Pro Arb May 2017

AN INTERVIEW WITH

JONATHAN ASTILL ASTILL TREECARE

BOUGH DOWN

MAY 2017

CHARTER FOR TREES GIVING OUR FORESTS A FUTURE

GUIDE TO THE ENGLISH OAK

PLUS...

6 PAGES OF THE LATEST ARB KIT

CULTURAL CAPITAL REDEVELOPING HULL

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WE OFFER A FULL RANGE OF BATTERY AND PETROL PRODUCTS TO SUIT YOUR EVERY NEED. Visit our website to see the full range: www.makitauk.com Pro Arb.indd 1 May17.indd 53 Advert template

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NEWS 04 AGENDA

How do you envisage the general election will affect the industry?

06 NEWS

A roundup of industry news

08 NEWS EXTRA

Our report from the ICF Conference 2017

FEATURES

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30 UNDER 30

The launch of the 2017 competition

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AN INTERVIEW WITH Jonathan Astill, Astill Treecare

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OPINION

Rob McBride suggests how we can

engage the public on protecting trees

20 ARB SHOW 2017 A preview of this year’s show

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CULTURAL CAPITAL We find out how Hull is incorporating trees into its £25m redevelopment plan

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CHARTER FOR TREES Pro Arb gets the details on the upcoming Charter for Trees, Woods and People

28 BOUGH DOWN An in-depth profile on the majestic oak

30 GUIDE TO: INSURANCE All the tips you need to get insured

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34 PESTS AND DISEASES Identifying and tackling mites

BRITAIN IN EUROPE

Jonathan Hazell explores how Brexit could affect the UK

KIT 37

BOOTS

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BATTERY CHAINSAWS

The importance of safety footwear Why battery powered chainsaws are gaining more and more popularity

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KIT All the latest arb kit

44 TOOLBOX Sussex-based Twelvetrees Treecare

REGULARS 47

WELCOME MAY 2017 • VOLUME 4 • ISSUE 5

W

elcome to the May issue of Pro Arb, we hope you enjoy all the content that the team has been working on this month.

We’re excited to get to the Arb Show this month where we can be found on stand number T30. It’s always great to meet our readers so please pay our stand a visit for a chat. As always, we would love to hear your feedback about the magazine.

I’m very pleased to say that in this issue we are announcing the launch of this year’s 30 Under 30: The Next Generation competition. This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the young talent within the industry, so if you would like to nominate yourself or somebody else please head to pages to find out how to apply In the magazine this month we’ve got an interview with arboricultural consultant Jonathan Astill. Jonathan has a broad range of experience what with spending a year of his studies in Austria,

returning to his old college to become a lecturer and setting up his own consultancy business. On pages 15-17 we get Jonathan’s views on local authority work, arboriculture as a career choice and what he plans to do next.

Also in this issue, we’re taking a look at the trees being planted in Hull as part of the 2017 City of Culture’s redevelopment. Head to pages to find out the details on ull s new semi mature trees.

We hope that you have a great month. Enjoy the read.

JOE BETTS

TOP TEN TIPS Climbing safety

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CONTENTS

ANCIENT TREE COLUMN

The Wishing Tree, Ashtead Common

ALL ENQUIRIES Tel: 01903 777 570 Eljays44 Ltd 3 Churchill Court, 112 The Street, Rustington, West Sussex BN16 3DA EDITORIAL Editorial Director – Lisa Wilkinson lisa.wilkinson@eljays44.com Editorial Reporter – Joe Betts joe.betts@eljays44.com Editorial Assistant – Max Dodd max.dodd@eljays44.com Editorial Assistant – Ellie Foster ellie.foster@eljays44.com roduction anager usie u susie.duff@eljays44.com Production Editor – Charlie Cook charlotte.cook@eljays44.com Subeditor – Kate Bennett kate.bennett@eljays44.com ADVERTISING Business Development Manager – Jamie Wilkinson jamie.wilkinson@eljays44.com Group Sales Manager – Luke Chaplin luke.chaplin@eljays44.com Account Manager – Jessica McCabe jessica.mccabe@eljays44.com Account Manager – Dale Keenan dale.keenan@eljays44.com Horticulture Careers – Liam Colclough liam.colclough@eljays44.com

PRODUCTION Design – Kara Thomas, Mandy Armstrong Printed by Pensord Press Ltd Published by ©Eljays44 Ltd CIRCULATION Subscription enquiries: emily.maltby@eljays44.com Pro Arb is published 12 times per year by Eljays44 Ltd. The 2017 subscription price is £95. Subscription records are maintained at Eljays44 Ltd, 3 Churchill Court, 112 The Street, Rustington, West Sussex BN16 3DA, UK. Articles and information contained in this publication are the copyright of Eljays44 Ltd and may not be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publishers.

The publishers cannot accept responsibility for loss of, or damage to, uncommissioned photographs or manuscripts.

FOLLOW US ONLINE www.proarbmagazine.com Follow us on Twitter @ProArbmagazine Like us on Facebook Proarbmagazine Connect to our LinkedIn group Pro Arb UK For careers in arboriculture and horticulture go to www.horticulturecareers.co.uk Every week we send out ‘Pro Arb: The Tuesday Recap’, in which we highlight the most popular news stories from the last week. If you aren’t subscribed to The Tuesday Recap but would like to be, please email Amber Bernabe at amber.bernabe@eljays44.com If you would like to send us press releases to post online and potentially feature in The Tuesday Recap, please email Joe Betts at joe.betts@eljays44.com Cover image ©Trevor Smith Photography Ltd

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

49 MEET THE SUPPLIER Husqvarna UK

50 LITTLE INTERVIEW

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AGENDA

WHICH WAY WILL YOU BE VOTING IN THE GENERAL ELECTION AND HOW DO YOU ENVISAGE IT WILL AFFECT THE INDUSTRY? NICK EDDISON

Arboriculture manager, Burleys

“How Brexit is handled will have the biggest impact on the economics of the country” I’m not sure who to vote for, as my constituency is overwhelmingly Tory and I’m ideologically opposed to their political stance. I’ll still probably vote Labour, even though they don’t have any chance of returning an MP for my area – I have considered voting tactically. I don’t believe in the mainstream media’s portrayal of Corbyn; in my opinion it’s good to have an outright socialist in charge of Labour. He’s e ecti ely een gagged since ecoming leader – that, or portrayed as a fool, which is unfair and does a disservice to the country, which needs to hear the opposition’s viewpoint. You have to look at who owns the media.

How Brexit is handled will have the biggest impact on the economics of the country as a whole and therefore knock on to our industry – I’m already paying 20% more for a stump grinder on last year’s rate, due to the lower value of the pound. I don’t think May’s

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‘hard Brexit’ will work well for anybody in this country, save a very few. She says that we’ll get trade deals with other non-European states, but with whom, and at what cost? It’s madness to turn our backs on our biggest trading partners in the EU, where over 40% of our exports currently go. At least Labour say they will go for a ‘soft Brexit’, whereby we still remain part of the single market, tari free The country voted to leave the EU, not the common market. While there are so many more issues that are important to consider, Brexit is the issue that’ll decide this election, I think.

HUGO LOUDEN

Managing director, Heritage Tree Services

“I’m voting Conservative – I need stability in my life and my business” I will be voting for a Conservative government when the time comes for the general election he current go ernment o ers much better support to small businesses than any of the opposition, which is something that I think is needed. The choice is a relatively easy one for me because

Labour are all over the place at the moment.

They seem to change their policies every week, so you don’t really know where they stand. I don’t see how anyone can vote for them when they’re the way they are, as no one knows what we’re going to get.

At this time, I need some stability in both my life and my business and I think voting Conservative is the best way that we can achieve this.

BRIAN CRANE

Managing director, BGC Associates

“I was very anti-Brexit so I will be voting for the Lib Dems – they have the best policy” I am a socialist, so my vote will be going to the Lib Dems. There’s no point in voting for the Labour party at the moment, and there is no way that I will be voting to maintain the current Conservative government.

Unfortunately, my vote will be a wasted one as where I’m based is a very safe Tory seat. I was very anti-Brexit which is why I will be voting for the Liberal Democrats, as I think that they have the best policy in terms of Brexit.

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STUART GOODALL

Chief executive, Confor

“The election offers an opportunity to make essential changes to policy” The election presents a real opportunity to move away from the failing policy of the last two years, which has seen the lowest planting rates since records began – just 525 hectares of new planting in 2016-17.

This is a devastating indictment of total policy failure.

Confor’s election manifesto will ask for more ambitious planting targets – 5,000 hectares a year, not 500, are needed to hit the long term target of 12% woodland cover in England by 2060.

However, this will only happen if we take the Forestry Commission back to its roots and task it with handling planting applications and funding, and give it full responsibility for hitting targets. e also need a grant scheme that is fit for purpose. The Countryside Stewardship scheme is not, and must be simpler and easier to navigate. The election, and parallel discussions about rural policy and funding

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after re it, o er an opportunity to make these essential changes.

We must have a minister with forestry in their title and a far greater understanding at a high level of government and its agencies about what modern, mixed forestry looks like, and the range of economic, environmental and social enefits it can deli er

RICHARD EMBERTON

Partner, Tree Saw

“It’s impossible for politicians to please everyone – that’s the simple truth” I will be voting for a Conservative government.

It has to be said that this is mostly down to my childhood and the way I’ve been brought up with this political allegiance, as I’m sure is the case for many of us. find it di cult to agree with what any of the parties do, to be honest. At the end of the day they are all politicians. It’s impossible for them to please everyone and it’s impossible that everything they’re going to do will please me.

No matter who you vote for, this is the simple truth of the matter.

JULIE ANN WEST

Secretary, BHA Trees

“I don’t believe arboriculture will fare better or worse than any other industry” I haven’t made up my mind on who to vote for yet. It’s usually an easy decision but I voted to stay in the EU, so I’m not sure I want to endorse Brexit with my usual Tory vote. I’m waiting for the election manifestos to be issued, so it’s hard to ha e an opinion on the e ect of the election at this stage.

To be honest, the biggest issue for the UK is Brexit and we’re already feeling that burn with the fall in the alue of terling, in ation creeping up and nervousness about an uncertain future.

That’s bound to have an impact on how people spend their money as well as putting costs up, so there will be a squeeze on all industries. I don’t believe arboriculture will fare better or worse than any other industry, but I’m sure we’re all in for a bumpy ride.

Next month: Can more be done to improve health and safety in arboriculture, and who should be responsible for implementing changes?

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NEWSBEAT

A ROUNDUP OF ALL THE LATEST ARBORICULTURE NEWS FROM AROUND THE UK. FOR MORE STORIES VISIT WWW.PROARBMAGAZINE.COM

NEW DISCOVERIES MADE ON CHILEAN CONSERVATION TRIP

Image ©Martin Gardner

New discoveries and substantial collections were made in Chile by experts from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE), Benmore Botanic Garden, and the Perthshire Conifer Conservation Programme. The team made observations on, and collections of, Chilean conifers in their natural habitats. ignificant seed collections were made from a range of conifer species, including Chilean plum yew (Prumnopitys andina). Two previously unknown populations of the

species were discovered – one in the Andes and one in the country s central depression he team comprised Martin Gardner (coordinator of the International Conifer Conservation Programme at RGBE), Peter Baxter (curator at Benmore Botanic Garden),

Mauricio Cano (a Chilean h student at and Tom Christian (project o cer of erthshire s onifer Conservation Programme).

The seeds will be grown on at the RGBE, and their population genetics will be studied by Mauricio for his h om commented hese pri ate reser es pro a ly o er more e ecti e protection than national parks – there is less of a human impact, because visitor numbers are controlled.” www.rbge.org.uk www.pkct.org

TREES FOR LIFE HOPES TO BOOST ASPEN NUMBERS IN THE UK A conservation charity hopes to boost wild populations of aspens in the UK, where they are mostly found in northwest Scotland. Trees for Life hopes to have created its own source of seeds, by encouraging ranches to ower under controlled conditions.

