a TRAQ qualified assessor. He will speak about the principles of the TRAQ approach. Tony Kirkham has worked at Kew Gardens for the past 35 years, and is now curator of the trees and plant collection. In this role, he is responsible for the management of the trees, and ensuring that a defendable inspection regime is in place. He will explain how Kew manages the tree resource, and how he has ensured the system of inspections is defendable. Kevin Martin is tree manager at Kew Gardens. He is responsible for the day-to-day management of the trees, overseeing inspections and programmes of work, both planned and reactive. He will share what is involved, and how he ensures that his approach is defendable.
In 2014, TRAQ became one of the areas of professional competency recognised by the Consulting Arborist Society. Kevin is TRAQ qualified, and will share briefly how he is using the principles to manage the trees at Kew. Delegates are invited to submit questions to the panel, and there will be an extended period at the end of the day for discussion. Venue: Myerscough College, Preston, Lancashire Date: Thursday 11 June 2015 Time: 9.15am-4.45pm (Teas/ coffees from 8.30am) Cost: £60 +VAT (qualifying members) £75 +VAT (non-members) To book your place, contact mark@consultingarboristsociety.com Sponsored by Sorbus International Supported by: The Arboricultural Association, ICF, MTOA, RFS. www.tree-expert-finder.co.uk ABOUT MARK CHESTER Mark has run the Consulting Arborist Society since 2009. He also leads his own consultancy practice, Cedarwood Tree Care, and recently became Technical Director at PINE Technology Services. A graduate in Amenity Horticulture, he has been a lecturer and tree officer for several Midlands authorities. He is a Fellow of the Arboricultural Association and CUEW. www.tree-expert-finder.co.uk
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05/02/2015 09:44
OPINION
HOW TO FILL THE SKILLS GAP?
APPRENTICESHIPS We need a new take on an old-fashioned way to get young people working, says Managing Director of Trojan Tree Care Jamie Saunders. Bring back apprenticeships
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eading on from the launch of Pro Arb’s new apprenticeship series last month (see page 26 for this issue’s feature), I thought I’d continue the theme and explain why I think apprentices are so important for our society. In my view, apprenticeships and skilled trades must once more become a first choice career path for young people. One reason so many (including graduates) are unemployed or on zero-hour contracts in so-called McJobs is because they simply don’t have the practical skills to fill any of the huge number of skilled job vacancies. For too long, we were sold the politically motivated idea that an arbitrary 50 per cent of young people should go to university, which meant apprenticeships and trades became seen as an undesirable fall back for those who didn’t make the academic
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grade. Many colleges previously teaching useful skills were turned into universities but the fact is, a properly functioning economy needs only a small ratio of university graduates to skilled workers and no amount of social engineering will change that. In fact, it made things worse, leaving many thousands of young people clutching useless bits of paper and feeling like someone owed them a living. Now, let me bring it back to the arb world. While I have only had
earn a good living. This wasn’t necessarily intentional, more a personal tendency to give almost anyone who approaches me for work a trial, regardless of age, experience or qualifications and having a keen eye for that most important attribute or all – the right attitude. For those with the right attitude, everything else follows. They turn up on time, are organised, presentable and make an effort to fit in. They are happy to pay their dues
Provided the student has the right attitude, apprenticeships can be a good way of cementing invaluable realworld experience gained on the job one employee go through a formal apprenticeship programme, with Capel Manor College, I believe I have informally apprenticed more than my fair share of the arborists currently working in my area. By this I mean training people who have come to me either with absolutely no training or experience, or a handful of newly acquired tickets, to the point that they can head out into the wider industry with the experience, ability and qualifications to
on the menial stuff and appreciate every opportunity offered them. Being engaged and interested in what they do, they quickly pick up the practical skills and knowledge they lack which, after all, is not rocket science! Contrast this person with one with a poor attitude who will never reach their potential no matter how many courses you put them on or opportunities you give them. The same principle applies to formal apprenticeships. Provided
the student wants to be there and has the right attitude and support, it can be a very good way of cementing the real-world experience gained on the job. It can also provide a wider understanding than can be gained on site alone, where the commercial pressures create a fairly narrow spectrum of experience and expertise. When it doesn’t work, it may be down to colleges doing a poor job and employers not supporting those they have undertaken to. But mostly it will be down to the individual students’ attitudes, expectations and concepts of personal responsibility for their own future. And changing those is not going to happen overnight. ABOUT JAMIE SAUNDERS Jamie Saunders completed an ND (Arb) before establishing Trojan Tree Care at age 19. The company, now in its 15th year, is based in Sevenoaks, Kent and provides a quality arboricultural service to commercial and residential clients across the South East. Follow him @trojantreecare or read his blog at www.trojantreecare.co.uk/our-blog
Pro Arb | February 2015 15
05/02/2015 09:46
OPINION HEALTH & SAFETY
BIOSECURITY: AN ALIEN INVASION
Arboricultural consultant Jon Heuch asks if we have learned our lesson from the outbreak of oak processionary moth
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n June 2006 Richmond Borough Council Environmental Health Officer Shaun Case was called by a member of the public complaining of insect bites. Although the insects were identified as oak processionary moths (OPM) relatively quickly, it was August before the first attempts were made to remove them. By then, the moths had scattered and the potential for eradication was lost. The moth may have been introduced on semi-mature trees from continental Europe more than once. The outbreak in Richmond was the first significant one, however. Responsibility for controlling such outbreaks in England is split between the Forestry Commission and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural
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Affairs (Defra). There are two sets of regulations – The Plant Health (Forestry) Order 2005 and The Plant Health (England) Order 2005. Further complications arise as other agencies are also involved – Forest Research, the Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera) and the newly formed Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). It's no surprise that an environmental health officer in Richmond did not initially make contact with the best person and thus did not get the right advice. It is more surprising that when the key authorities did find out, they did
to be made public. So what is contained in this mysterious report that may never see the light of day? It might make reference to a lack of contingency planning or an inability to mobilise resources. Or perhaps that it was not clear which government agency was responsible.
Government and the trade need to work together to address biosecurity issues not take effective action. In 2010 as the Arboricultural Association’s representative on the Forestry Commission’s Biosecurity Programme Board, I suggested that an evaluation of the response to OPM would be useful. I was keen to see if a lack of planning had allowed OPM to escape control. I was pleased to hear that a research project had been commissioned in 2012 and that a report had been prepared in mid-2013. Even by early 2015, however, the report has yet
If any of these findings were in the report, it would be important for Defra to act upon them. After all, in 2013 Defra had to fund a project worth £1.5 million to address OPM and much larger sums will be needed to keep it under control in the future. It could all happen again as there are a variety of pests and diseases heading our way from Europe. The EU’s plant health regime is slow to act and constrained by free trade policy.
