The National Tree Safety Group (NTSG) have made available three documents that provide safety guidance to tree owners, tree managers, advisers etc.

Durations of inspections, qualifications, legislation etc are covered. Important as these documents are, don’t expect definitive answers – guidance is just that, guidance!

The documents can downloaded from the NTSG web-site (see . . . → Continue reading: National Tree Safety Group publish new guidance

iTS Ltd are pleased to be able to provide scheduled dates for our arboricultural courses, during the first half of 2012 – unlike most of our competitors. To view our course dates just visit the “Training courses” pages. Or, download a PDF of our programme from the “Downloads” page.

The Expert Witness Institute is running a report writing seminar on Wednesday 9th November 2011 at The Western Club, 32 Royal Exchange Square, Glasgow G1 3AB From 5pm until 8.30pm. Contact EWI at www.ewi.org.uk

The Royal Forestry Society has just launched a new on-line tree “learning” resourse. To check it out, go to:

http://www.rfs.org.uk/learning

Regards, Chris Simpson.

Under the Reporting of Injuries Diseases and Dangerous Occurences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR) certain accidents and near-accidents must be reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). HSE have rolled out an on-line reporting system for all but the most severe accidents. HSE write…

“From 12 September 2011, statutory reporting to HSE of work-related injuries . . . → Continue reading: New RIDDOR accident reporting system

Cinder fungus is one of the more common (and serious) wood decay fungi that arborists come across. Ever since I have been involved in arboriculture its correct botanical name seems to have been disputed. Many refer to it as Ustulina deusta, others as Kretzschmaria deusta.  Some will tell you it was changed from . . . → Continue reading: Ustulina or Kretzschmaria deusta? An answer at last!

The Bat Conservation Trust (BCT) have released a review of Bat Crime from 2003 – 2010. The report makes for interesting reading and is relevant to arborists – 8% of of police reported incidents in 2010 related to arboriculture. Interestingly, while many tree surgeons may be worried about possible prosecution – perhaps they shouldn’t be. . . . → Continue reading: BCT Bat Crime review 2010

The AA Scottish Branch and Forest Research are presenting a joint seminar to update the arboricultural industry about tree diseases. To be held at Roslin (Northern Research Station). Cost £25. Details and booking form available on our down-loads page.

The Forestry Commission have highlighted a list of major organisms that pose a serious risk to the UK’s tree population. The top threats already present in Britain are: 

 Acute oak decline - a disease affecting oak trees in parts of Britain, in which bacteria, including one species previously unknown to science, are believed to be . . . → Continue reading: FC highlight top threats to UK trees

The gale force winds that struck Scotland this week (23rd – 24th May 2011) clearly brought down a number of seemingly healthy trees. This demonstrates Claus Mattheck’s principle of a tree’s safety factor being about 4.5:1 in the region of the main stem. The wind was just too much; right? However, on closer inspection . . . → Continue reading: Storm damage – a blessing in disguise for some?