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In trials, the charity has stimulated aspen branches to ower at its undreggan estate in the Scottish Highlands. Trees for Life has been running experiments in hand pollinating the trees for two years. The charity said the trees are at risk because they rarely ower, and collecting

seeds from aspen in the wild for propagation is “almost impossible”. Aspens that do ower in the ighlands are often in remote or inaccessible locations, making them hard to reach – if any seeds are available in the first place www.treesforlife.org.uk

£2.5M NATIONAL LOTTERY FUND SECURED FOR THE FOREST OF DEAN he orest of ean s history is to be explored and celebrated thanks to £2.5m of funding from the National Lottery. he oresters orest is the landscape partnership programme for the Forest of ean, ringing together partners to in est in the area s heritage o er the ne t fi e years Sue Middleton, programme manager, said: “This is a fantastic endorsement of the hard work our communitybased partnership has put in over the last two years, developing our heritage projects into an integrated programme.”

Nerys Watts, head of HLF South West, said: “We look forward to the continued success of this partnership, which will provide some much-needed opportunities for communities to reconnect with this incredible landscape.” www.wyedeantourism.co.uk

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NEW WOODLAND IN THE YORKSHIRE DALES TO PROVIDE A RANGE OF BENEFITS Across the Yorkshire Dales National Park region, 82k trees were planted between October and March to create 21 new areas of woodland, thanks to a long-running grant programme.

The new woodland will bring significant enefits for the local wildlife, people, environment and landscape.

The Dales Woodland Restoration Programme is delivered and funded by a

partnership including Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust (YDMT), Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) and the Forestry Commission. Together the partners aim to double broadleaf woodland cover in the Yorkshire Dales by 2020.

Through this initiative, great strides have been made in Bishopdale in recent years, thanks to the enthusiasm and commitment of one landowner,

Robert Brown. Robert said: “Since 2010, I have dedicated 65ha of land in Bishopdale to the creation of new native broadleaf

woodland, including two new areas of woodland planted this winter. In the last century, we lost a large proportion of the woodland in this dale and, with the help of this scheme, I’m delighted that we’ve been able to restore some of the land back to native tree cover, to support biodiversity and enhance the landscape for future generations.” www.yorkshiredales.co.uk

FIVE PROMOTIONS AT GLENDALE BOOSTS SENIOR MANAGEMENT TEAM

NEW THAMES CROSSING COULD DESTROY ANCIENT WOODLAND

lendale has made fi e promotions to boost its senior management team, as it expands its presence in the southwest. Vicky Ebbrell, Laura Owens, Wayne Gostling, Zoe Shillabeer and Anthony Jones have all been promoted to contract management positions. ll sta undertook training as part of Glendale’s management development programme, which covers all aspects of the business, from business development to HR. Terry Doyle, regional director for the southwest at Glendale, said: “This latest group of promotions re ects oth the

The preferred route that has been announced for a new crossing over the Thames in Kent and Essex will potentially cause damage to two areas of ancient woodland south of the river in Kent. Over 2,000 people sent an objection opposing the route to Highways England via the Woodland Trust.

Nikki Williams, Woodland Trust Head of Campaigning, said: “Thanks to all those who have campaigned, the chosen route is less destructive to ancient woodland than we feared. Nonetheless, the preferred route still fails to meet Highways England’s Biodiversity Action Plan, which commits to ‘no net loss of biodiversity’ from its projects.

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strength of our workforce and our commitment to developing our sta , as well as our intention to continue expanding in the southwest region. It has been a pleasure to watch Anthony, Vicky, Laura, Wayne and Zoe thrive and work their way up.

“While attracting skilled sta through external recruitment is always a priority, it’s important to nurture existing talent and provide opportunities for professional development. As a result, we have a strong, talented team dedicated to creating and maintaining beautiful outdoor spaces for everyone to enjoy.” www.glendale-services.co.uk

“Decisions like the one today remind us why we must continue to fight for better protection for ancient woodland, which is irreplaceable. Until planning policy is strengthened, we will continue to see our most precious wildlife habitats chipped away for the sake of supposed economic progress.”

The Trust is currently asking the public to respond to a government consultation on the recently published housing white paper, which provides an opportunity to strengthen protection for ancient woods and “aged and veteran trees” – only if government also amends planning policy. www.roads.highways.gov.uk

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ON 5-6 APRIL, THE ICF HOSTED THE THIRD TREES, PEOPLE AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT CONFERENCE, WHERE SPEAKERS TALKED ABOUT THE ROLE TREES PLAY IN AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT

T

he conference was attended by over 300 health, highways and urban tree professionals. Speakers from Australia, Canada, China, Spain, the , and the focused first on the role of trees in highway design; on day two, speakers highlighted increasing evidence that trees and greenspace play a vital role in improving the health and well-being of urban populations – with case studies to erify their findings and practices One of the key outcomes was cross-sector networking, as noted by conference chair Professor Alan Simson from Leeds Beckett University: “Health

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One of the key themes of the conference was the cross-sector networking

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practitioners were talking to landscape architects, arboricultural consultants were talking to planners, and our speakers are sharing the facts and figures that

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ICF NEWS EXTRA Conference report

TREES, PEOPLE AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT CONFERENCE

will help to build the cases we need in order to overcome the issues we currently face.”

“You only have to walk round the exhibition to see how technology is moving on. We need to move with it,” he added.

The UK Landscape Institute’s president Merrick DentonThompson, who chaired a session on Wednesday 5 April, said: “It is extremely important that professions from all over the world come to these sorts of conferences. We’ve had the most amazing array of technical information, and we’ve gained lots of ideas for how we can work together to solve problems.”

Alastair Sandels, a Fellow and vice president of the Institute of Chartered Foresters, stated: “Trees are going to be increasingly important to society in the future, in relation to climate change, mitigation and adaptation.

Working with trees as an Institute member, you are dealing with long

term decisions. This conference is a out finding technical solutions, as well as meeting other people who are involved in making those types of decisions.”

David Edwards

During the event’s ICF members meeting, David Edwards FICFor was elected as new president of the Institute; previous president David Henderson-Howat FICFor stood down after two years in the role. Since graduating from the University of Aberdeen in 1984, David has worked in the private sector in Scotland, England and Wales. He is currently district manager for Wales and the

Marches at Tilhill Forestry. His broad experience of commercial forestry and landscaping includes ten years working in utility arboriculture on railways and powerlines. Prior to his previous election as vice president in 2015, David served the Institute as an examiner, a member of both the Council and the Professional and Education tandards ommittee, finance o cer, committee mem er and regional group chairman in Wales, as well as representing the Institute and wider sector externally.

Commenting on his election, David said: “I am honoured, and I am looking forward to continuing the fantastic work of my predecessor, David HendersonHowat FICFor, and also the Institute’s executive team, during my time in o ce e ha e the highest number of members in the Institute’s history with more than 1700, and our aim is to continue to grow the Institute’s membership and reputation.”

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03/05/2017 13:45

The search is on...

SPONSORED BY GLENDALE, 30 UNDER 30: THE NEXT GENERATION RETURNS FOR 2017, WITH PRO ARB, PRO LANDSCAPER, AND FUTUREARCH MAGAZINES BEGINNING THE SEARCH FOR 30 OF THE MOST IMPRESSIVE YOUNG PEOPLE ACROSS THE INDUSTRIES. After two successful years, we are happy to be continuing to highlight and celebrate the great work of young and upcoming talents. The competition presents a chance for you to nominate yourself, or someone you work with, if you feel that they are deserving of industry recognition.

Turn the page to find out more...

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What last year’s winners say...

MICHAEL BUCK

LEXI HARRISON 12

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“Being named one of the 30 Under 30 last year was an absolute privilege and a key moment of recognition in my career. I’ve a real passion for horticulture and eing a finalist in the 2016 awards will remain a highlight for years to come. 30 Under 30: The Next Generation has provided me with a fantastic platform for networking with likeminded people and has facilitated the promotion of the industry when talking to the younger generation.”

Michael Buck, Hortus Loci “The event was a fantastic opportunity to meet likeminded people. My success at the awards has increased my confidence on a personal level and resulted in me achieving £1m of new sales within the grounds maintenance division.

The event has been a great topic of conversation at networking events and was perfect for raising my profile within the industry.”

Lexi Harrison, Hultons Landscape

ANDREW RYDER

DEAN JACKSON

“It was a great experience – if I could enter twice, I would! The awards and the formality of the occasion makes you feel like a mini celebrity. The award has helped most with networking and put my name on the landscaping map, as having the 30 Under 30 award under your belt seems to attract positive attention.”

Andrew Ryder, Hultons Landscape

“Being part of the 30 Under 30 awards last year was a great experience, and I shared it with some great people.

Being included meant I experienced further recognition within the industry, as well as our customer base at Greentech becoming aware of the event through me being a part of it and the coverage it received. Since the event took place, I have been continuing with the management of my team and ensuring that targets are hit.”

Dean Jackson, Green-tech

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Why apply?

The 30 Under 30 initiative was started in 2015 as a way to celebrate the work that young people across the horticulture and landscape sectors put in to their careers. Entering the competition is a great way to gain recognition of either your own work, or the work of someone else who you are particularly impressed by.

Previous winners of the competition have commented on their pride in being recognised within the industry, and have said it is a brilliant way to further enhance their careers in the sector.

The winners of the award will be featured across the magazine titles and will also be invited to collect their awards at a ceremony held during our FutureScape event on Tuesday 14 November at Sandown Park Racecourse.

Sponsored by Glendale Alex Paterson, operations director at Glendale Managed Services, said: “We are delighted to sponsor 30 Under 30: The Next Generation 2017.

“We are passionate about this accolade, which aims to highlight the achievements of 30 inspiring young people in our industry who have demonstrated passion, imagination, innovation and e pertise in their chosen fields, in such a way that enhances their careers and provides opportunities for advancement.

“It’s well known that many sectors across our industry are under threat, as fewer talented young experts choose to start careers in the field s a result, it s more important than e er to embrace opportunities like this that support and motivate the younger members of our teams who have shown dynamism and entrepreneurial spirit. It goes without saying that they are the individuals who will go on to shape the future of our industry, and we need to invest in them in order to retain its heritage and move it forward. 30 Under 30 is an initiative that sits close to our hearts ecause it re ects so many of our own internal award schemes at Glendale, which recognise the hard-working individuals we employ who have shown great potential for the future.”

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Who can apply?

The rules are simple – anyone nominated must have been 30 or under on 1 January 2017, and must work in any capacity within the horticulture, garden design and landscape sector.

How do I apply?

To apply for 30 Under 30, simply send an email to Joe at joe.betts@eljays44.com and he will send you an application form. All you need to do to nominate either yourself or somebody within your company is complete the form and send it back. We are accepting handwritten or typed responses.

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AN INTERVIEW WITH

Jonathan Astill

JONATHAN ASTILL, DIRECTOR OF ASTILL TREECARE, TALKS SETTING UP HIS OWN BUSINESS AND CHANGING PEOPLE’S ATTITUDES

Where do you get most of your work? t tends to e uite large tree populations, usually for pri ate schools and town councils here are a few of us in the o ce who are land ased industry consultants, ut we all work independently of each other e can push each others names forward

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when a client needs help with something that a di erent one of us would e etter placed to do What is the structure of your business? am a one man and y wife helps me with the ooks, ut do almost e erything on my own think a out e panding a lot, and one day pro a ly will make that leap, ut there are ad antages to eing totally autonomous and working on your own en oy not ha ing to manage people n the other hand, it would e e tremely useful to ha e some ody to deal with the more day to day, non ar oricultural work ha e toyed with the idea of perhaps taking on a graduate or ar oriculturist to help with the sur eys, ut a lot of it hinges on work olume, which can e ery erratic

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I have found that it is possible to influence other people’s attitudes towards trees

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What is your typical day to day role? f m in the o ce, ll usually start the day y trawling through my emails hen ll e either writing up reports, putting together uotes, or dealing with the general housekeeping of the usiness spend around of my time out of the o ce, where my work is di ided etween the planning and de elopment side of things, and carrying out tree condition sur eys

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How did you get into arboriculture?