By the time the government wakes up, it could be all too late. The industry can help by placing greater emphasis on biosecurity. Carrots and sticks are required to change attitudes but government seems very unwilling to provide the sticks and it will probably take a new pest or the departure of the UK from the EU before effective measures can be introduced. Government and the trade need to work together to address biosecurity issues. The trade will need to lead on some, while relying on government leadership on others. There will be a cost but the status quo where the private sector benefits from free trade whilst bearing few of the environmental costs, cannot continue. ABOUT JON HEUCH Jon Heuch is Principal Arboricultural Consultant at Duramen Consulting, Chartered Forester, ex-Chairman of the Arboricultural Association and sits on the Forestry Commission’s Tree Health Advisory Group. www.duramen.co.uk
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05/02/2015 09:47
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05/02/2015 09:49
TECHNICAL
UNDERSTANDING THE STRAIN YOU’RE UNDER
How much timber can you cut safely when dismantling a tree? Just how much can you load your system? In the second of a three-part series, Dave Vickers takes a look at how to calculate loads when rigging timbers In last month’s issue, we discussed how calculating rigging loads fits into recognised industry training and the HSE research report detailing log mass curves, charts and species correction factors. This month we’ll put that into practice. If you want to refer to the report directly, you can find it at www.hse.gov.uk/research/ rrhtm/rr668.htm. Assessing the mass of a length of timber is a simple matter of gauging the diameter of the wood and the length you wish to cut, then reading it off the log mass
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chart. So for a 60cm long section of F. sylvatica 35cm in diameter we come to the figure of 60kg. We should now apply a safety factor based on the natural variation in the mass of timber or more correctly, the differences in recorded specific gravity. The report suggests that the reference mass figure (60kg in our case) should be multiplied by a factor of at least 1.27. That potentially brings our log mass up to 78kg (60kg x a rounded up safety factor of 1.3). The figure 1.27 comes from the variations in weight that occurred
when the same sized sections of timber were measured, so species correction factor tables list minimum, median and maximum values. The actual value of 1.27 comes from F. sylvatica, which displayed the greatest variation. Deriving peak loads This is where the numbers can get quite large quite quickly and as we’ll see, its all down to where the pulley block goes – above or below the load. For situations where the pulley is above the load, i.e. where we
might be cradling the section from a higher anchor point, we should estimate the peak load by doubling the log mass. In this situation that’s around 150kg, or expressed as a force, 1.5kN. But when the pulley is beneath the load, as is common when chogging down sections, the estimated peak loads can be up to 11 times the log mass – 858kg or 8.6kN. The figures that have been used here are well within the capabilities of rigging lines, pulley blocks and karabiners but it serves to highlight the potentially massive differences in peak loads that can be achieved with the same weight of timber. Next month we’ll further refine these figures although as a rule of thumb using the log mass chart to find the weight, multiplying that by 1.3 to account for the extremes of weight deviation, then multiplying that figure by either by two (pulley above load) or by 11 (pulley beneath load), will give an indication of peak loads. ABOUT DAVE VICKERS Drivelink Training provides City & Guilds NPTC forestry and arboriculture short courses; founded by Dave Vickers, a City & Guilds NPTC approved trainer and assessor, qualified teacher with a BA(Hons). Ed and QTLS. Drivelink Training provides training from basic maintenance to dealing with windblown trees, from basic tree climbing to rigging/dismantling. Visit www.facebook.com/ drivelink to see what they’re up to.
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05/02/2015 09:50
Features 21
AN INTERVIEW WITH... KAREN MARTIN
25
Q&A WITH... TRAILBLAZER APPRENTICESHIP SCHEMES
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APPRENTICESHIPS – TOM MILES
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DART – DISASTER ARBORIST RESPONSE TEAM
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A TREE FOR... PARKLANDS
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Pro Arb | February 2015 19
05/02/2015 13:44
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05/02/2015 09:52
FEATURES
An interview with
KAREN MARTIN Karen Martin is CEO of the Arboricultural Association, and passionate about the work the Association does for the arboriculture industry. She shares her views on the difference it is making and why you should be a part of it‌
Two years or so into the job, what are your reflections? We are a highly fragmented sector, a growing sector, with a real appetite for partnering and sharing information. People involved across all the respective disciplines, which is a very broad church, are passionate about what they do, whether they are a working arborist, a tree officer, a consultant or involved in research. But there are also increasing pressures. From local authorities in terms of spend and cuts and how that might affect the positions and roles of tree officers. In terms of pests and disease which are increasing, although alongside that there are also opportunities,
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with a public who are becoming more environmentally aware and think of trees in the urban landscape not just from an aesthetic point of view, but also an environmental and health and well-being perspective. It is a sector with masses of opportunity for those within it and also for those supporting them, like myself as head of an active membership Association. How does the Association break down in terms of membership? We have different levels of membership and each one reflects the qualification, level of experience and area within arboriculture in which
you are operating. We have over 2,400 members – we have grown our membership by another five per cent this year. At a time when membership organisations are under threat, we are retaining our members and gaining new ones. We have a growing Approved Contractor Scheme, an accreditation scheme, which demonstrates that those contractors within it have met agreed operating standards and been assessed as fully competent in an array of areas. We also have Registered Consultants, who have passed a very high standard of assessment to demonstrate their expertise. Using Google Analytics we can track the footfall on our Directory pages and show how becoming a Registered Consultant or Approved Contractor directly links into profile and work. As a member of either of these groups you are on our website, and anyone seeking the services of an arborist or a consultant can search and find who is operating in their area.
Pro Arb | February 2015 21
05/02/2015 09:57
FEATURES Are the schemes growing quickly? The Approved Contractor group is. We had 264 Approved Contractors accredited by the end of 2014, and we plan to grow that by another 40 or 50 this year. Plans are now in place to promote the Registered Consultant scheme in 2015.
5
GOALS GOING FORWARD
STRATEGY
We have our charitable aim, which is ‘to promote the sustainable management of trees in places where people work, live and play, for the benefit of society’.
EDUCATE
To provide education, advice and career development with training.
INFLUENCE
To influence governmental thinking and the thinking of local authorities and other institutions to appreciate the value of trees to encourage funding in green infrastructure.
Is an Approved Contractor an individual or company member? An Approved Contractor is a company member. Some will be big organisations that employ lots of staff and have high turnover, some of them are small with teams of five or under. The scheme caters for all sizes. Small and large companies have slightly different needs. Do you try and strike a balance so all companies are catered for? Much of what we provide is generic, so health and safety advice is equally important to both larger organisations and smaller entities. We do a weekly digest that goes out to Approved Contractors and Registered Consultants, giving them updates, legal cases and health and safety updates. For the utility sector, which is huge, we do health and safety alerts to our members who work in that sector and provide email alerts to people who work in the utility arboriculture market. To give it more impact we show photographs of an accident
or incident and explain how it occurred and how it can be avoided. Communications wise, in the last 18 months we have started focusing on a two-way dialogue with the membership. In 2015 we aim to be more targeted in our communications. What percentage of the industry do you cover in terms of your membership? It’s difficult to capture the size of this industry. People say there are 20,000 people employed in arboriculture, but it is hard to get a handle on how many people there are. All I will say is that there is scope for us to grow more and for us to provide more support, advice and training. When we surveyed people who aren’t members we found they didn’t realise they could attend our courses, they just have to pay slightly more. As a charity we try to keep the prices low. After all, this is not a highly paid sector. There does seem to be plenty of companies offering training courses… Yes and we aim not to compete with them. If there is a gap in the market and a need then we try to provide for that. If you are involved in arboriculture, our courses are on our website and constantly added to, the programme is very much geared to the needs of the industry.
COMPETENCY
To talk to customers about why they should use an Association approved contractor. With an approved contractor a customer knows they are fully competent. They are not just complying with health and safety, they know how to manage that tree through the removal or pruning process.
AWARENESS
To raise arboriculture's profile with the public. We put in a lot of effort last year to raise public awareness. We now have 190 partners across the landscaping sector and across the media, such as the BBC, The Times and The Sunday Times, so we can promote the message ‘use skilled, competent people’.