I have always enjoyed being outdoors. In my early twenties I worked for the Ministry of Agriculture, isheries and ood, pushing pens in the finance department. After a year and a half I had an appraisal, and my boss recognised that this type of work didn’t suit me. He asked if I had ever considered going to Merrist Wood, which I had never even heard of.

I went to visit the campus and had a look through their prospectus. Seeing the glossy photographs of people in a beautiful oak tree on a blue-skied spring day, I knew it was what I wanted to do. You had to have a year of experience before you could start, so I wrote to the local tree surgeons and one of them took me on.

They taught me how to climb, and a year later I started at Merrist Wood, where I studied for three years.

You worked abroad as part of your studies, can you tell us about that?

I worked in Vienna for my middle year placement, which was extremely interesting. The Austrian approach to ar oriculture was uite di erent We carried out some things that were no longer acceptable practice in the UK, such as wound painting, cavity cleaning and draining. However, I also got to do a lot more interesting work such as cable-bracing, semi-mature tree planting and soil improvement, rather than just pruning and felling. The placement was with a large company whose clients included palaces and embassies, so we worked on some fabulous trees.

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I would like to see a reversal in the depletion of public sector local authority tree officers. I think they are invaluable and do an incredible job

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What roles have you had with local authorities?

I have worked for three local authorities – in the Test Valley as a tree surveyor, in Southampton as a tree o cer, and in ast orset, where e entually ecame senior tree o cer take my hat o to any ody working for a local authority now. As a result of public sector cuts, a lot of tree o cers are not replaced when they move on. It’s an important role – I don’t think people appreciate the work that is done in local authority arboriculture. It’s also good for everybody else in the industry, such as contractors and consultants, to have a strong local authority team with high standards.

Why did you decide to start teaching?

I was at that stage in my life where I wanted to gain as much experience in the industry as I could. The role was at Merrist Wood, so it was an opportunity to teach alongside some of the lecturers who taught me.

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KIT | FEATURES | NEWS

I was trained on the job and thrown in at the deep end scary to start o with, ut soon found my feet o this day m still in contact with a num er of students who are now working as tree o cers and consultants, or running successful contracting companies t s a pleasure to know that helped them on their way

Why did you start your own business? irted with the idea of consultancy for a num er of years was worried a out lowering my ethical standards, knowing that the people paying my wages would e de elopers who may want to ma imise the use of land was pleased to find that you shape your clients y maintaining your standards, and while e ery consultant will feel pressured at times, e found that it is possi le to in uence people s attitudes towards trees aying that, am not rigid work with people s trees and they ha e their own o ecti es t s ust a uestion of widening their hori ons and encouraging them to consider alternati es What has been your biggest challenge? he iggest challenge was getting my Le el professional diploma trained with a e owson at ree Life t was an e tremely usy time in my life where e erything seemed to e happening at once a e gets people through that ualification y eing a taskmaster, and he really cracks the whip was up for hours e ery night for two years on the trot he day the letter came saying had achie ed it was one of the happiest moments of my

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Interview.indd 17

life, ecause of the amount of sweat and toil that had gone into it If you could change something in the industry what would it be? would like to see a re ersal in the depletion of pu lic sector local authority tree o cers think they are in alua le and do an incredi le o What is the next step for you? ha e no intention of eing a director of a large ar oricultural firm, ecause ha ing had a management role in a local authority with a small team, found that en oy eing an ar oriculturist far more than eing a manager he ne t step for me will e to aim towards ecoming an r ssociation registered consultant

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I have great admiration for the contractors who understand not just how trees work, but how people and trees work together

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Is enough done to promote arboriculture as a career path? sit on the education committee for the r oricultural ssociation and there is always more that could e done n the grand scheme of things, it s still a relati ely minor industry, although it is growing and there is a greater awareness ha e got a few people into ar oriculture through clients e worked for sometimes they ha e teenage children who see the work that do and take an interest, and point them in the right direction here will ne er e a shortage of people who can get up a tree and chop it, ut ha e great admiration for the contractors who understand not ust how trees work, ut how people and trees work together

What do you like doing outside of work? like to cycle and run, and play a it of hockey used to do karate ut ga e that up ecause used to sustain a lot of minor in uries and can t a ord to take time o work ut do miss it www.astilltreecare.co.uk

Arboricultural Consultancy

Pro Arb | May 2017 17

04/05/2017 08:58

NEWS | FEATURES | KIT

OPINION

SCEPTICAL ABOUT THE AUTHORITIES’ COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING TREES, ROB MCBRIDE SUGGESTS SOME STEPS THAT INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CAN TAKE TO TRY AND HELP

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Opinion Rob McBride.indd 18

a positive dialogue and relationship at an early stage is priceless.

Impart helpful information and, if necessary, discuss Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs). While TPOs aren’t perfect, especially with their loopholes for older trees, it is a means of gaining at least some protection.

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we can step in as individuals or communities to provide quite low cost solutions to threats

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B

y now, the deadline for comments on the consultation for the housing white paper (England) ‘Fixing our broken housing market’ will have passed. Hopefully, many of you took the opportunity to send in your comments supporting an amendment in favour of including our ancient woodlands, as well as our heritage, veteran and ancient trees. The Woodland Trust ran a campaign, ‘Act Now’, to try and in uence this While I want to remain positive, I will believe this when it happens.

I met Owen Paterson MP four times when he was Secretary of State for the Environment, to speak about tree protection, and our conversations made me sceptical that I’d see any progress.

So what can we do, as individuals, to try to protect our treescapes?

Here are some practical steps that I feel can be taken. he first port of call should e the tree owner, if known. Forming

Record special trees (UK) on the Ancient Tree Hunt (ATH) website (www.ancienttreehunt.org). The Brimmon Oak, which I spoke about in my last column, is a prime example of a recording that proved to e significant when it came to protecting the tree, nine years on.

Communicate with other tree folk at shows, conferences, or via social media, and try to develop more positive relationships with land owners, local councils, communities and the media.

Several recent examples of tree loss/damage have made me think more about ‘quick wins’ with regard to tree protection. One is a grouping of Sequoias near to my home in Shropshire, which are being eaten away by cattle.

I am optimistic that I will be able to meet the owner of the Sequoias, and develop a simple plan to try and them from further damage and destruction. We can step in as individuals or communities to provide quite low cost solutions to threats against special trees. n oland, significant changes in environmental law since the New Year have seen thousands of healthy trees felled across the country. Greenpeace Polska, along with many other organisations including European Tree of the Year

(ETY), Environmental Partnership Association (EPA), European Landowners Organisation (ELO) and myself, have campaigned to rescind this law, which allows property owners to fell trees on their land without asking permission or informing any authorities – regardless of the age or significance of the tree The next few weeks will tell if this campaigning is successful.

Back in the UK, for trees under threat, further help may be obtained y contacting your local tree o cer (TPO), local council, Woodland Trust campaigns team, Ancient Tree Forum, or myself. www.woodlandtrust.org.uk www.ancienttreeforum.co.uk

ABOUT Rob McBride, ‘The Treehunter’, is a campaigner for ancient trees. www.treehunter.co.uk

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03/05/2017 16:38

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03/05/2017 13:47

NEWS | FEATURES | KIT

THE ARB SHOW 2017 WHAT’S ON AT

12-13

May 2017

WITH THE ARB SHOW IMMINENTLY RETURNING TO WESTONBIRT ARBORETUM, PRO ARB TAKES A LOOK AT WHAT VISITORS CAN EXPECT FROM THIS YEAR’S EVENT

TALKS & WORKSHOPS

This year there are a number of talks and workshops to attend. One of these will be a project update from o ert nott and en ose on the findings of their research into Stationary Rope Technique (SRT) work positioning he talk will take place in the reat ak all at am on oth mornings t pm, enton ogers, director of reeconomics, will e pro iding the latest news on the i ree tool, which is ecoming increasingly in uential in engaging decision makers and ustifying ur an forestry programme udgets his update will e plore the new features and upgrades to the tool, which is constantly eing de eloped To check out the full schedule for the workshops you can download the Arb Show app or visit the Arb Association’s website at www.trees.org.uk Also, a word on this year’s Arb Show Ale, brewed specially for the e ent y troud rewery s a it of fun, the r ssociation o ered the chance for isitors to choose the name of this year s o ering an online ote saw the name tump rinder come out on top, eating o sti competition from the likes of arkie c ark ace

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Whats On at the Arb Show.indd 20

THE STIHL DEMO ARENA

As principal sponsors of the event, Stihl will once again be running the popular demonstration area. here will e plenty going on in this zone, with live demonstrations of its e tensi e range of ar orist e uipment ere you can pick up tips on working at height, ha e a go with some of its chainsaws, and watch some incredi le car ing displays tihl is also o ering the opportunity to win one of its top handled chainsaws ll you ha e to do is register for the competition at the entrance to the show, or you can enter early using the r how app

WWW.PROARBMAGAZINE.COM

04/05/2017 10:56

KIT | FEATURES | NEWS

EXHIBITORS

Since the Arb Show relocated to the National Arboretum, there have been over 90 exhibitors each year – so there are plenty of stands to take a look at.

One of those exhibitors will be Perennial. Sue Brinsden, who will be running the stand, said: “Perennial is the charity that supports people in arboriculture and the wider horticultural industry when times get tough. Whether you’re of working age or retired, Perennial can provide free, confidential ad ice, support and financial assistance to help cope with life’s challenges, whether it’s an accident, injury, redundancy, housing problems or debt.” Visit Sue on Stand to find out more a out the ways erennial helps people in arboriculture and how you or your employer can support them.

Pro Arb magazine can be found on stand T30 at the Arb Show, where our team will be on hand to talk to you about our publication. If you have any feedback on the magazine or any ideas on the kind of content you would like to see more of, then we would love you to pay us a visit.

The Ancient Tree Forum, another familiar face from Pro Arb magazine, will be found at stand ATF. They will be raising awareness of the value of ancient trees, giving out advice on how to get involved with lobbying for ancient trees’ protection, and advising on anicient tree management.

VISIT THE WESTONBIRT ARBORETUM The event this year will be held inside the arboretum, meaning your ticket allows you to explore the area and learn more about the 15k tree specimens that can be found inside. The diversity of the trees in the arboretum make it well worth taking a walk around the venue if you can find the time during the two days of the event.

Admission also allows you access to the stunning Stihl Treetop Walkway inside the venue.

Standing 13m high and 300m long, the walkway o ers a ird s eye iew across the landscape

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Whats On at the Arb Show.indd 21

CLIMBING COMPETITION

The Arb Association’s 3ATC UK Open tree climbing competition is back for the 2017 Arb Show. The competition is run by a team of volunteers who want to help advance UK climbing practice and safety.

The Northern and Southern Student events also return, with the sponsorship of equipment supplier Gustharts. here will e three di erent categories (Novice, Expert and Premier) at the event, which last year saw more than 70 competitors climb over the two days. New kit check and booking rules have been activated for all 2017 climbing competitions; this year, anyone not following the updated requirement and completing their gear check form before the event will be penalised on their final score

THE APP New to the event this year, the Association has developed an app for those attending the Arb Show, which can be downloaded for Apple and Android phones. The app provides a handy timetable for the event, allowing you to plan your days in advance so that you don’t miss out ou can ookmark specific speakers and workshops, and recei e notifications to remind you when each one starts.

As the event goes on, the app will be updated with any key bits of information that you may need. It’s also a great way to network with others who are in attendance, as you can post on the event’s live feed.

The app’s map function will also be very handy when it comes to finding your way around the Westonbirt Arboretum; all the exhibitors are marked out so that you can plan your way around accordingly.

Pro Arb | May 2017 21

04/05/2017 10:57

NEWS | FEATURES | KIT

cultural capital

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OVER THE LAST EIGHTEEN MONTHS, HULL HAS BEEN GIVEN ONE OF THE LARGEST CITY CENTRE TRANSFORMATIONS IN ITS HISTORY, IN PREPARATION FOR ITS ROLE AS 2017 CITY OF CULTURE. PRO ARB FINDS OUT MORE ABOUT THE ROLE TREES ARE PLAYING IN THE REDEVELOPMENT

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n November 2013, it was announced that Hull would be the 2017 UK City of Culture, beating the likes of Leicester, Dundee and Swansea Bay to the title.

Not long afterwards, plans for a £25m city centre redevelopment were unveiled, partly to prepare for the spotlight, but also to leave a lasting legacy by improving the city’s streets and open spaces. a id ones, ar oricultural o cer at ull ity ouncil, e plains how trees fit into the rede elopment “It’s a really exciting time with all the tree planting in the city centre at the moment; it’ll look fantastic when it s finished and make a huge di erence to the area. The wider redevelopment has been going on for nearly fi e years now, and there has always een a focus on making trees part of the landscape. A lot of consideration has gone into finding ways of using trees to improve public lifestyle and health.”

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Avenues of semi-mature trees are being planted along busy city centre high streets, which will improve the air condition, create shade and attract new visitors to the area. In other areas, streets are being repaved, with some existing trees removed to allow for greater sight lines and to enhance views of architectural features on buildings – although once the redevelopment is completed, there will be more trees in the city centre than before. he final planting stage took place early this year Some 56 semi-mature trees have been planted in specially designed pits, which will give them the room they need for essential root development without damaging any newly laid paving or nearby buildings.

Tree selection The trees that have been selected for the city centre are large semi-mature trees – mostly London planes

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04/05/2017 08:32

KIT | FEATURES | NEWS

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A lot of consideration has gone into finding ways of using trees to improve public lifestyle and health

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and a number of acer varieties, aged 15-25 years.

These large species are often overlooked when it comes to planting in busy shopping areas, but their presence in ull will pro ide multiple enefits David explains how the team decided on these particular trees hey will ring all the enefits that large trees provide, such as shade and pollution absorbing. Because we don’t have to wait for these trees to grow and mature, the enefits will e felt almost immediately, which is great for the area.

“Larger trees are also less susceptible to vandalism. When you plant young trees and grow them on site in a busy area like a shopping centre, you have to provide them with a lot of protection.

“We really want these to be something that the people of Hull are proud of – then people will be more likely to treat the trees with respect, and we have found that they will report vandalism and

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1 Trinity Square

2 Queens Gardens 3 East Park

4 Jameson Street

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04/05/2017 08:35

NEWS | FEATURES | KIT

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The tree planting pits are an innovative design, increasing the available soil volume and reducing compaction

“ 1 King Edward Street 2 Ferensway

let us know if they do see anyone damaging them.”

London planes have been planted in Hull previously and have a good establishment rate. “There was no need for us to reinvent the wheel,” David explains.

“We know that these trees thrive in this area.

Sometimes that’s the best way to select species.”

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Hull City Council.indd 24

Planting The modern tree pits that Hull City Council have installed o er multiple enefits to the trees, and make it possible to plant a large number of mature trees without fear of later problems. “The tree pits are an innovative design utilising the latest ‘Silva Cell’ planting system,” David tells us. “Basically these are layers of modular cells stacked on top of one another, creating a honeycomb structure. This design vastly increases the available rooting volume by up to 15m³ compared to the one or two cubic metres afforded by the standard method. It also reduces the effects of soil compaction, a major inhibitor to healthy root growth, which is essential for the long term development of the trees.”

Despite the modern equipment, Hull City Council has by no means taken the easy route. “Our contractors have done a superb job in getting these trees planted,” says David. “It is a busy area anyway, but for them to come in during the busy Christmas

1 shopping period and be able to complete the work in good time is no mean feat. A lot of work has gone into this, and the end result is completely worthwhile.”

To help the trees acclimatise to the area, the contractors planted the trees and afterwards moved them to be replanted in new locations. An agreement has been made with the council that if any of the trees fail to establish themselves in the landscape, the cost of replacing them will be incurred by the contractors, so there is no danger of the council budget being eaten into any further.

Importation Each of the trees were individually selected from the Van Den Berk nursery in the Netherlands – the same nursery that provided a number of the saplings that were planted in London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Why import the trees? “I wasn’t part of the team that made that decision, but I know they will have looked at every available option,” David says. “The Netherlands has a fantastic reputation when it comes to growing mature trees.

“Although it may have cost more to have the trees imported from continental Europe, it’s important to us that we are building for the future. It makes sense to in est now to enefit the ity entre pu lic realm for generations to come.”

WWW.PROARBMAGAZINE.COM

04/05/2017 08:42

KIT | FEATURES | NEWS

CHARTER FOR TREES

T

ON THE 800TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 1217 CHARTER OF THE FOREST, MORE THAN 70 ORGANISATIONS HAVE COME TOGETHER TO CREATE A NEW CHARTER FOR TREES, WOODS AND PEOPLE IN A BID TO BUILD A BETTER FUTURE FOR THE UK’S TREES. PRO ARB SPEAKS TO PROJECT LEADER MATT LARSEN-DAW TO FIND OUT MORE

he Woodland Trust is the lead organiser of the charter, responsible for bringing everyone together to ensure that recognition of what trees can do for society is maximised. Matt explains the idea behind creating the charter: “We want to bring the country together in a celebration of trees and build a shared resolve to make them a key part of our future. The Woodland Trust has been thinking about creating this for around fi e years History The original Charter of the Forest was a document signed in the aftermath of the Magna Carta, as the ‘law of the forest’. It was necessary for an entire document to be created for this, due to the importance of the land to people’s lives. At the time, woodland would be used by a large amount of people to feed farm animals and to collect firewood Matt discusses why the original charter was necessary: “The royals were claiming more and more land as royal forest, which meant they were able to dictate what people could and couldn’t do on the land. It was incredibly draconian. If you went into the woods with your pigs and let them eat acorns, that was seen as stealing from the king, and

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Charter for Trees.indd 25

you could ha e your hands chopped o o protect people from this, the original charter reduced the amount of royal forest and changed the laws within the remaining royal forest to protect people, giving them the right to use the forest and its sustainable products such as acorns and beechnuts.

The new charter Clearly times have changed since the original charter was created – so what is the idea behind the new charter? “What we want to look at is the role trees and woods play in people s li es today, Matt explains. “A lot of us within the industry are already converted, in that we know what trees can do for us and we know their value. However, because they are not part of people’s everyday lives in the way that they used to be, they don’t tend to be as appreciated.

“Trees are still just as important as they were back in 1217, it’s just that their importance is a little bit

Pro Arb | May 2017 25

04/05/2017 10:19

NEWS | FEATURES | KIT

“

One of the major aims of the charter is to promote the value of trees to a wider audience

subtler. People still enjoy them as part of the green space; they clean the air, beautify the landscape and help to pre ent ooding One of the major aims of the charter is to promote the value of trees to a wider audience.

Why is this necessary? “The Woodland Trust currently does a lot of work to protect the limited amount of ancient woodland that we ha e left, Matt says. “We’ve found that ancient woodland is being talked about more and mentioned in news articles, and policies are being created that note its importance. However, while we have established that it is important and that people like it, there are more than 700 ancient woods that are under threat from planning and development applications at the moment. That is a huge number when you consider than only 2% of the country is covered in woodland that is more than 400 years old. It’s a small part of the landscape but it’s unique, and it is not being protected.

“What we’re trying to do with the charter is remind everyone in society that trees do have value. We want to really understand where people feel they get that value from and how it is expressed in their lives, and then create a charter that gives society a clear guideline for how it can achieve a future in which trees and people stand stronger together

“

Making a difference There have been plenty of schemes and plans in the past that have aimed to increase the awareness of the importance of trees and woodland, so we ask Matt to explain how this one will e di erent ne of the things that is unique about the project is that we’re bringing together a lot of di erent agendas ather than this just being a Woodland Trust campaign, we are connecting many di erent people from all kinds of backgrounds. We have forestry organisations, arborists, the Landscape Institute, lawyers, students and more. The idea is that the charter should represent all areas of society, whether they are directly involved with trees on a professional le el or not n total, more than organisations are signed up, and are currently in the process of shaping the wording of the charter.

So how are these people going to make a di erence etting all of these organisations on board is a good start, but it is not enough on its own, because these organisations would be

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Charter for Trees.indd 26

conveying the message about how important trees are regardless, says att t was decided that we would need to run a road pu lic consultation to find out all the di erent ways that people feel trees are important in their lives. We have asked members of the public to submit a personal story related to a tree or an area of woodland Over 60k stories have been sent in so far, detailing people’s memories of trees – from planting one as a child, to using them to create a fort, to noting the di erence they can make y adding green to an urban environment.

We ask Matt how willing people have been to share their stories hat we e found is that at first people may have been reluctant to share, or say that they don’t have a tree story, but we know that everyone does – no matter how small it may be. As soon as a few people started to share online or at events, it would spark memories in others, and they would all want to share their own. It turned out that people had a few stories that they wanted to voice.

“The response we’ve had since we launched the idea in January 2016 highlights how absurd it is that the woodland in this country is not more protected.

We are in a situation where our trees are at crisis

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04/05/2017 10:20

KIT | FEATURES | NEWS

“

We want to bring the country together in a celebration of trees and build a shared resolve to make them a key part of our future

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point. We feel that, with so many people behind this, we can really make a di erence to the physical landscape in the UK.” Launch date he o cial launch date of the harter for rees, Woods and People will be 6 November, marking exactly 800 years since the original charter was signed in he charter will e launched at Lincoln astle this is significant as it is one of only two sites in the country to ha e a copy of the original, which the new charter will be displayed next to. hat is still eing done up until that point ntil then, we will still e working on the finer details of the charter o do that we re working through the analysis of all the stories, to make sure that we really get to grips with them,” Matt says. o, what can we e pect to find within the charter hen the charter is released, ecause of the large amount of e pertise that has gone into it, we hope that people will e a le to find out a out what they can do to help, and that it will help shape the policies that need to be created. One thing that has been made apparent and is almost certain to be an article within the charter, is that we need to

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Charter for Trees.indd 27

dedicate a day of the year to the celebration of our trees and woodlands t the moment, the closest thing we have to that is National ree eek, ut really that is more of an industry e ent, focused on planting e ha en t decided what it should e called yet, ut it s likely to e on the first aturday of ational ree eek every year. ther countries in merica and across urope ha e days dedicated to tree cele ration and I think we are really lagging behind. By creating this day of celebration, it will provide an opportunity for us to speak out through a joint statement, and highlight where we are falling short of achieving what the charter sets out to do ach year we will also ha e a focus, so this year the focus is ust a out the launch ut ne t year it could e a out the lack of planting, for example – any key problem that we feel needs to e addressed with regard to our woodland ou can add your signature the charter on the we site or e ery signature recei ed, a tree will be planted. www.treecharter.uk

Pro Arb | May 2017 27

04/05/2017 10:20

NEWS | FEATURES | KIT

bough down

FACTFILE

QUERCUS ROBUR

Recommended landscape Parkland and generous open spaces Leaf persistence May-November, brown leaves can be retained on the tree throughout winter Crown shape Broadly oval Height at maturity 20m+ Predicted lifespan 200+ years Soil conditions Fairly tolerant of all soil types – prefers deep, heavy clay Bark identification Deeply grained and gnarly Leaf identification Deeply lobed

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Pro Arb | May 2017

Tree feature Quercus robur.indd 28

Q

ELLEN CARVEY, RETAIL SALES MANAGER AT BARCHAM TREES, DISCUSSES THE MAJESTIC OAK

uercus robur, known as the English or pedunculate oak, is one of our nation’s favourites. It’s a quintessential native English beauty which has graced our lands for hundreds of years, in some instances for over a thousand. This wonderful species is a staple in our countryside: around it, our landscape has grown and our history been written.