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The team at the Arb Association
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05/02/2015 09:58
FEATURES
"At a time when membership organisations are under threat, we are retaining our members and gaining new ones" Why would an arboricultural contractor choose not to be a member of the Arboricultural Association? I think in the past, and I speak from hearsay not from experience because I wasn’t here, is that in an economic downturn one of the first things to go is paying for a membership organisation and your own training. You have to focus on the key things you have to do. Now there is an upturn in the economy and we are tailoring our offering to the needs of the sector we are seeing more members. As a membership organisation we listen more. Many member organisations forget who their members are and what they want. If you don’t ask them, they will drift away and you can lose your position. The prices aren’t high, and if you are a business it is offset against your costs. We provide free technical advice, not just the quarterly magazine. We also do a monthly online magazine, a quarterly journal, offer huge discounts on training and a whole range of other peripheral benefits. We provide community in what can be a solitary industry, plus learning and status.
How did the relationship with TrustMark come about and what is its value to your members? We were in conversation with TrustMark the year before last, 2013. TrustMark approached us and told us that they didn’t have many arborists on their books and it was a cause for concern. When we looked at what we could do and if we were able to work in partnership with them, they evaluated our Approved Contractor scheme and saw that it was rigorous and professional, that anyone who meets this standard can become TrustMark registered. So what does TrustMark give you? The benefit for us is for our Approved Contractors. We can show them that not only do they get a lot of footfall through our website but additional recognition through TrustMark, leading to more business. TrustMark provides an external badge of competency they can use to get business.
The Arb Association's headquarters in Gloucestershire
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05/02/2015 09:58
FEATURES
"TrustMark evaluated our Approved Contractor scheme and realised it is rigorous and professional. Anyone who meets this standard can become TrustMark registered" How do you structure the Association? Because we are a membership organisation, we rely heavily on voluntary support from our members. We try to keep the headquarters here as small as possible to maintain and retain costs. We have ten
MINI CV KAREN MARTIN AT A GLANCE Born Cheshire Education BA (Hons) Geography & Sociology Postgraduate HR degree 1980s Business Analyst – financial services 2004 HR Director at Barclays 2007 HR and Business Change Consultant (self-employed) 2012 Volunteer (VSO Bangladesh) 2012 CEO Arboricultural Association
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employees, a few of whom are part-time. This includes three technical officers, one of whom runs the Approved Contractor scheme, one is a senior technical officer who runs the conference, the Arb Show and all publications as well as overseeing the training, and we have another technical officer who we brought on board last year. His role is to support training, growth of the Approved Contractor scheme and our branch network. The branch network provides a sense of community. If you are a member of the association, there will be a branch near you that runs talks and workshops. Do you have a board that you report into? We are governed by the Charity Commission’s rules and regulations. We have a board of trustees who are volunteers and oversee the strategy of the association. To ensure we meet the respective needs of an arboricultural body, we have a set of committees. We have a five-year strategy
and a one-year business plan. The strategy is determined by them, the business plan is agreed by them and they take lead parts in the business plan. Then to make sure that we really get down to grass roots, we have working parties. The arborist’s working group will travel all over the country and ask local working arborists to come along and have their say. If I’m reading this and I’m not a member, why should I contact you? There are four words for why you would want to be a part of the Association. It gives you status, learning, community and influence. Join! CONTACT Karen Martin CEO Arboricultural Association Standish, Stonehouse, Gloucestershire GL10 3DL
Tel 01242 522152 www.trees.org.uk
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05/02/2015 09:58
FEATURE
Q&A:
TRAILBLAZER APPRENTICE SCHEME
The Trailblazer scheme means it's all change with modern apprenticeships. Simon Richmond of the Arboricultural Association explains What is the Trailblazer scheme? In 2014 the government announced changes to the apprenticeship programme currently being delivered by colleges and training bodies. The new programme, called Trailblazer, is to be employer led and work has started on building the new way of introducing potential employees to the world of work, providing meaningful, structured training and qualifi cations on the job. The programme was started and proven with larger corporate businesses in Trailblazer one and two. Now with Trailblazer
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three, the arboricultural, forestry and horticultural industries have become involved. Whose idea was it? The idea came from the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), following feedback reporting that there were deficiencies in the structure and delivery methodologies of the current apprenticeship schemes, for particular industry sectors. What is this scheme replacing? Modern Apprenticeships, based on the traditional model have been
available in the UK for quite a few years. They were funded by government and targeted at 16 to 18 year olds, with reduced funding for the 19 to 24 age bracket and none generally available for over 24s. When will the Trailblazer scheme be launched? The plan is that the new standards and assessment methodologies will be developed by the end of 2015 including a consultation period with a view to piloting and publishing in 2016. The government expects new apprenticeships to be launched and operational by 2017. Where will the funding be coming from? Unfortunately, there is no government funding to support the development process other than some ‘in kind’ support. The funding of apprentices will be available once the scheme is launched and the current proposition is that for every £1 spent by the employer, the government will give £2. How is this scheme different from previous schemes? The main difference with the Trailblazer scheme is that each industry sector is being invited to develop the scheme to suit its own needs. This allows the arboriculture industry to consider in detail what has worked well and what not so well in the past and to design the system that will work best. How is the training given? Training has been one of the areas that has caused difficulties, partly as a result of the relatively small size of our sector and the geographical constraints involved.
In future we will be able to open the training provision to a more flexible approach, making access more convenient and thereby the whole scheme more inclusive. However, we also have to ensure that standards are upheld and this will be the focus of the development working group.