The time periods that these trees live through is mindboggling. No one will ever li e to see the fruits of their e orts when planting an oak – they are truly for the next generation and beyond to enjoy, and this is a fact that must be considered when evaluating the locations in which to plant them. This tree is not one for the fainthearted, or the short of space. It is extremely slow growing, and needs plenty of vertical and lateral space in order to reach its full potential. I do prefer this tree in naturalised environments such as hedgerows or parkland; if a native feel is required, Quercus robur Fastigiata or Fastigiata ‘Koster’ are useful urbanfriendly varieties that can be considered, as they have a more compact, upright shape.

Commercially, English oaks are produced to be straight and balanced in their crown; however, nature tells us that imperfection is beautiful, and I do think this is something that should be considered in their management where external factors allow.

The older oaks that we see in our countryside are

often weathered, broken and damaged, and in many instances this gives them character and enhances their appeal.

From a soil perspective, English oaks are relatively easy to please. While they thrive on deep clay soils, they can tolerate a wide range of conditions, pro iding the land does not ood e tensi ely and the water table is not too high. Interestingly, once the tree is mature it can withstand some exposure to ooding on a routine, ut not continuous, basis.

Quercus robur supports the highest biodiversity of herbivorous insects of any British plant, while its acorns are a food staple for several small mammals and birds. It faces a number of nasty threats in terms of pests and diseases – most notably Sudden Oak Death, Acute Oak Decline, and Oak Processionary Moth – which could leave a lasting impact on its population. The last of these was imported accidentally on tree stock purchased from Europe, highlighting the importance of implementing comprehensive biosecurity policies for imported tree stocks. uercus ro ur is one of the first trees people tend to recognise, with its lobed leaf making for easy identification truly classic tree that has stood the test of time, it has shone throughout the ages and will continue to bring value to our environment for many, many generations to come. www.barcham.co.uk

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03/05/2017 16:47

KIT | FEATURES | NEWS

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It’s a quintessential native English beauty which has graced our lands for hundreds of years

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03/05/2017 16:48

NEWS | FEATURES | KIT

GUIDE TO:

INSURANCE

PRO ARB SPEAKS TO DANNY HAYNES, OPERATIONS MANAGER AT ARBORPLAN AND CLEAR INSURANCE MANAGEMENT, TO CLEAR UP SOME ISSUES AROUND INSURANCE

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n an age where it seems necessary to financially ack up e erything you do, it is fortunate that you can now purchase insurance for almost anything ith an industry like ar oriculture it can e di cult to get to grips with e erything you need for your usiness whether ecause you are legally re uired to ha e it, or ecause it would e ill ad ised not to ha e it

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businesses with employees must have employers’ liability insurance

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Insurance.indd 30

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30

What do you legally need? e ask anny a out the types of insurance that are a legal re uirement in the , and he e plains that there are two types re uired y law employer s lia ility and third party road risks hat is employer s lia ility insurance mployers lia ility insurance pro ides indemnity for compensation for employees who are in ured or made ill at work as a result of the employer s negligence, says anny usinesses with employees must ha e employers lia ility insurance he minimum co er under legislation is m, and almost all insurers pro ide a m limit as standard t s important to understand that this is a legal re uirement, and usinesses can e fined k for e ery day they are not properly insured usinesses can also e fined k if they do not display their employers lia ility certificate, or refuse to make it a aila le to inspectors when asked he re uirement for third party road risks insurance is the same as it would e for any ehicle you dri e on pu lic roads although one thing that should e noted is that if you ha e any forestry e uipment that is not necessarily licensed for road use, you still must ha e the third party road risks co er if you will e crossing pu lic highways with it to get to contractor sites anny e plains that there are further considerations to e made if your ehicle has a modification ou may use ehicles such as at ed tippers which ha e

WWW.PROARBMAGAZINE.COM

04/05/2017 08:29

KIT | FEATURES | NEWS

You must have employer’s liability insurance if you have: • Direct employees • Directors • Volunteers • Work experience students • Apprentices • Self employed labour-only subcontractors (these are people who do work for you, where you tell them what to do and provide the tools and/or the materials to do the work).

What is the difference between employers’ and public liability?

Employers’ liability and public liability are two of the main insurance packages you can buy; we ask anny to e plain what the di erence is etween the two: “An example of an employers’ liability claim would be if an employee is working at height, their climbing equipment is faulty and they fall and injure themselves,” Danny explains. “The employee can claim compensation for their injuries, ongoing medical care and even for loss of future earnings if the injury is severe and they can never work again.

“Public liability insurance protects a business against claims made by third parties for injuries or damage to property caused as a result of the business’s activities. It is not a statutory requirement, but it is considered a moral requirement, because we all owe each other a duty of care. An example of a claim would be if an employee fells a tree and it falls the wrong way onto an outbuilding, causing damage.”

Public liability values When looking up public liability insurance you are often met with a range of values from £1m up to £10m.

WWW.PROARBMAGAZINE.COM

Insurance.indd 31

R

IN

SU

We ask Danny how you should decide which value of insurance you need: “In our experience, many businesses now carry a minimum of public liability limit of indemnity of £5m. Some clients carry £2m indemnity limit, but with an increasingly litigious society and increased claims costs, £2m isn’t an awful lot of money. Where arborists carry out work for local authorities or tracksides, a £10m limit is almost always required.”

Is there any additional value in insuring your business to £10m pu lic lia ility e do find many businesses make a conscious decision to insure for £10m whether they need to or not. The view, rightly or wrongly, is that it conveys an air of added professionalism and commitment to the duty of care they have to their clients and third parties. It also means they can tender for most contracts, safe in the knowledge that if successful they won’t have to organise extra cover and incur additional costs.”

Working out your rate o find out more a out how a rate is worked out for individual companies and the sorts of things insurers take into account, we ask Danny to explain how premiums are worked out: “Premiums are based on business activity, which is split into two main activities: arboriculture, and forestry and other work. Premiums are calculated using turnover value for each activity undertaken, so for example a particular business may derive 75% of its turnover from arboricultural activities and 25% from forestry work. It’s therefore important to get an accurate breakdown, as a percentage of either working time or turnover, as this makes pricing more accurate and relevant to the business.

“Some clients may also work in high risk areas such as on or near railway tracks or electricity pylons, and these acti ities attract a di erent set of rates – again based on turnover.”

YPES

1 Employers’ liability insurance 2 Public and product liability

insurance

3 Tools and plant insurance

4 Hired in plant insurance 5 Personal accident insurance

6 Professional indemnity insurance 7 Commercial vehicle and

fleet insurance

“

public liability insurance is not a statutory requirement, but it is considered a moral requirement

“

een modified for e ample, if o sides ha e een fitted for capturing wood chippings, if lock o es ha e een fitted, or if they ha e chippers or stump grinder attachments and trailers. It’s extremely important to ensure that insurers are made aware of any modifications

AN

T CE

Pro Arb | May 2017 31

04/05/2017 08:29

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For information regarding Jensen products or to find your local dealer contact Bill Johnston on 07850 384530 / 01264 811260, jensenchippers@thwhite.co.uk thwhite.co.uk/machinery-imports

www.marshalllogging.co.uk Pro Arb Jensen Ad.indd 1

02/05/2017 09:15

Perennial - working at the heart of arboriculture We help with free, confidential advice, support and financial assistance.

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30/01/2017 09:31 03/05/2017 15:09

KIT | FEATURES | NEWS

top 10 tips 1

CHECK THE TECH

2

PLAN YOUR ROUTE

Make sure the equipment is subject to pre-use checks and weekly interim inspections. All equipment should ha e an in date, thorough e amination certificate, carried out by a competent LOLER examiner.

Planning your access to the tree and working out the best route can help you achieve the quickest and easiest route for you sing di erent access methods, such as Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs), ladders or the Single Rope Technique (SRT), can also speed up your access.

3

BE EXPERIMENTAL

Tree climbing has come a long way from the days of a three-strand rope and a Blake’s hitch. periment with di erent methods such as a hitch climber, mechanical friction devices and SRT. Each person will have their own preferences and e periences of di erent methods tart low and slow

4

THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX

5

LEARN FROM EXPERIENCE

se your e uipment in di erent ways ll of your equipment can have more uses than you know of.

Your rope has two ends that can be used, slings can be used for redirects and footholds, and pulleys can be used to reduce the friction in the system, for example.

Call on the experience of the people around you. Ask them for their advice; they may have forgotten more than you even know. There are a number of shows you can attend that are full of tree climbing wizards who can help you with any questions you have.

6

PLAN FOR EMERGENCIES

Make sure your team, including your aerial rescuer, is aware of the emergency procedure and where the first aid kit is t s no good it eing in the van if you’re not near the van. Constant practices and revision sessions during downtime mean that when an incident happens in real life, you’re not trying to remember a procedure that you haven’t done in years.

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Top Ten Tips.indd 33

Climbing safety

SCOTT WATSON OF ARB SCHOOL PASSES ON HIS WORDS OF ADVICE FOR SAFE TREE CLIMBING

7

CALM IS KEY

When an aerial rescue is required, try and talk to the casualty and calm them down; they may be able to self-rescue. When you’re climbing, let them know what you are doing, and try to take their mind o whate er may e the pro lem peed is key – being able to get to them quickly is important to gi e first aid on t e a hero f there is a risk that you could become a casualty as well, don’t do it.

8

STRENGTH CHANGES

9

KNOW YOUR LIMITS

Be aware that the way you use things can change their strength; using slings for an aerial rescue is a prime example. A typical tape sling is rated to 240kg in vertical straight use, which is the same weight as two people and their e uipment f the sling is choked around something, as it normally is for a pole rescue, then it reduces the strength by 20%. This means it’s only rated to 192kg, which is not strong enough for two people and their equipment.

f you feel uncomforta le with something, then don’t do it. Knowing what you’re capable of and what is too much for you is a good quality to have as a tree climber.

10

ENJOY IT

Tree climbing is a great thing for you to do. t s hard ut rewarding ou need to do something that you enjoy, or before long you will get sick of it.

There will be days when you don’t want to do it, but there should only be a few of these in comparison to days when you can’t wait to get up a tree.

ABOUT Arb School offers handson training courses for arboricultural and other land and amenity sector workers, based at its facilities in the North York Moors National Park. www.arbschool.co.uk

Pro Arb | May 2017 33

03/05/2017 16:41

PEST & DISEASE

NEWS | FEATURES | KIT

Photographs ©Jon Banks (unless otherwise captioned)

Symptoms and identification Mites feed by using piercing mouthparts to drink the insides from plant cells, usually on tender tissues such as leaves. This can be expressed as one or more of the following symptoms: bronzing, yellowing, mottling, or speckling of foliage. Foliage may also acquire a grainy feel from high levels of mite waste. Severe infestations may cause leaf death and drop.

The webbing produced by mites is sometimes mistaken for spider we s mite we ing is finer and covers foliage closely, forming a surface, and mites may be seen travelling around or clustering on it.

The mites which damage plants are generally under half a millimetre long, being so small they appear as tiny moving ecks, arying in colour hey

34

MItes

LUKE HAILEY FROM BARTLETT TREE EXPERTS EXPLAINS THE BIOLOGY AND CONTROL OF MITES, WHICH CAN AFFECT ANY SPECIES OF TREE OR SHRUB have a rounded body with eight legs – they are actually a type of arachnid rather than an insect, closely related to ticks. The very smallest mites are practically invisible and form galls on plants which they live inside. These appear as growths or blisters, which are sometimes red, and they are generally a cosmetic issue rather than anything threatening. Not all mites are

Red Spider mite on strawberry

Spider mite damage to birch leaves

Pro Arb | May 2017

Bartlett Tree experts.indd 34

bad – larger mites are often found cleaning up detritus, or preying on mites that damage plants. If unsure, submit foliar samples to an appropriate diagnostic laboratory.