The AA recognises the huge benefits apprenticeships can bring to our industry What is the length of the apprenticeship scheme? BIS require that the apprenticeship is at least one year in duration. In reality, it is likely to extend to around two years, but this is still to be explored fully by the working group. What is the Arboricultural Association’s view? The AA recognises the huge benefits that apprenticeships can bring to our industry. We have been supportive of the current schemes but also recognise some of the problems that have been experienced. Nonetheless, many companies had very positive results and it is by employers giving their time and expertise to younger, less experienced workers that we can build the breadth of skills, knowledge and experience that are required for a fully functioning, professional industry sector. CONTACT Jane Cummins Web & Content Coordinator, Lantra Email: Jane.Cummins@lantra.co.uk Tel: 02476 696996 ext 226
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05/02/2015 10:00
FEATURE ASSOCIATION APPRENTICESHIPS INWITH
TOM MILES
ACME TREE SERVICES LTD Pro Arb is keen to shine the spotlight on the outstanding youngsters working within our industry. This month, we speak to Tom Miles, an arboriculture apprentice at Arb Association-approved Acme Tree Services Ltd in Staffordshire
hedge trimmers, wood chippers, tractors, leaf blowers etc. I drive the company vans, delivering logs and woodchip; clear away debris from work sites; use various mowers; do all types of grounds maintenance work ie border management, weeding, pruning, planting, herbicide spraying under supervision. Oh, and make the tea! Tell us a bit about yourself... My name is Tom Miles, I'm 22 years old and my current position is full-time Trainee Arborist. What is your role within Acme Tree Services Ltd? Acme offers all aspects of tree surgery as well as grounds maintenance to local authorities, schools and businesses. My role is really varied. Amongst other things I operate machinery like
Why did you choose the arboriculture industry? I enjoy being outdoors and after doing a few jobs, mainly bar work, I soon realised working indoors was not for me. I’d originally thought about a career in landscaping and was looking into training for it. Then my mum started chatting to a lady at work who ran a tree surgery company with her husband and she mentioned they were looking
for a new apprentice. My mum told her I wanted to get into something like that and took her business card. I called the number straight away. A few days later I was sitting chatting with Deb and Mike Evans, owners of Acme Tree Services Ltd, about what their company does, what they’re about and what they want to achieve in the future. To be honest I didn’t know anything about arboriculture, but it sounded great and I was so pleased when they offered me a trial. That was in April 2013 and I’m still here now having completed a Level 2 Apprenticeship in Horticulture. I also have a number of NPTC certificates and other training courses under my belt. I love it here and am so pleased to have been given this opportunity. And, of course, I really need to say a big thank you to my mum, Ann – as she’s bound to read this – for thinking of me yet again and taking the time to get that lady’s number! Did Acme Tree Services help with your training? Acme arranged with Dart Training for me to start the two-year apprenticeship in Horticulture. We’d originally looked for a course focusing on trees, but at that time the funding had been pulled and there was nothing available. As
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“The business is run with an ‘all hands on deck’ approach, even the boss sweeps up!” Acme offers grounds maintenance too, we decided I should do the horticultural course alongside Acme putting me through further training for the arb industry. What's your favourite part of the job? Apart from being outside in all weathers, I like the diversity of the work, every day is different. One day we can be taking down a huge tree and the next planting
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FEATURE
or even building an outdoor classroom. I really enjoy working within the teams – although everyone has a job title the business is run with an ‘all hands on deck’ approach, even the boss sweeps up and makes the tea! It’s a great attitude which clearly comes across to the clients who, apart from being delighted with our workmanship, often remark on how friendly and pleasant we are to have around. It’s one of the company’s core values – big egos don’t have a place here, and I think it’s a great approach to have. Which piece of equipment do you like to use most? I am currently training for the aerial rescue unit and I really enjoy getting up in the tree. I’m also booked in to do the basic
DEBORAH EVANS, COMPANY SECRETARY AT ACME... "Tom is such a jolly character; he turns up on time every day with such keenness and enthusiasm for whatever the day holds. He’s an extremely hard worker and applies himself to every task he’s given. He finished his apprenticeship coursework early and is keen to do more qualifications to develop within the business. Tom is such a popular member of the team and has become a valuable asset to Acme – he’s a real credit to the youth of today. We look forward to watching him develop over the coming years.ˮ
chainsaw unit early in 2015 which I am very excited about. I’ve wanted to do it since I started but I’m actually glad that I didn’t, because I’ve now had a couple of years to watch, listen and learn from other members of the team. I’ve learnt an awful lot during this time which will help me with my training – I think if I’d have done it before now I’d have been one of those who ‘had all the gear and no idea'!
What are your future ambitions? Mike and Deb have some great plans for Acme and hopefully I’ll continue with them on their journey for a long time. I hope one day to run a team and you never know, with more training, become part of the management here. Is there a structured development plan at Acme Tree Services for you? Yes, all employees at Acme have
an individual training programme which is reviewed annually. The company is keen to develop its employees to enable their service to be amongst the best there is. www.acmetreeservices.co.uk
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ProArb Feb15 P26-27 Apprenticeships.indd 27
05/02/2015 10:02
FEATURES
THE DISASTER ARBORIST RESPONSE TEAM Following his experience in the Philippines in the wake of super-typhoon Haiyan, Gary Bailey realised his skills as a professional arborist were in high demand. Now he delivers emergency tree clearance the world over...
DART International UK is a registered charity that has set its sights on changing the way disaster relief organisations approach the problem of trees felled by natural disasters. "Trees are an important environmental and economic resource the world over," explained DART's founder Gary Bailey, a professional arborist from Truro in Cornwall, "but during extreme weather events and natural disasters they are responsible for loss of life, casualties and extensive damage to infrastructure. In the immediate aftermath, efforts to clear trees and debris from vital buildings, unblock roads, repair communications and restore power and water supplies are often poorly resourced
and haphazardly led by agencies with little understanding of the dangers of tree work, not only delaying the relief effort, but risking the lives of local people and aid agency staff."
Super-typhoon Haiyan
Gary speaks from experience. Last year he deployed to the Philippines with another DART trustee to deliver emergency shelter aid to the survivors of super-typhoon Haiyan. Faced with devastation on an unprecedented scale, Gary soon discovered that his professional skills were in more demand than the tents he carried. After all, what use are tents if there's no space to pitch them in?
As in many developing countries, chainsaws are a rare commodity in the Philippines. Expensive to buy and run, the few that were available in the wake of typhoon Haiyan were generally old and poorly maintained. Without modern equipment, the survivors of poorer communities had no choice but to spend days trying to clear the most obstructive of thousands of fallen trees with nothing more than a few salvaged machetes and because many of the adult survivors were desperately trying to find food and drinking water, this work was often undertaken by very young children. Several aid agencies were quick to recognise the urgent need for tree clearance and a few even managed to import some chainsaws, but without the appropriate training the dangers to their own staff and locals became a major concern. And yet the situation in the Philippines was far from unique. Fallen trees and problems associated with tree damage are characteristic of most natural disasters including the 2004 Asian tsunami and the 2010 earthquake in Haiti.
An overwhelming response
When Gary returned to the UK and floated the idea of providing teams of volunteer arborists to support international disaster relief operations, the response was overwhelmingly positive. Many other arborists had watched disasters unfold on their television screens and realised that their professional knowledge could be of use. Now, only eight months after its launch at the 2014 Arb Show, DART has provided safety and security training for its first batch of 20 deployment volunteers, with many others awaiting the next course in April. The charity has also attracted sponsorship from some of the biggest names in the arb industry, including the Arb Association, Glendale, Stein and Makita UK.
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FEATURES
Individuals making a difference
"We're now at a very exciting stage of the charity's development," explained Mike Metcalfe, DART's operations and training manager, "we have the people, we have the equipment and now all we need are the funds to get our response teams to wherever they're needed. "For me personally, the great thing about this charity is the determination and generosity of its volunteers and supporters. Every single one of us is a volunteer, so every penny raised directly supports the victims of natural disasters. "In the Philippines last year I saw first hand what a difference even one experienced arborist with the right equipment can make, so it's been a real privilege to be involved with such a worthwhile project from the outset. "As the only non-arb on the board of trustees, I can be completely objective about DART's potential and there's absolutely no doubt in my mind that the UK arborists have skills that could make a very positive impact on disaster relief operations in the future."
Safeguarding
"From a training perspective, it's been a really interesting journey," Mike added, "The risks associated with aid work are never far from the news these days and DART's trustees
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believe we have a duty of care to provide pre-deployment training for all our response volunteers. Safeguarding them is of paramount importance, a responsibility we take very seriously. With that in mind, our first safety and security training course was hugely encouraging. Volunteers attended from every corner of the country and their high calibre was immediately apparent. We couldn't have wished for a better response. "Apart from their core arborist skills, they are, by the very nature of the job, physically fit, resilient and resourceful people, well used to
UK arborists have skills that could make a very positive impact on disaster relief working in challenging circumstances. That's an enviable starting point for any disaster relief organisation. What's been particularly interesting for me as a trainer, is the wide range of additional skills our volunteers bring to the organisation. They are all first aid qualified, in line with current industry standards, but it doesn't end there. The arb world clearly attracts people with diverse professional backgrounds and DART's
responders include paramedics, military and police-trained trauma medics, engineers, builders, training specialists, security risk assessors and more. Very few disaster relief organisations, let alone one of this modest size, can boast volunteers with such a broad range of secondary skills. "It's worth noting that international disaster relief is becoming increasingly better coordinated and ever more specialised. As a charity that offers a unique service, one that will enable others to do their job more safely and effectively, I believe DART has an important role to play in the future of humanitarian aid operations." Would you like to be part of that future? Do you have skills and experience that would be of use to the charity? Do you own or work for a business that might be interested in providing corporate sponsorship? Would you be willing to raise funds on behalf of DART International? If the answer to any of those questions is 'yes', please get in touch. We are genuinely interested in hearing from you.