Biology Many species of mites can reproduce asexually or produce males from unfertilized eggs; these tricks allow them to increase their populations rapidly when conditions are appropriate.

Females can lay around 100 eggs in a month, and many generations are produced each year.

Mite attacks are associated with heat and drought stress.

Mite reproduction is strongly linked to temperature: when high heat mixes with susceptible stressed hosts, populations can increase wildly and cause large scale damage.

Management Mites can quickly become resistant to chemical pesticides due to their fast reproductive rate. Mite control uses physical pesticides such as oil, soap or silicates, which ariously su ocate or desiccate the mites following contact. These require repeat

Damage of conifer under microscope

©Glynn Percival

M

ites are a common problem on trees and shrubs, and they can a ect any species. It’s essential that infestations are identified and treated appropriately. There are many di erent species of mites, but the majority that impact plants live and attack in similar ways.

Red Spider mite on strawberry

application to ensure appropriate levels of control.

Stress management is an important part of a programme to increase host resilience, especially providing adequate water in drought situations.

Avoid fertilization until the mite population is under control, as this may increase their numbers.

Biological controls are available in the form of predatory mites and lacewing larvae. Attempts to control mites by application of broad-spectrum insecticide can reduce numbers of mite predators, in turn reducing pressure on mite populations. www.bartletttree.co.uk

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04/05/2017 10:04

BRITAIN

W

IN EUROPE

KIT | FEATURES | NEWS

BUSINESS

JONATHAN HAZELL FORESEES A BLEAK FUTURE FOR BRITAIN POST-BREXIT, AND DISCUSSES HOW THIS WILL AFFECT FUTURE EMPLOYMENT IN THE TREE-CARE INDUSTRY

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Jonathan Hazell.indd 35

e aporates the ight to set up o ces in uropean capitals has already begun, and will only gain momentum as Brexit progresses.

Due to huge advances in medical science since the creation of the welfare state after the Second World War,

“

I suspect that our economy will teeter on the verge of collapse and so provide opportunities for the brave to stage a new industrial revolution

“

e’ve always had an ambivalent relationship with our friends across the North Sea and English Channel, and that relationship was further soured on 23 June last year.

Clearly, it isn’t possible to posit what might have happened to UK plc if we had not joined the European Economic Community in 1973, or the European Union’s single market in 1993. We do know that within that relationship our economy has grown, except for a short-term blip in 2008 following the banking crisis that lead to a long period of austerity.

What will happen post-Brexit, once we are no longer part of the European Union?

Much of our manufacturing is now owned o shore , and there is a real risk that once the various negotiations for trade deals with other countries have been concluded, the factory owners will sell up and walk away if they decide it s no longer profita le to own and operate plant here.

Much of our GDP relies on the pro ision of financial ser ices, and we have enjoyed huge growth in that area because we are both within Europe and yet at armslength. If we are no longer within the same trading framework as our European partners, the enefit of ha ing o ces in the

the presumption that the NHS will always be free at the point of delivery is no longer viable without a massive increase in funding. This increase isn’t going to happen, but it would be political suicide for anyone in power or in opposition to say so.

Additionally, as life expectancy has increased there has been a huge rise in the number of elderly people in the UK who no longer pay into the bank of UK plc, but rely on money from the government to stay alive. We can already see that now, and the numbers are only going to go up in the years to come.

Without manufacturing or services, central government income from all forms of taxation will be reduced; without

employees, the opportunities to levy income tax or National Insurance will fall away; with the continuing trend towards selfemployment, tax avoidance and evasion will increase. In a nutshell, there will be even less money for the government to share, and so the provision of services will no longer be funded.

Once we are out of Europe the financial situation of plc will be parlous, and I suspect that our economy will teeter on the verge of collapse and so provide opportunities for the brave to stage a new industrial revolution (we’ve already had one – we could always have another). In fact, we’ll pro a ly need one, as tari s on imports of manufactured goods will likely make them una orda le Wages and employment rights will be slashed, and so for most people the opportunies for discretionary spending on tree work may well disappear for a while – unless you happen to be the post-Brexit equivalent of an oligarch, I suppose.

Who will employ the tree care businesses that rely on the private and residential market? Who will find the money for local authority pruning regimes?

But, if no work is done, who is to say that the overall quality of our tree stock will not improve? www.jhazell.com

Pro Arb | May 2017 35

03/05/2017 16:35

You will love the performance of the NEW CAMON SG30 Stump Grinder fitted with the hard wearing Greenteeth system. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be equally impressed by the low running costs, simple teeth changes and excellent build quality.

BUILT to last Our UK built SG30 Stump Grinder cannot be beaten on performance, reliability or price.

Honda GX390 banks engine Fitted with 8 Greenteeth Reinforced chassis Only 62cm wide Folding handlebars Find out more by visiting www.camon.co.uk or call 01444 247689.

A visit R us Forestry & Firewood B a Machinery Specialists Sh t th owe

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Advert template May17.indd 56

t: 01926 484673 e: sales@fuelwood.co.uk

03/05/2017 13:44

KIT | FEATURES | NEWS

boots

kick out foot pain

W

PRO ARB HEARS FROM SIMON ASH, UK SALES MANAGER AT HAIX, ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF SAFETY EQUIPPED FOOTWEAR – NO MATTER THE PRICE

hile employee accident rates in forestry and woodland management have tended to decline in recent years, the averages are still higher than those for the manufacturing and agricultural sector. Health and safety requirements for arborists’ footwear is often di cult to adhere to due to the expense.

Consequently, within the forestry industry, individuals are choosing to purchase cheap footwear

to make short-term savings.

Such footwear often lacks the support, comfort and protection required in occupational safety boots, resulting in an array of health issues and increasing the likelihood of incidents occurring.

For arborists, feet can quickly become neglected and cause referred pain elsewhere in the body. As a result, posture problems, muscular tightness, oint sti ness, persistent pain and twinges, and pain and discomfort around the feet, legs,

HAIX

Protector Ultra • Exceptional impact protection • Class 2 protective cut resistance • HAIX two-zone lacing system for optimum foot and ankle support • Gore-Tex lining • Vibram sole • Watertight

INTEGRA.BOOT Leonardo

• Full grain leather • Double density PU/rubber sole • ni ue fi reglass toecap • Pierce resistant composite midsole • Insulated waterproof lining • Zip sided • Slip resistant

Price: Circa £224.90

Price: £129.80

www.haix.co.uk

www.integraboot.com

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Boots.indd 37

hips and lower back are common.

Musculoskeletal pain is the most common, implicated in 80% of work-related illnesses and causing the loss of 1.5m working days.

Feet release half a pint of perspiration each day, creating the perfect environment for infections to thrive – particularly in warm, damp boots. Plantar fasciitis is another problem; it manifests itself in a sharp, stabbing sensation in the heel, and is caused by damage-induced thickening of the plantar fascia tissue in the foot.

Selecting the right footwear for your job can be time consuming, but taking the time to invest in uality will make all the di erence to your work life and health. As quality footwear is more durable, they will need replacing less often, saving money in the long run. The best time to try on boots is later on in the day. Over the course of the day, your feet change shape; they are smallest in the morning, meaning that boots you purchased in the morning could be too tight by the afternoon.

MEINDL Airstream • Class 1 chainsaw safety boot • Gore-Tex lining • 33% more breathable than a standard Gore-Tex boot • Memory foam system to ankle area for custom fit • igafi secure lacing system Price: £255

www.meindl.co.uk

Pro Arb | May 2017 37

04/05/2017 08:49

NEWS | FEATURES | KIT

BATTERY POWERED

CHAINSAWS

T

PRO ARB TALKS TO STEVE ROSKELL OF EGO POWER+ ABOUT THE INCREASING POPULARITY OF BATTERY POWERED CHAINSAWS

he most recent innovation in battery powered garden equipment and tools, the lithium-ion battery, has been key in the evolution of battery powered chainsaws, which are now tackling their petrol rivals head on heir enefits are endless most significantly, they ha e zero emissions and reduced noise pollution, resulting in a healthier working environment for the user. heir safety specifications continue to overshadow the previous petrol frontrunners by eliminating the need to store highly amma le fuel

“

zero emissions and reduced noise pollution result in a healthier working environment for the user

“

ne of the iggest enefits for professional users is the reduced vibration of battery powered chainsaws, which makes them much more comfortable to use, particularly over extended periods of time. Many users of petrol engines have developed HandArm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS), an industrial injury triggered by

38

Pro Arb | May 2017

Battery Chainsaws.indd 38

continuous use of vibrating handheld machinery. Consequently, battery powered chainsaws are becoming the product of choice for an increasing number of major groundcare professionals, landscapers and local authorities.

Steve Roskell, European marketing director for EGO Power+, says: “Contractors ha e identified the fact that our equipment vibrates at considerably lower levels than many of the petrol alternatives.

For most of our tools, the vibration levels are under the 2.5m/s² exposure action value limit (EAV), and below the exposure limit value (ELV), which means a single operator can use them all day.

Any concerns that battery powered tools fail in their longevity when compared to their petrol counterparts have been noted by companies such as EGO Power+, and will undoubtedly soon be eradicated. EGO Power+ chainsaws, for example, can make up to 450 cuts per charge (based on a 7.5Ah battery making 100mm x 100mm cuts into soft wood), while the highly e cient rushless motor system gives a smooth cut that maximises runtime. Lithiumion batteries give the user all the power to get the job done, while freeing users from health, musculoskeletal and hearing problems caused by exposure to vibrations, noise and petrol fumes.

EGO POWER+

CS1600E 40cm

• Double Oregon bar and chain, with a 40cm bar length • 56V • 13.5m/s cutting speed • Up to 450 cuts with a 7.5Ah battery • igh e ciency rushless motor Price: £239

egopowerplus.co.uk

OREGON

CS300

• 36V saw with 40cm bar length • Tool less tensioner • 5.4kg with battery • Automatic oiler with 150ml tank capacity Price: From £185

oregoncordless.com/gb

HUSQVARNA

T536LiXP Top Handle • Brushless motor • 36V Li-ion battery • Ergonomically friendly with no direct emissions • SavE technology • High chain speed for fast, smooth cutting Price: £380

husqvarna.com

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04/05/2017 09:05

Visit our stand at the ARB Show to see some of the extensive range of equipment we supply

SCT-630H STUMP CUTTER 110HP

SCT-410H STUMP CUTTER 32HP

Reaching heights safely

Save money with our powered access solutions

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Reaching heights safely Quick and easy access for roof repairs, both internal and external

Compact machines able to access difficult to reach areas Manoeuvres through standard gateways and narrow paths Low ground

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tracked ‘Spider’ access platforms

Level 4 diploma in arboriculture

paths and lawns Quick and easy access for roof Dual powered repairs, both internal andfor external silent, or internal ■ Compact fume machines able to access free working difficult to reach areas Site to site Manoeuvres through standard transportation on gateways standard and narrow paths plant trailer ■ Low ground pressures avoiding Full range of damage to drives, vehicle compact paths andmounted lawns access platforms ■ Dual powered for silent, or internal Avoids costly hire fume free charges working

Compact machines able to access difficult to reach areas Manoeuvres through standard gateways and narrow paths

Supported learningtutorials, learning plans and dyslexia support

Track widening system & greater ground clearance

Site to site Cost effective transportation on investment standard plant solutions / low cost ■ trailer of ownership

Established 1999 A full range of compact vehicle mounted access platforms which can be quickly set up on a standard driveway or single lane carriageway. Insulated cage options available.