Further details are available on our website www.dartinternational. co.uk or email dartinternationaluk@ gmail.com
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TREES
A TREE FOR PARKLAND Pro Arb asks the UK's tree nurseries which tree in their stock would suit a specific use. This month it's trees for parkland
Liriodenron tulipifera
Fagus sylvatica – 'Dawyck Purple'
Liriodendron tulipifera is a firm favourite with everyone at Deepdale Trees and is the perfect tree for a parkland setting. It is a fast growing tree which can reach more than 35m height with tall, straight stems. Its deciduous, lobed, fresh green leaves are totally unique, appearing to have been cut off at the top. The autumn colour is golden yellow. Older trees produce exquisite yellow, tulip shaped flowers in early summer. The light grey, corky bark often forms intricate patterns of vertical ridges in old age. Liriodendron tulipifera is available from Deepdale Trees as a standard, feathered or multistem plant. www.deepdale-trees.co.uk
Space is not at a premium in most parkland situations so the urge would be to plant something that becomes huge and fills the skyline with majestic spreading branches. At Provender Nurseries we like to think outside the box. Rather than a spreading silhouette why not plant something that is more graceful, columnar and punctuates the skyline. A fantastic tree for upright form that leads the eye upwards is Fagus sylvatica ‘Dawyck Purple’ an upright, purple leaved form of the well-known beech. The leaves are deep purple and shiny and contrast well when planted in close proximity to the golden leaved Fagus sylvatica ‘Dawyck Gold’, also upright in shape. Fagus sylvatica ‘Dawyck Purple’ reaches over 15m in height and about 3m in width. www.provendernurseries.co.uk
Populus tremula Some trees need the space of a parkland setting to reach their full potential. Populus are a group of trees that fit this bill. The Aspen – Populus tremula is one example that, given the space and correct conditions, is well worth considering. A fast growing tree with a broad crown, green catkins and young, round leaves that emerge a stunning bronze/green before turning a rich golden-yellow in autumn. A favourite among all manner of wildlife and with a long season of interest, the slightest breeze causes the leaves to 'tremble', offering a breath-taking display of dappled colours and giving the tree its name, ‘Tremula’. www.colenurseries.co.uk
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Cedrus libani Cedrus libani is one of the most exquisite landscape trees. Conical when young, this conifer develops over many years into a broad, imposing, flat topped tree. This gorgeous horizontal architecture is enhanced by the dense, darkgreen to blue-green foliage and green to purplish-brown, upright, barrel-shaped cones. It responds favourably to lush, lowland conditions, tolerating most soil types providing they are freedraining. The large forests of Asia Minor no longer exist but thanks to its beauty and intricate history the iconic Cedar of Lebanon has
become a worldwide specimen tree of unrivalled distinction. www.majestictrees.co.uk
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05/02/2015 10:50
Latest Kit 32
FOCUS ON: CHIPPERS
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LATEST KIT: CHIPPERS
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LATEST PRODUCTS: TREE ANCHORS
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ARB KIT
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LATEST KIT
FOCUS ON
CHIPPERS A chipper is seen by most as the heart of an arb business, so at some point you will probably need to invest in one. But do you buy a small or a larger chipper? David Murison has the answers
Big chippers mean you can process wood with less brashing out, making jobs quicker. For instance, the GreenMech 1928 Safe-Trak Woodchipper (right) the performance of this machine is good with a high throughput rate, easy maintenance access, adjustable feed roller speeds and a lower hopper, making it easier to feed longer lengths into it. This is something to do with the Isuzu engine, large flywheel and a 7.5x11in in-feed with twin hydraulic rollers. The debris guard in the infeed hopper could do with being a bit more robust, but apart from that this machine is reliable and robust with great fuel economy. It is also extremely well designed for mechanical feeding. Be it from a fast tow hiab trailer or by a Vermeer 650tx skid steer. This allows for faster feeding and a reduced work load on the workers.
However, if you’re keen to stay in the sub 750kg category I have three machines by three different manufacturers to recommend: GreenMech's QuadChip 160 (below left) has a turntable action to help with loading efficiency and to allow for the hopper to be moved rather than reversing a vehicle. The QuadChip 160 is fitted with a 34hp Kubota diesel engine and has a high tensile steel chassis. The twin vertical roller feed system and large (160mmx230mm) letterbox in-feed offer great performance and versatility.
The Timberwolf TW230DHB (right) is the newer and improved version of the industry standard TW150DHB. The TW150DHB has been around for many a year, it's seen up and down the country and is probably one of the most successful models for sales. The TW230DHB machine can chip faster and is much easier to service. The in-feed dimensions on this machine are 6.3in/6.3in. The TW230DHB has a wider axle, deeper chassis beam and a shortened funnel. The Vermeer BC160Xl (below) has great chipping performance and is of good build quality. The design of this machine helps to improve serviceability and is also on a turntable. All components
are easily accessible so regular servicing is simple to complete. This is the only machine to have a full wraparound safety bar system and it even has an override button, which disables the stop bar for a few seconds to allow for brash that might be causing unnecessary emergency stops. I hope that this article gives you some insight into what you're looking for and helps with your decisions, but as always it’s down to personal preference.
ABOUT DAVID MURISON David Murison has worked at Acle Garden Machinery in Norfolk for the last nine years. Acle Garden Machinery is a dealer for DMM, Petzl, Stihl, Vermeer, Sherrill, Arbortec, Marlow, Aspen, Silky, Workware and Stein. Tel: 01493 751659 www.aclegardenmachinery.co.uk
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S R E P P I CH kit latest
Eliet Super Prof This exciting new model from Eliet ensures the Super Prof remains a highly efficient four season shredder. One of the key additions is air-blown chip removal via a 360º rotatable discharge chute that will blow chips to a height of two metres. The Super Prof will be available as a trailed machine for those who prefer to process wood on the roadside. Additionally the renowned “Cross-Country” tracked model has been updated to include all the features of the new Super Pro.
Timberwolf TW230DHB The larger and more powerful chipping rotor is only one of several features that distinguish the TW 230DHB. It also comes with open top funnel, wide rollers, extra-large throat and quad-force rollers. The new TW 230DHB is a clear stepup in terms of throughput, strength and serviceability. Extra strength has been designed into every critical component, ensuring top level performance and safety. All service items have easy access and the central greasing systems ensure downtime is kept to a minimum. The TW 230DHB chipper went on sale in September and immediately became a winner with demand exceeding supply. www.psdgroundscare.co.uk
www.timberwolf-uk.com
Bandit brush chippers Bandit brush chippers are known for their large chipper openings and powerful hydraulic feed systems that will reduce most of the tree at takedown. The models 150, 200 and 250 can easily chip large branches, trees and forked material with greater pulling and compressing power. The 150XP is the most compact of three 12in disc chippers. This unit has been designed for those who want an easily towed and economically priced 12in chipper.
The Arborist 130 from GreenMech is an easy to use, cost effective, road tow chipper of traditional in-line format. It has a generous 970mm x 790mm in-feed hopper that aids bushy brash reduction and coupled with a 150cm x 230cm letterbox-style throat, enables heavily forked branches to be fed in easily. With a 23hp Honda petrol engine and GreenMech’s patented Disc-Blade technology as standard, the Arborist 130 is value-engineered for quality, economy and performance.