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Promax Access Ltd Avoids costly hire charges 01226 716657 Unit 8, Acorn Phase 3, Cost effective High Street, Grimethorpe, 01226 716658 investment Barnsley, South Yorkshire S72 7BD solutions / low cost of ownership Tel: 01226 716657 Email: sales@promaxaccess.com A full range of compact vehicle mounted access platforms which can be quickly set up on a standard driveway or Web: www.promaxaccess.com Fax:Insulated 01226 716658 single lane carriageway. cage options available.

Unit 8, Acorn Phase 3,

High Street, Grimethorpe, Barnsley, South Yorkshire S72 7BD

Email: sales@promaxaccess.com Web: www.promaxaccess.com

Telephone:

Fax:

Members of the International Powered Access Federation

01252 850096 www.thetrainingtree.co.uk learn@thetrainingtree.co.uk

awards Recognised Centre

Promax Access Ltd Unit 8, Acorn Phase 3, High Street, Grimethorpe, Barnsley, South Yorkshire S72 7BD Email: sales@promaxaccess.com Web: www.promaxaccess.com

promax advert.indd 1

Advert template May17.indd 61

Telephone:

01226 716657

Fax:

01226 716658

Members of the International Powered Access Federation

27/07/2016 10:23 04/05/2017 11:03

Pede

F Telephone: 0118 940 1740 Email: info@dbm-hire.co.uk

Wood Chippers 6” Towed 6”, 7.5” & 8” Tracked

WOW! DANequip’s stump Tracked Access Platforms 14m, 15m, 19m & 20 Metres

Stump Grinders - 28hp, 50hp & 75hp Mini Loader + Log Grab, Flail, Silage Forks & Pallet Forks

grinders have the advantage of narrow access - down to 26”

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Leading the way in narrow access stump grinding

web: www.dbm-hire.co.uk

UNFOGABLE MESH EYE PROTECTION

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Specialist Commercial Vehicle Supply & Leasing

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MASTER SINCE 1968

New vehicles for the Arb industry supplied throughout the UK

Available on all Chassis Makes & Models Call 020 8539 0611

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TI

www.perkinscs.com

03/05/2017 16:03

ARB

KIT A roundup of the latest products

KIT | FEATURES | NEWS

MAKITA UK

UM600DZX 10.8V CXT grass shears (body only) • 1,250 cycles per minute • 2,500 strokes per minute • 160mm cutting width • 15, 20, 25mm cutting heights • 1.4kg net weight • 75 dB(A) noise sound pressure • 3 dB(A) noise K factor • 1.5 m/sec² vibration K factor • 2.5 m/sec² vibration no load Price: £78 (excluding batteries and charger)

www.makitauk.com

LOGOSOL UK

Farmer’s sawmill (excludes chainsaw) • Ability to saw 3.8m standard and easy to extend • Can easily be dismantled for transport or storage • ncludes a saw carriage that can e lifted on and o • Auto locking system in ¼in steps gives timber with accurate dimensions • awmill can e configured with m etween the winches for longer logs, or 1m for shorter pieces.

Price: £1,140

www.logosol.co.uk

DMM

F R JONES AND SON LTD

• High strength modular system that can be used to gain mechanical ad antage and increased e ciency while lifting, lowering, moving, or controlling a load • 50kN Minimum Breaking Strength • 10kN Working Load Limit • Compact system – only 32cm from end to end when compressed • Available in 15m or 30m rope length versions

• 24-strand Kernmantle construction • Excellent abrasion resistance • Lightweight • Easy-grip supple feel • Protective coating • Controlled extension

RPM system

Stein Acuda 11.7mm climbing rope (1 splice)

Price: 35m – £114.76, 45m – £140.26, 60m – £178.50

www.frjonesandson.co.uk

Price: 15m system – £525, 30m system – £560

www.dmmprofessional.com

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Pro Arb | May 2017 41

04/05/2017 09:25

NEWS | FEATURES | KIT

TRUNCATOR

4Fold chainsaw sawhorse • Innovative multiple-log sawhorse makes log cutting easier, faster and safer • Cut multiple perfect sized logs all at once, securely and quickly • Height-adjustable galvanised steel trestle for safe and easy work at a comfortable height – less time spent cutting on the ground • Patented tipping log cups allow cut logs to be tipped directly into a bag, bucket or barrow – less time spent double handling • Strong and durable plastic log cups mounted on a treated timber beam for chain-friendly cutting – less time spent resharpening chains Price: £166.98

www.truncator.co.uk

HOME FORESTRY LLP

Rabaud Xylochip 100C tracked chipper • Chipper mounted on rubber track • 80cm in width, with removable hopper for transport • 180° rotating turret to make the machine work in all positions • Maximum wood diameter 100 mm • Adjustable feeding roller speed for increasing or reducing the size of shavings, even cleft branches.

Price: From £13,995

www.homeforestry.co.uk

STIHL

HT 133 telescopic pole pruner

GLOBAL RECYCLING SOLUTIONS LTD Jo Beau V460 scarifier

• 460mm maximum working width • Honda GX200 engine • 5.5hp • 790mm width • 59kg weight

• New and improved replacement for HT 131 telescopic pole pruner • Fitted with 12in guidebar and ¼in PM3 saw chain for low vibration, precise cutting • New square telescopic shaft design provides stability and reduces rotation of the head • Extendable range of 270–390cm • Extendable shaft has an easy to use locking mechanism and a new quick release harness bracket is also included • Lightweight compact power head fitted with captive nut on the sprocket cover to prevent loss • Features a new 4-MIX engine with a larger capacity fuel tank, simplified starting procedure and easier servicing of the tappet.

Price: £900

www.stihl.co.uk

Price: £1,510

www.globalrecycling.eu

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Arb Kit.indd 42

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04/05/2017 09:38

Secateurs, hedgeshears and the world’s finest pruning saws in superb, tempered Japanese steel KST 230

KST 217

Silky Fox Saws

KST 103

Foxley Estate Office, Mansel Lacy, Hereford HR4 7HQ

Hayauchi 490

Pocketboy 170

Tel: 01981 590224 Fax: 01981 590355 enquiries@silkyfox.co.uk

Visit silkyfox.co.uk to find your local stockist

Arboricultural Training at its best!

• Professional Qualifications at levels 2, 4 and 6 • Short Courses – workshops putting you in control of knowledge, competence and

unfogable mesh eye protection

giving you confidence • New - ISA Certified Arborist training

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Tree Life is all about lifelong learning and the next best step for you and your career.

For more information and advice on your next step:

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See us at

THE ARB SHOW STAND

C6

• CHAINSAW OIL • 2-STROKE OIL • SAW BLADE OIL www.plantoil.co.uk 0800 013 7363 Advert template May17.indd 64

03/05/2017 15:08

NEWS | FEATURES | KIT

TOOLBOX

KEVIN TWELVETREES, OWNER OF SUSSEX-BASED TWELVETREES TREECARE, TALKS US THROUGH HIS CHOICE OF KIT

CHAINSAWS

I have some very reliable higher end Husqvarna chainsaws such as the XP series and the 266 models, which are the best saws I have ever used. I prefer older models, as I find that the build quality is better. I also use new top-handled battery powered Stihl chainsaws, which are fantastic. They have low fatigue and lower noise output compared to petrol chainsaws. They also donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t require coil starts, which can break, or constant refuelling, and they have exceptional battery life. Having a range of sizes is very important as this enables the best tool to be used for each job, reducing fatigue and increasing cutting efficiency.

HEDGE CUTTERS

I use Echo long arm models, which I find very productive. I run the HC30ES model, which is old but works very efficiently.

I also run an Echo Power Pruner which can extend up to 16ft â&#x20AC;&#x201C; ideal for pruning around traffic areas.

CHIPPERS

I think smaller machines are more effective as their payback time is reduced but they still get the job done.

I run a Steiner duel mulching machine, which has additional upside of being able to deal with green waste. As it is only a 30in machine, it is highly manoeuvrable, and because it is under 750kg, any staff I subcontract do not need a specialist trailer licence. I bought a winch from China to lift the chipper straight onto the lorry.

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Pro Arb | May 2017

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04/05/2017 09:22

KIT | FEATURES | NEWS

CLIMBING EQUIPMENT

I use older harnesses. I use Prusik loops, and larger Kevlar ropes with lower strand counts to give extra friction, which I find makes climbing far easier.

LOG SPLITTER

I have a customised Fuelwood machine – I have had three of these machines over the years and none of them have ever broken down. I had a larger table fitted with no cage, to allow easy access when splitting logs. It is run by a Honda engine, which is incredibly reliable. You can also adjust the height, making it much easier to cut firewood.

COMMERCIAL VEHICLE

I run a VW Transporter with movable side panels, meaning that it can carry a large amount of woodchip in the back. It is small enough to fit in people’s driveways, making it useful when it comes to accessing sites.

I have fitted a charging mechanism to my truck, so I can charge my chainsaw batteries via my vehicle. As it takes such little power to charge the batteries, there is no danger of it making the vehicle’s battery go flat.

PPE

I have a range of boots, Contact Super is a model which I find durable. I have used many different chainsaw trousers over the years; I currently have a Stihl pair.

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SAW BENCH

I use this McConnel saw bench, which is a great item of kit. As it can be operated via a foot pedal, I am able to keep my hands away from the blade, which dramatically improves safety.

Pro Arb | May 2017 45

04/05/2017 09:23

THIS SPRING IT’S TIME TO BLOSSOM WITH...

www.

.co.uk

IT WORKS

FOR EMPLOYERS Do you have a vacancy available? You’ll want to ensure that you find the right person to fill the role. So what do you do? Do you post the vacancy on a job board and hope for the best? Or do you use a service that actively works with you to ensure that you’re getting the right applicants? At Horticulture Careers we are on hand to help you from the initial posting right up until your vacancy is filled.

WHY USE HORTICULTURE CAREERS? OVER 25,000 (AND GROWING)

JOBSEEKERS VISIT OUR SITE every MONTH OVER 48,000 EMAILS ARE SENT TO CANDIDATES EVERY MONTH DEDICATED ACCOUNT MANAGER TO ACTIVELY HELP YOU FILL VACANCIES FEATURED ROLES INSIDE

PRO ARB MAGAZINE

visit the website at horticulturecareers.co.uk call LIAM today on 01903 777 574

SEND AN EMAIL TO LIAM.COLCLOUGH@ELJAYS44.COM

IT WORKS FOR JOBSEEKERS

It’s time to think about the future. In a climate where it’s becoming more and more difficult to build and sustain a career, you need to stay ahead of the competition. Horticulture Careers is more than just a job board; offering free CV advice, and actively helping to match your skills with suitable roles, you won’t find a more personal service anywhere else. Remember, it’s a career, not just a job.

WHY USE HORTICULTURE CAREERS? JOB BOARD UPDATED DAILY WITH THE LATEST VACANCIES FROM ALL OVER THE UK

Simple to use, Just register your details and begin applying for vacancies Opt into our weekly jobs mailer to keep updated on the latest roles Free CV advice and job matching. Just get in touch and we will be happy to help.

official job board: Horticulture Careers Full Page .indd 1

02/02/2017 12:12

The

ANCIENT TREE

column

SPECIAL BRANCH

Each month we feature an ancient British tree.

This month the Ancient Tree Forum introduces us to...