Chipper 09 TPS The TPS version of the Chipper 09 line is arranged to be fitted to the third point linkage of any type of tractor and powered by the PTO shaft. The special design of the flywheel disc allows an excellent exhausting/discharge, even with small size material. All the machines are equipped with a quick system for blade removal and replacement which reduces maintenance time and eventual assembly mistakes. www.chippersinternational.co.uk
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GreenMech Arborist 130
www.globalrecycling.eu
www.greenmech.co.uk
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LATEST KIT
TREE S R O H ANC ts c u d o r p t s late
Gefa tree anchor system GreenMax Ltd is launching in the UK with a range of tried and tested tree-related products. Largely from Holland and Germany the Gefa tree anchor system was voted ‘Best in Test’ after the fi ve year German Institute study that trialled all major tree anchors available. The combination of sleek drivefast anchors, the Gefa-Mat and the potential to offer biodegradable straps to replace geotextile mats and wire ensures quick and easy installation and makes these systems a very fl exible, attractive and economical alternative. www.greenmaxltd.co.uk
Arborguy ‘deadman’ system
Platipus rootball fixing system The Platipus rootball fi xing system including Plati-Mat, is simple to install and avoids the need for unsightly guy wires. Over the past two decades Platipus has developed an extensive range of underground fi xing solutions that are suitable for most rootballed and containerised stock. The PlatiMat can be tailored to suit most rootball dimensions and allows secure positioning of newly transplanted trees, improving their establishment rate. The Platipus rootball fi xing system is available in fi ve standard sizes. www.platipus-anchors.com
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The Arborguy ‘deadman’ system is ideal where there are likely to be underground utilities in the immediate vicinity of the tree pit. For each of the three cables, loop the D-ring end through the wire loop on the opposite end to create a slip knot noose. This noose is then positioned over the end of each of the three deadman anchors and tensioned in the centre. Once this has been done for each of the deadmen, the nylon webbing passes through the small loop on the end of each cable and is ratcheted tight over the top of the rootball.
www.greenblueurban.com
Biodegradable Keeper system The Biodegradable Tree Anchor or Keeper system is a patented underground tree anchoring system enabling the planting of a tree without the need for conventional above ground fixings such as posts or guys. The entire system is located underground, making it resistant to vandalism. This is also better for the saplings because the vulnerable bark does not scrape against fixings. In the above picture, trees in the foreground have been planted with the Keeper system and those in the background using a conventional method. www.brilliantlittleplanet.co.uk
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05/02/2015 13:46
.co.uk Your essential website for secondhand arb kit Jo Beau 3in capacity chipper East Midlands, £3,083
Timberwolf S425 Shredder Lincolnshire, £13,000
Jo Beau 4in capacity chipper Grantham, £5,000
For more secondhand kit to make you feel chipper, go to www.horticulturetrader.co.uk If you have kit or equipment for sale contact horttrader@eljays44.com HortiTrader Ad.indd 1
04/02/2015 16:47
Best tree anchor product in Europe, based on 5 year testing in Germany Comprehensive 'under' and 'above' ground guying options available Fastest installation of anchors, due to the slimmest profile of any anchor Dead-man, grill fix, expanding bolt and chemical anchor fix solutions 'Out-side the box' thinking for solutions in challenging environments The only anchor system that is available with biodegradable options Only one drive bar and tension lever required, irrespective of anchor kit
www.greenmaxltd.co.uk prem@greenmaxltd.co.uk
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ARB KIT
Predator Power, the UK's leading supplier of narrow access stump grinders, is introducing a new range of attachments for their P50RX model, utilising the unit’s innovative rear hydraulic PTO. Attachments such as a mulcher, flail, log splitter and a 7.5ton winch can help arborists offer more services to their clients. The P50RX is radio controlled, fully hydraulic, has 50hp and is only 31in wide, making it the narrowest stump grinder available at this power output. With these added capabilities, the P50RX is both a high performance stump grinder and a narrow access power pack. www.predator-mfg.com
Joining the already extensive family of STIHL cordless power tools, its fi rst cordless pole pruner is available now. Extending between 2.7 and 3.9m, it allows professionals to prune up to 5m-high branches without leaving the ground. Like all STIHL cordless power tools, the new STIHL HTA 85 pruner produces a low running noise, making it ideal for use in noise-sensitive areas such as parks, schools and hospital grounds. The pruner is fully compatible with the STIHL choice of batteries and chargers, making a STIHL cordless investment more versatile and costeffi cient too. www.stihl.co.uk
ARB KIT
A look at the latest products available
Cobra is the largest single range of powered garden equipment to be announced in recent times. The range launched last year with great success and 2015 will see it expanding to over 100 products. The new CS420 petrol chainsaws, available in four lengths (16in, 18in, 20in and 22in) are part of this expansion. Each model is powered by a two cycle, air cooled engine and is fitted with a carburettor from Walbro, one of the world’s major manufacturers of carburettors and ignition systems. Couple with this a bar and chain supplied by Oregon and the brand new Cobra chainsaws can take on any job! www.cobragarden.co.uk
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ARB KIT
The stylish design of the STEIN VEGAplus work positioning harness offers durability, ergonomic comfort and practicality all in one. Including the same large backpad as the VEGA, the VEGAplus is fitted with large semi-rigid leg loops, which have been specially designed to mould around the leg for increased support for prolonged climbing. The U-Create gear loop system allows you to personalise the harness tool loops to suit your climbing needs. The durable yet lightweight design of the VEGAplus ensures the harness will meet the demands of tree climbers everywhere. www.frjonesandson.co.uk
Designed specifically for arborists, the Gecko and Gecko FCR climbing ropes are constructed with a durable yet supple polyester cover and strong polyester core. These CE certified ropes are manufactured in the UK and are available with two options of eye terminations – spliced or sewn.
The ECHO CS-360TES top handle chainsaw is built for trained professional tree operators. It features a new 35.8cc stage II emission compliant engine. With an output of 1.50kW, the CS-360TES is an extremely powerful chainsaw. The chainsaw palm rest is adjustable to two sizes, ensuring greater operator comfort and reduced fatigue. The CS-360TES features a strong and durable belt hook, which easily attaches to a harness ring. This feature frees up the operator’s hands when the chainsaw is not in use. All ECHO power tools come with a twoyear warranty for professional use.
www.echo-tools.com
www.marlowropes.com
Exc@v8 deals in the Trevi-Benne Wood Series range of tree shears, feller bunchers and wood crackers to the biomass, forestry, arboriculture and agricultural markets, providing sales, parts and service nationwide. The WT series has been designed for the felling and deforestation of logs, trees and coppice and for the maintenance and thinning of hedgerows, woodland and scrubland. It allows works to be carried out in areas of difficult access such as along roadsides, on steep slopes and in
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orchards as well as the more common woodland, forest and coppiced areas. www.excavators-uk.com
Plantoil Chain Saw Oil is a rapidly biodegradable, low fling, ecologically compatible lubricant. Based on rapeseed oil, a renewable resource, it is naturally more effective as a lubricant than mineral oil because of its positive molecular polarity; Plantoil Chain Saw Oil is attracted to the negative polarity of steel, creating an active film of oil which adheres to the bar and chain to give a cleaner, more free-running chain, with reduced fling and lower consumption. Plantoil Chain Saw Oil is non-toxic and more than 90 per cent biodegradable within 21 days – protecting the environment, and ensuring that chainsaw operators are not subjected to the health risks associated with mineral oils. www.plantoil.co.uk
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ARB KIT The Husqvarna 450 e-series is a powerful second generation all-rounder for people who value professional qualities in a saw. With a slower pull it starts easily and comes with a slimmer saw body and flip-up tank caps. The X-Torq engine means lower fuel consumption and reduced emissions levels. The auto-return stop switch, toolless chain tensioner and visible fuel level make the saw easier to handle. It is equipped with Smart Start and a fuel pump to ensure it is easy to start every time.