The Wishing Tree, Ashtead Common

n past times this old oak was pro a ly seen as a spiritual feature, where o erings were left and wishes made. It is one of 2,303 ancient oak pollards on Ashtead Common, many of which are over 500 years old. The majority have hollowed trunks packed with decaying wood, and are showing early signs of retrenchment m, and has many features you would e pect he ishing ree has a girth of to see in a eteran oak, such as decaying wood in the crown, lichen on the drier areas of bark, mosses in the moist areas, and a wide, squat trunk. he tree has een used y the ncient ree orum on its aluing and anaging eteran rees courses, to teach attendees a out sur eying and managing eteran trees, and a out past and present management

practices – both of the tree itself and the land around it. he ishing ree was a alua le resource for local people, traditionally har ested for fodder, firewood and tim er he stems were cut at or a o e head height, out of reach of gra ing li estock, so that they sent up new ranches oday, shtead ommon is regarded as a prime e ample of relic wood pasture, valued for its historic landscape and important habitat. he pollards are found among islands of scru and woodland, scattered

©Brian C

leckner

through open grassland and areas dominated y racken shtead ommon is managed to ensure a succession of these features, and to conserve a mosaic of habitats. Each veteran tree is individually sur eyed and managed, with gra ing the preferred method for keeping of the eteran pollards are still ali e, and the grassland open round most of them undergo a programme of haloing and crown reduction ther pollards are retained as standing dead wood or remnant stumps, alua le for in erte rates, fungi and other wildlife Valuing and Managing Veteran Trees, a one day training course, is being run in Gloucestershire, on 6 June and 19 October 2017. Valuing and Managing Veteran Trees: a three day advanced course for trainers, is being run in Epping Forest on 17 to 19 June 2017. For more details on these courses, please visit www.ancienttreeforum.co.uk/events The Ancient Tree Forum champions the biological, cultural and heritage value of Britain’s ancient and veteran trees, and provides advice on their value and management at www.ancienttreeforum.co.uk

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Ancient Tree Column.indd 47

hotographs

im

Pro Arb | May 2017 47

ulholland unless otherwise captioned

03/05/2017 16:34

NEWS | FEATURES | KIT

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

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

TREE SURGEON/CLIMBER

UTILITY ARBORIST

Our client is seeking a confident all-rounder who can use their knowledge and experience to provide a timely and quality service to a diverse client base in Herts and Beds. Applicants must have the ability to work under their own initiative, hold NPTC certificates C30, C31, C38 and C39 (as a minimum), and hold a current driving licence up to 3.5t (f, B + E). The role will involve tree climbing, felling, planting, pruning, carrying out tree health assessments and hazard assessments, street and park tree pruning and branch removals, and pest control. Experience of large trees is preferable.

We are currently looking for a utility arborist with a positive attitude to work in the Hampshire/Berkshire area. Suitable candidates should have experience in the utility tree maintenance sector and hold the necessary NPTC accreditations for tree cutting, tree climbing and utility arb. The successful candidate will have a positive attitude and good timekeeping skills. Further training will provided as and when required to ensure candidates continue to work to a high standard. A full driving licence is essential for this role.

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

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

SENIOR ARBORICULTURAL CONSULTANT

ARBORIST

Join a leading arboricultural consulting practice involved in a wide range of consultancy work including large scale computerised tree surveys, planning consultancy, legal expert work, subsidence and mortgage consultancy and general consultancy advice relating to trees and landscape.

The role will be focused on the commercial development sector, where we are working on projects in all areas of the UK. The role holder will be expected to manage arboricultural consultancy projects and staff, attend relevant meetings with clients and other professionals as a representative of Tim Moya Associates.

The role holder will be recognised as technically expert in arboriculture and commercially competent, to provide a first-class service to TMA clients.

Bartlett Tree Experts is a privately owned arboricultural company in the UK and Ireland and leader in the tree care industry with offices nationwide. Bartlett helps both residential and commercial customers maintain beautiful, healthy trees. We currently have a vacancy at our Bedford office for an experienced climber to fit into our established team and help with our expanding client base. Applicants must have all relevant NPTC qualifications (minimum of CS30, 31, 38 and 39), a full driving licence ideally with C1 plus E, a proven track record in all aspects of tree work and the ability to demonstrate excellent 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

TREE & SHRUB NURSERY SALES PERSON

Bartlett Tree Experts is a privately owned arboricultural company in the UK and Ireland and leader in the tree care industry with offices nationwide. Bartlett helps both residential and commercial customers maintain beautiful, healthy trees. We currently have a vacancy at our Beaconsfield office for an experienced climber to fit into our established team and help with our expanding client base. Applicants must have all relevant NPTC qualifications (minimum of CS30, 31, 38 and 39), a full driving licence, a proven track record in all aspects of tree work and the ability to demonstrate excellent climbing and tree surgery skills.

Due to an ever increasing workload we are looking for someone to become part of our busy sales team based in Potton, Bedfordshire. This is no ordinary sales role as it requires someone who likes variety, has the ability to communicate at all levels, as well as good IT skills and excellent administration qualities, and most importantly you must love trees and shrubs and the great outdoors. The ideal candidate with the horticultural knowledge needed to excel and a clean driving licence might already work within the sector, but we would love to hear from those in others such as landscaping, maintenance, contracting or garden design. If you know your Pinus sylvestris from your Quercus robur get in touch today.

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

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

FRANKLIN SAPSED STAFFING SOLUTIONS Location: Herts/Beds

TIM MOYA ASSOCIATES Location: Harlow

BARTLETT TREE EXPERTS Location: Beaconsfield (West London)

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Pro Arb | May 2017

OVERLAND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES Location: Hampshire/Berkshire

BARTLETT TREE EXPERTS Location: Bedford

DEEPDALE TREES LTD Location: Potton, Bedfordshire

WWW.PROARBMAGAZINE.COM

04/05/2017 11:15

KIT | FEATURES | NEWS

MEET THE

SUPPLIER Ken Brewster

sales and marketing director, Husqvarna UK

KEN BREWSTER TELLS ALL ABOUT THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE OF HUSQVARNA UK Can you tell us a little about Husqvarna?

The global turnover of Husqvarna Group last year was around ÂŁ3.2bn; it employs over 13,000 mem ers of sta , has o ces and su sidiaries in countries, and is operational in o er countries he company originated years ago in Sweden, starting life in a town called usk arna, where the company is still ased t started o as a foundry, producing weaponry such as pikes and swords for the Swedish army. he company egan producing pedestrian lawnmowers in and then mo ed into the forestry sector, with production of chainsaws eginning in What are your bestselling products? e o er o er di erent machines in the , all of which ha e their own place in their respecti e markets ur estselling

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Meet the Supplier.indd 49

product ranges in terms of olume would e the and model chainsaws, as they re of a professional standard and over time have developed a reliable reputation with arborists.

How do you market the business?

Keeping our website up to date is key, as it gi es customers information about our latest developments. Gathering consumer data helps us direct our marketing to the correct audiences ocial media is crucial for us we use ace ook a great deal, as well as posting informative videos

a out new products, technologies and expert tips on our YouTube channel e e recently launched an nstagram account for further promotion of the Husqvarna brand.

What are your lead times? e operate through a selected dealer network of o er centres, gi ing us the a ility to pro ide fast lead times across the eli ery is usually hours for parts, accessories and handheld machines Larger products such as tractors are generally three to four days.

What technologies will Husqvarna be focusing on in the future? here s a great amount of focus on our attery powered products, as this seems to be a growing market in ar oriculture s the technology de elops further we will continue to incorporate it into our latest electrical products here s

also a lot of progress in the ro otics market, with ro otic mowers ecoming a signiďŹ cant development for us. Digitalisation and connecti ity are key areas which will dri e our products in the future as there is the demand for operators to be able to monitor the usage, vibration and of each item of machinery, in order to ma imise producti ity and increase operator safety Are you releasing any new products in the coming months?

There will be approximately new us arna products launched in What is the company ethos? urning technology into opportunity is something we are incredi ly passionate a out haping great e periences is a alue we hold closely, as we aim to make a di erence to people who are shaping the world s green spaces eeking customer points of iew and eing colla orati e in our working practices is a crucial way in which we operate as a company For more information, visit: www.husqvarna.com/uk

Pro Arb | May 2017 49

03/05/2017 16:51

NEWS | FEATURES | KIT John Mckenna

the

littlEeW

INTERVI

-FIRE PRO ARB ASKS QUICK N MORE QUESTIONS TO LEAR WHO MAKE ABOUT THE PEOPLE UP OUR INDUSTRY...

Business and operations development manager, ISS Arboriculture

What’s your go to reference book?

The Collins English Dictionary.

If you had to work in a different industry, what would you be doing?

Engineering.

Favourite species of tree?

Horse chestnut.

Best moment in your career thus far?

First contract win.

One piece of technology you couldn’t live without?

My stereo.

Favourite sandwich?

Ham salad with English mustard.

Karaoke song of choice?

The theme tune from Minder.

Who would play you in a film of your life?

Gene Wilder accompanied by Richard Pryor – to my mind, the est film comedic dou le act Favourite sporting memory? he up semi final replay between Manchester United and Arsenal – the win summed up the entire season.

What’s top of your bucket list?

Exploring the Himalayas and its surrounding countries.

Mike Evans Managing director, Acme Tree Services

The realisation that we’ve built a well-respected company.

What’s your go to reference book?

Tree Pests and Diseases: An Arborists’ Field Guide by Guy Watson.

If you had to work in a different industry, what would you be doing?

Working within the boating industry, ideally on luxury liners.

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Pro Arb | May 2017

Little Interview.indd 50

One piece of technology you couldn’t live without?

Mobile phone.

Favourite species of tree?

Beech – they grow to be big and grand, and they’re clean.

Best moment in your career thus far?

Favourite sandwich filling?

Chicken and bacon club.

Who would play you in a film of your life?

George Clooney.

Favourite sporting memory?

Shooting 79 round the Old Course at St Andrews, when playing for the first time What’s top of your bucket list?

Owning a T6 campervan and travelling around in it as much as possible.

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04/05/2017 09:00

KIT | FEATURES | NEWS Sarah Kiss

Tree officer, Southampton City Council

What’s your go to reference book?

The Collins Tree Guide is probably my most regularly used reference book for identifying plants, or The Encyclopaedia of Fungi of Britain and Europe by Michael Jordan. Then the wine guide.

If you had to work in a different industry, what would you be doing?

Tightrope walker. Seriously.

But I’d be broken by now, so probably just as well I’m not.

Favourite species of tree?

I have a Medlar (Mespilus germanicus) in my garden which has happily moved with me. It always looks a it scru y, ut has e cellent owers hilarious fruit. Otherwise a dawn redwood is fairly high on the list.

Best moment in your career thus far?

Saving an old sweet chestnut by persuading the owner that it was more important than his collapsing shed.

One piece of technology you couldn’t live without?

Digital camera.

Favourite sandwich filling?

Avocado and red pepper.

Karaoke song of choice?

These Boots Were Made for Walking by Nancy Sinatra.

Good way to empty a pub!

Who would play you in a film of your life?

I don’t think there are any actors short or loud enough – Miriam Margolyes, perhaps?

Favourite sporting memory?

I won a sailing cup at 14 because I was the only one who went round the right way! I’d have gone the wrong way too, but my dad apped at me so much from the beach that I turned round.

What’s top of your bucket list?

Get to Antarctica by boat to see the penguins, and so my partner can sail round Cape orn and fulfil his bucket list too.

David Abrahams Tree care manager, Bawden Contracting Services

What’s your go to reference book?

Fungi on Trees: An Arborist’s Guide by Guy Watson and Ted Green.

Favourite species of tree?

Quercus robur.

Favourite sandwich filling?

I do like a ploughman’s.

Best moment in your career thus far?

Passing my Level 4 Diploma in Arboriculture.

Karaoke song of choice? an t sing for to ee, although I liked Wonderwall by Oasis or Summer of 69 by Bryan Adams.

Who would play you in a film of your life?

Edward Norton.

If you had to work in a different industry, what would you be doing?

Ecology.

One piece of technology you couldn’t live without?

Sat nav.

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Little Interview.indd 51

Favourite sporting memory?

Jonny slotting the the drop goal for the 2003 Rugby World Cup; running out at the Rec (Bath

Rugby) playing in a cup final beating our local rival school in my last year of school, after they’d beaten us every year.

What’s top of your bucket list?

I’d like to take my boys and my wife to Canada and stay in a log cabin in the woods.

Pro Arb | May 2017 51

04/05/2017 09:01

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