www.husqvarna.com/uk The RG25HD is Rayco's premier Mini Work-Force model. It features a reliable Kohler 25hp petrol engine with dual element air cleaner and electric start. A powerful hydrostatic transmission, large wheels and tyres navigate obstacles and difficult terrain. It is made to fit through a 30in gate, so the RG25HD can get to just about any stump. Adjustable handlebars, parking brake, operator presence bar handle and an electric clutch are standard features on the RG25HD. www.westconuk.com
The popular Dragon Harness is now available in a new, improved form. On the Dragon Harness 2, the standard buckles have been uprated to the UK manufactured, ISC buckle, which gives a more secure closure. The Dragon Harness is lightweight (2kg), comfortable and easy to use with its quick release buckles. The large triangular leg loops and larger backpad offer greater support and comfort for longer working periods. It can be easily adjusted to accommodate all sizes.
The FARMA T9 lumber trailer is a strong trailer with frame steering, meaning the trailer has significantly better handling in the forest. In addition, it also reduces the risk of damaging growing forest while driving. The trailer is equipped with a removable three-point frame with telescopic support legs, making it easy to lift the crane off the trailer for installation on the tractor's three-point lift when necessary. The trailer can be equipped with the C5.3 G2 or C6.3 G2 crane. www.homeforestry.co.uk
www.buxtons.net
Unlike conventional saw teeth, which are filed and alternately bent, the ARS blade is taper ground and each tooth is honed to precise knife-edge sharpness. The unique, patented blade produces such a remarkably clean cut it looks as though it has been planed. The precision ground teeth have a razor edge and are not imprecisely set as
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on conventional saws. Its fast, easy pull action requires far less effort than other saws. www.sorbus-intl.co.uk
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05/02/2015 10:20
Plantoil ad 118x91 Sept'14_PROARB 25/09/2014 14:44 Page 1
ALL MATERIALS The New Prof 5 Shredder • • • • Makes easy work of branches, wet green waste and mixed leafage 4 Season shredder is effective in all conditions Smooth and easy suction feed system Produces easily compostable BioTech™ chips
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Secateurs, hedgeshears and the world’s finest pruning saws in superb, tempered Japanese steel
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Visit silkyfox.co.uk to find your local stockist
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FEATURE
PRO ARB BOOK REVIEW Paul O'Hara of Summerfield Books starts a regular feature in Pro Arb magazine looking at the best informative reads for arborists
FIELD GUIDES.
The latter covers 150 species but is possibly more robust and includes a plastic cover sleeve and removable chart for tree comparisons. Both cost less than a fiver so are not expensive to replace.
HISTORY.
Collins Gem Guide: Trees Alistair Fitter £4.95, HarperCollins Bloomsbury Concise Tree Guide, Cy Baker £4.95, Bloomsbury Field guides for tree identification are useful tools for all treeworkers so portability, robustness and price are features to consider. The current market leaders are the Collins Gem Guide: Trees (2012) and the Bloomsbury Concise Tree Guide (2014) which are palm-sized guides. The former has better illustrations and descriptions and covers more species (220).
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Trees, Their Natural History Second Edition Peter Thomas £25, Cambridge University Press The best general work on trees to come out in 2014 was Trees, Their Natural History, second edition. Written by Peter Thomas from Keele University and published by Cambridge University Press, this is a comprehensive introduction to tree biology and ecology written in nontechnical language. This book offers fascinating insights and can usefully be read by anyone, student, amateur or professional and should be on any reading list.
URBAN PLANTING.
The Practical Science of Planting Trees Gary Watson & EB Himelick £45, International Society of Arboriculture Published by the ISA in 2013, this comprehensive, well presented and appropriately illustrated work brings together the latest research on planting urban trees. A key feature of the book is its extensive references to the scientifi c literature. The Practical Science of Planting Trees is available as an A4 paperback.
so little has been written about it. Written by Oliver Rackham, a renowned authority on woodlands, their history and habitats, The Ash Tree brings together essential information on the history and ecology of the tree in an entertaining and readable fashion. The book includes useful chapters on ash pests and diseases including ash dieback. The book’s worth was quickly recognised, necessitating a re-issue within months of first printing. This inexpensive small format hardback is illustrated throughout and makes essential background reading.
HISTORIC PARKS.
ASH TREES.
The Management & Maintenance of Historic Parks, Gardens and Landscapes John Watkins & Tom Wright £26.25, Frances Lincoln The Ash Tree Oliver Rackham £14.90, Little Toller Books Given that ash is one of the commonest trees in the British landscape, it is surprising that
Written and published in 2007, this is acknowledged as an important reference for anyone concerned with managing and maintaining historic parks and gardens, be they professional, student or teacher. The fi nal
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FEATURE part of the book provides case studies with detailed considerations of all aspects of tree work and a useful appendix with lists of plants summarising cultivation details and dates of introduction to the UK. This book is available as a large A4 hardback.
TRANSPORT SAFETY.
Safety at Street Works and Road Works: A Code of Practice Department of Transport £10.95, The Stationery Office This book is another essential guide for working arborists. This is the latest edition of the code, which came into force in October 2014. The publication contains clear advice and is very well illustrated. The A5-sized book is spiral bound with card covers to ensure that pages will lie flat.
Winter Trees: A Photographic Guide to Common Trees and Shrubs, by Dominic Price and Leif Bersweden and published by the Field Studies Council (2013). Following on from the FSC’s very successful guide to broad leaved trees in winter, this colour guide uses photos of bark, buds, twigs and tree shapes rather than keys to aid identifi cation. Winter Trees covers 36 of the most common broad-leaved deciduous species or groups of species that are most likely to be found in the UK.
ANCIENT TREES.
Ancient and Other Veteran Trees: Further Guidance on Management David Lonsdale £30, The Ancient Tree Forum
PICTURE GUIDE. Edited by David Lonsdale, Ancient and Other Veteran Trees gives up-to-date guidance on protecting ancient trees, refl ecting the collected advice of members of the Ancient Tree Forum and their colleagues worldwide. Ancient
Winter Trees Dominic Price & Leif Bersweden £8.50, The Field Studies Council As befi ts the time of year, what could be more useful than
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and Other Veteran Trees is a very detailed and well illustrated practical handbook, and the book is available as an A4 paperback.
ENCYCLOPEDIA.
GLOSSARY.
Illustrated Trees of Britain and Europe David More & John White £24.50, Bloomsbury
Glossary of Arboricultural Terms – 2015 Edition £14 International Society of Arboriculture The ISA fi rst produced a Glossary of Arboricultural Terms in 2004 and there is now also an online dictionary. This 2015 printed edition has been expanded, is in the usual pocket-sized spiral bound format and like Dictionary for Managing Trees in Urban Environments by Draper & Richards (CSIRO Australia, 2009), is international in scope. While these two books aim to provide a basis for common usage, it’s worth comparing Philip Wilson’s A-Z of Tree Terms: A Companion to British Arboriculture, whose selections and explanations are based around the needs of UK based readers.
Treesource was established in 2000 and taken over in 2014 by Summerfield Books, a family run business specialising in the supply of books on botany, forestry and related natural history. Both Treesource and Summerfield Books are owned by Paul and Christine O'Hara. www.summerfieldbooks.com
Illustrated Trees of Britain and Europe is the eagerly anticipated reincarnation of the much lauded Cassell’s Encyclopedia of Trees. Extensively revised and lengthened with many new illustrations by the author, it is an essential reference work.
DISEASE.
Diagnosis Of Ill-Health In Trees, Second Edition, Seventh impression RG Strouts, TG Winter £39.95, The Stationery Office Diagnosis of Ill-Health in Trees is a standard work for all tree workers. This book went out of print for a time, but was reissued under the aegis of the Arboricultural Association in 2013 and the latest impression was printed in 2014.
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HEALTH & SAFETY
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
TREE CARE MANAGER SURREY
QUALIFIED ARBORIST LONDON
Gavin Jones seeks a tree care manager for its arboricultural and forestry operations. You will be responsible for more than 15 employees and external subcontractors, covering consultancy, arboricultural operations, site clearance and ecological/land based work to industry standards and best practice. Ideally holding a Level 4 diploma or above, you will have excellent communication skills, the experience to price tree works and subsequently manage and execute them to the budgeted costs and client expectations and you will work well individually and as part of a team. This position is based in Surrey with UK travel primarily in the South.
Our London based client is currently looking for qualified arborists to join its tree department. You will be operating from its base in Chobham, working mainly in the London area and will require a full driving licence. All relevant qualifications are required. You will receive a competitive salary based on qualifications and experience, 20 days paid leave plus bank holidays, all PPE, climbing equipment and chainsaws. Only candidates with the relevant qualifications will be considered.
For more details please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk
For more details please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk
CLIMBER
CLIMBER
Bartlett Tree Experts is a privately owned arboriculture company in the UK and Ireland and a leader in the tree care industry. Applicants should have all relevant NPTC qualifications, a full UK driving licence and the ability to demonstrate safe and competent climbing and tree surgery skills. In return Bartlett Tree Experts offers in house and industry based training, provides all equipment and PPE, a competitive salary based on qualifications and skills with additional incentives, 28 days holiday and a company pension scheme.
Bartlett Tree Experts is recruiting a climber for its Beaconsfield office. Applicants should have all relevant NPTC qualifications (ie CS30, 31,38, 39), a full UK driving licence ideally with C1+E and the ability to demonstrate safe and competent climbing and tree surgery skills.
For more details please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk
For more details please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk
ARBORIST/CLIMBER AND GARDENERS
EXPERIENCED ARBORIST
GWB Horticulture is looking for gardeners and arborists with at least two years' experience working in high-end domestic gardens. The successful candidate will be highly motivated, well organised and have a flexible, proactive approach to their work. Experience in general garden maintenance, soft or hard landscaping or tree work is essential, relevant qualifications in arboriculture, horticulture or landscaping ideal but not necessary. Must possess a full, clean UK driving licence. Gardener duties may include general maintenance, turfing, lawn and hedge trimming, hard and soft landscaping, decking, woodworking and walling, clearance and machine operation.
Our established client is currently seeking an arborist to undertake all duties within the Winchester and Westbury areas. The candidate will have excellent knowledge of tree and fungus identification and must have recent climbing experience. The duties will include implementation of tree work specifications, completing health and safety checks and all site risk assessments. Experience in arboricultural operations with competency certification in brushwood chippers required. The successful candidate will hold the relevant arborist qualifications.
For more details please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk
For more details please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk
TRAINER ASSESSOR IN LAND BASED SUBJECTS
GENERAL MANAGER – UTILITY ARBORICULTURE
Bridgwater College’s Cannington Centre has an excellent reputation for its workplace teaching and assessment. It is seeking to expand the team of assessors to deliver apprenticeships and workplace training in horticulture, sports turf management, countryside management and arboriculture and forestry. It is seeking highly proficient trainers who are experts in their field and passionate about training and aiding companies to develop their workforce. Dependent on recruitment of students, the hours required for each area will be: arboriculture, 14 hours; countryside, seven hours; horticulture, 14 hours and turf, 14 hours.
Glendale delivers an unparalleled portfolio of specialist green services. The successful candidate will be a proactive business manager able to offer significant operational, financial and commercial management to one of its most significant contract bundles. Key to the success of this role will be detailed operational planning to fully mobilise, equip and engage staff to deliver the highest standards of service. Reporting to the regional director, the successful candidate should be qualified in arboriculture, forestry or similar to degree level with significant experience in delivering large utility/vegetation management contracts.
For more details please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk
For more details please go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk
YORK
ESSEX
SOMERSET
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BUCKINGHAMSHIRE
Bartlett Tree Experts offers in house and industry based training and provides all equipment and PPE, a competitive basic salary (based on qualifications and skills) with additional incentive schemes, 28 days holiday and company pension scheme.
LONDON
EAST MIDLANDS
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The
ANCIENT
ANCIENT TREE COLUMN
tree column
This month, the Ancient Tree Forum and Suffolk Traditional Orchard Group introduce us to…
Roger Deakin’s Thorpeness Apple Not all ancient trees are large and some may not even be recognised as trees. Fifty metres from the sea on the inward side of a shingle bank near Thorpeness in Suffolk is a very unconventional apple tree that is no more than 1m high. It is regularly drenched by sea spray and despite being inundated in a storm surge in the winter of 2013-14, the tree produced edible fruit the
following summer. Apples are generally not long-lived but this tree has been there for as long as anyone local remembers. The tree is 7 x 12m in spread and there is no apparent trunk. Flattened branches run snake-like along the ground, periodically covered in gravel. The whole plant sits in a depression in the shingle, its fruit scrumped by locals, but nobody clears the plastic and bottles blown into its tangle of sticks. It achieved literary fame through its inclusion in Wildwood, by Roger Deakin, whose evocative writing describes his regular stopover for an apple before walking on to Aldeburgh to buy sprats. The fruit is nice enough for the Suffolk Traditional Orchard Group to graft and distribute young trees to a dozen or so traditional orchards in the county (away from the sea they make large trees). Generally called “Thorpeness”, or
“Roger Deakin’s Apple”, it is also on sale, grafted onto a semi-dwarf garden rootstock, as “Aldeburgh Beach Apple” from a Suffolk nursery. There are many fruit trees that grow close to the sea along this part of the coast. One hundred metres south of Roger Deakin’s Apple is a scruff y 1.5m high tangled pear and 100m from the cliff edge at Dunwich Heath, some miles north, is another apple tree this time 4.5m high and propagated for local gardens for its large delicious fruit. Around Minsmere are more than 20 apple trees and several pears. Most of these trees are self-seeded, and some are likely to be descendants of feral apples taken to the beach in ploughmen’s and fishermen’s lunches. The Ancient Tree Forum champions the biological, cultural and heritage value of Britain’s ancient and veteran trees and gives advice on their management at www.ancient-tree-forum.org.uk. The Suffolk Traditional Orchard Group records and protects old orchard sites and will soon be publishing these as a map at www.suffolkbiodiversity.org/orchards.aspx. The two organisations are running the ATF’s summer forum in Suffolk on 18 and 19 June, with a focus on orchards and fruit trees. See the ATF’s
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Photos courtes y of Rob McBri de
website for details.
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